Slip and fall accidents can happen to anyone, and they often occur without warning. A simple trip on a cracked sidewalk, a wet floor in a grocery store, or a hidden hazard in a public building can lead to serious injuries.
When this happens, the aftermath can be challenging to handle alone, especially if someone else's negligence caused your fall. To ensure your rights are protected and you get fair compensation, working with a New York slip and fall lawyer can make all the difference.
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New York Slip and Fall Guide:
- What Can You Recover After a Slip and Fall Accident in New York?
- Steps to Take in the Weeks After Your Accident
- Living in New York Means Unique Slip and Fall Risks
- Why Insurance Companies Make It Hard to Get Fair Compensation
- How Seasonal Hazards Impact Slip and Fall Accidents
- Building Codes In Slip And Fall Cases
- Common Violations That Lead to Slip and Fall Accidents
- Make Your Voice Heard—Contact Us Today
Why Choose Queller Fisher as Your New York Slip and Fall Lawyer?
At Queller Fisher, we have a trusted reputation for helping slip and fall accident victims in New York.
Here’s what sets us apart from other law firms:
- Extensive experience securing victories
With over 60 years of practicing personal injury law, our firm knows how to win cases involving slip and fall injuries. We have already recovered over $1 billion for clients injured by negligence in New York City and the Bronx. - Tailored legal representation
Slip and fall cases require attention to detail to prove liability. Our team approaches every personal injury case with fresh eyes to understand what happened and how we can help. - Respected trial lawyers
Whether through settlement negotiations or taking your case to court, our attorneys fight for the best result possible. Many of our attorneys have achieved recognition in Super Lawyers® and The Best Lawyers in America®. - Compassion for injury victims
Recovering from an accident is stressful. While you focus on healing, we focus on holding property owners, businesses, and insurers accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
What Can You Recover After a Slip and Fall Accident in New York?
When you’ve been injured, compensation goes beyond covering medical bills. There are various kinds of damages you may be eligible to recover in a New York slip and fall case:
- Medical expenses
This includes emergency room visits, hospital stays, physical therapy, medication, and any future medical care related to your injuries. - Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Injuries from a fall can prevent you from working, whether temporarily or permanently. Compensation should cover your missed wages and account for potential future income loss. - Pain and suffering
Falls often cause emotional stress and ongoing pain. Courts consider how your injuries affect your quality of life. - Out-of-pocket costs
Expenses like travel to medical appointments, hiring help for daily tasks, or purchasing medical aids (like crutches) should be reimbursed.
Property owners or businesses must be proven negligent to receive the compensation you deserve. An experienced lawyer can investigate your case to gather the evidence needed to strengthen your claim.
Steps to Take in the Weeks After Your Accident
After a slip and fall accident, building a clear record of what happened is crucial. While you may already have taken a few steps immediately after the fall, like seeing a doctor and taking photos of the scene, other actions will strengthen your claim in the days and weeks ahead.
- Keep medical records and bills
Document every doctor visit, prescribed treatment plan, and receipt for expenses related to your recovery. These records will be vital in proving the extent of your injuries. - Report the accident in writing
If you haven’t already, notify the property owner or manager where the fall happened. Request a copy of any incident report they file. - Avoid speaking to the other party’s insurance adjusters
Insurance companies often contact victims soon after an accident to gather information. Avoid giving statements or signing any papers without first consulting a lawyer. - Track your recovery progress
Write down how the injury has affected your daily life. Keep notes about physical limitations, emotional challenges, or missed events due to your recovery.
When you’re proactive like this, you help your lawyer build a stronger case. Queller Fisher can guide you every step of the way, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
Living in New York Means Unique Slip and Fall Risks
New York City is fast-paced, crowded, and full of potential hazards. Sidewalk cracks, icy roads, staircases in disrepair, and everyday spills in busy shops are just a few risks.
NYC property owners are legally required to maintain safe conditions, but many fail to promptly address hazards. Here’s a reality New Yorkers face daily: navigating the city’s sidewalks and transit hubs is challenging enough.
Poor lighting in subway stations, uncleared ice on brownstone stoops, or cluttered aisles in bodegas can easily result in an accident. However, if a property owner had known about a hazard and didn’t fix it, they could be held liable for your injuries.
This is why hiring an attorney familiar with NYC laws and city-specific challenges is so valuable. At Queller Fisher, we know how to handle these cases and demonstrate how negligence contributed to your fall.
Don’t Fight Insurance Companies Alone
After your accident, the property owner’s insurance company will likely contact you to investigate the incident. While they may seem cooperative, they’re focused on protecting their bottom line, not your well-being.
Why Insurance Companies Make It Hard to Get Fair Compensation
- Lowball Settlement Offers
Adjusters may offer you a quick payment that doesn’t come close to covering all your losses. Many people feel pressured to accept because they’re worried about paying bills. - Denial of Responsibility
Insurance companies often argue that the victim is at fault or that no hazardous conditions existed. Without evidence to counter their claims, you may lose your chance at a settlement. - Delay Tactics
By dragging out the resolution of your claim, insurers try to wear you down, hoping you’ll accept a smaller settlement or drop the claim entirely.
