What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
When an injury occurs as a result of the involvement of a slippery substance or surface, it is referred to as a slip and fall accident. These types of injuries can occur anywhere and can be caused by oil, grease, water, ice, or any other substance. When these accidents are caused by carelessness and could have been avoided, property owners may be held liable for the victim’s injuries. Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall injuries can often be avoided if the owners of the property or the supervisors of the business where the fall occurred take reasonable precautions. Even if the slick substance is located outside of a business or property, the property owner should take steps to eliminate or reduce possible dangers. Whether an owner is legally responsible for a victim’s injuries is determined by whether the owner had a duty to maintain the property, failed to exercise proper care to maintain safety, and thereby caused the accident and resulting injuries.
Common Slip and Fall Accidents in New York include:
- Falling on an icy or wet sidewalk
- Slipping in a departmental or grocery store with no warning signs on a wet floor
- Slipping on a snowy surface in front of a shop, office building or multi-family home
- Slipping on a badly placed or improperly secured carpet
- Slipping on deteriorated or improperly maintained or poorly constructed stairs
What Is a Trip and Fall Accident?
A trip and fall accident occurs when a dangerous condition or object, rather than a substance, is present. Trip and fall accidents occur when a person trips or stumbles over something on the floor. Trip and fall accidents frequently occur when a person fails to notice an object on the floor or miscalculates the steps necessary to avoid it. Trip and fall accidents often result in the victim falling forward rather than backward, as in slip and fall accidents.
The following are the most common causes of trip and fall accidents in New York:
- Improper surfaces: Tripping can happen when someone walks over an uneven, cracked, broken, or otherwise dangerous walkway, ramp, stairs, or sidewalk.
- Hazards at the workplace: Trip and fall accidents in a construction site or worksite can injure employees and contractors. Tripping and falling hazards in the workplace can include inappropriate warning signs, absent warning signs, falling objects, or debris.
- Other factors, such as bad weather and inadequate lighting, can cause someone to trip and fall.
You must have been injured on someone else’s property and that injury had to have been due to the negligence of a responsible party in order to file a successful trip or slip and fall lawsuit. If the property is owned jointly, if tenants were also in control of the property, if a contractor performed dangerous or defective construction work, or if management companies are involved, multiple parties may be held liable. It is crucial to identify all potential parties,
Contact a New York City Personal Injury Attorney
Slipping, tripping, and falling are common accidents that can occur at any place or time. Slip & fall and trip & fall accidents can result in both serious and minor injuries. Irrespective of the nature of injury, the negligent property owner is liable for it. If you or a loved one slips, trips, or falls in New York, you may be entitled to compensation.
Our New York City and Bronx personal injury attorneys will help you recover the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve! Do not hesitate to call us today at 516-294-2664 or 718-416-1500.