With our firm on your side, you won’t have to deal with pushy adjusters or confusing paperwork. Our team will thoroughly investigate your accident, gather evidence to prove liability, and negotiate aggressively with the insurance company.
If they won’t cooperate, we won’t hesitate to pursue your case in court.
Working with experienced trial attorneys gives you a fair chance to receive the compensation you deserve. Queller Fisher’s track record of winning cases speaks for itself.
How Seasonal Hazards Impact Slip and Fall Accidents
Seasonal changes bring unique challenges that can significantly increase the risk of slip and fall accidents in New York.
These hazards often lead to serious injuries, whether it’s a snow-packed sidewalk in the winter or a puddle-filled entryway after a spring rainstorm. If you’ve experienced a slip and fall during one of these seasons, it’s important to understand how property owners’ responsibilities affect liability in these cases.
Winter Hazards
Winter in New York is notorious for icy sidewalks, snow-covered entryways, and slippery outdoor stairs. City regulations require property owners to clear snow and ice from sidewalks and walkways within a reasonable time after a storm.
This responsibility typically includes shoveling snow, spreading salt or sand on icy surfaces, and ensuring pathways are safe for pedestrians. Property owners who fail to follow these rules might be held liable for any injuries.
For example, if a landlord neglects to salt a staircase, leading to a tenant's fall, this could be grounds for filing a claim. Even businesses, like grocery stores, must address wet floors where tracked-in snow has melted to ensure their premises are safe for customers.
Rainy Season and Water Hazards
During the rainy months, slick floors in public and commercial spaces can easily cause an accident. Property owners and businesses must address hazardous conditions promptly and prevent accidents.
This might mean placing mats near entrances, marking slippery areas with clear signs, or regularly mopping away puddles tracked in by customers. If a business or property owner ignores these duties, they could be held responsible for the injuries caused.
Property owners must take reasonable steps to address these hazards, whether it means clearing debris or maintaining outdoor surfaces.
What Does This Mean for a Slip and Fall Case?
To hold a property owner liable for a seasonal hazard, proving that they knew about the danger or should have reasonably known about it and failed to take appropriate action is necessary.
Working with a skilled attorney is often the best way to investigate and build a case that demonstrates these elements. Knowing New York’s specific laws and regulations in these situations can make a world of difference.
No matter the season, if you’ve been hurt due to unsafe conditions caused by the weather, you have the right to seek compensation. When seasonal hazards are involved, it’s critical to understand your legal options.
Queller Fisher can help you examine your case, gather evidence, and pursue justice against negligent property owners.
Building Codes In Slip And Fall Cases
Building codes and safety regulations in New York City significantly determine liability in slip and fall cases. These rules ensure that properties are safe for those who live, work, or visit them.
When property owners fail to comply with these codes, their negligence can put others at risk and may make them legally responsible for resulting injuries.
Understanding how building code violations are linked to your case can be key in pursuing a claim.
Common Violations That Lead to Slip and Fall Accidents
Some of the most frequent building code violations involve conditions that directly contribute to slip and fall accidents.
These include:
- Uneven Flooring
Floors that are cracked, warped, or uneven can easily cause someone to trip. New York City's regulations require that walking surfaces be maintained in good condition to prevent these hazards. - Broken or Missing Handrails
Handrails are essential for safety on stairs or walkways, especially for older adults or individuals with mobility challenges. If a staircase lacks a secure handrail or if the handrail is loose, property owners may be in violation of safety standards. - Poor Lighting
Dimly lit stairwells, parking lots, or hallways can hide potential hazards, making it harder to avoid accidents. Safety codes mandate proper lighting in certain areas to reduce risks. - Improper or Missing Signage
When floors are wet or repairs are underway, property owners are required to provide adequate warning signs to alert people. Failing to do so can lead to dangerous situations.
Each of these violations increases the risk of accidents and strengthens your case if it can be proven that the property owner ignored these safety requirements.
How building codes strengthen your case
When a slip and fall occurs due to a building code violation, it provides clear evidence of the property owner’s negligence. These codes are in place to protect people, and failing to meet those standards shows a disregard for safety. For instance:
- If you slipped on a staircase without a handrail, violating the code requirements for stairs could help demonstrate the owner’s responsibility.
- If you tripped in a dimly lit hallway, proving the lighting didn’t comply with safety standards could make your case stronger.
A skilled attorney can investigate whether building code violations played a role in your accident. They may consult building plans, inspection records, or safety reports to build a compelling case on your behalf.
Why Legal Knowledge Matters
Property owners and insurers often try to shift the blame onto the injured person or minimize the extent of the hazard. However, when a specific building code violation is brought into focus, it becomes harder for them to argue against the facts.
It takes legal knowledge and attention to detail to identify and use these violations effectively in your case.
Make Your Voice Heard—Contact Us Today
Don’t wait any longer to act. Slip and fall claims in New York have deadlines, and delaying could hurt your chances of recovering compensation.
Call New York personal injury attorneys at Queller Fisher now at 212.406.1700 for a free consultation with a New York slip and fall lawyer. With decades of experience, we’ll ease the burden of your case so you can focus on your recovery while we focus on fighting for your rights.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation