After suffering a slip and fall in New York City, what should you do? You must know your rights and the options available to you. Injuries that stem from falling can be severe, and they are often the fault of negligent property owners who have not done their best to ensure the safety of their premises.
According to information from the New York State Department of Health, fall injuries are the top cause of injury hospitalizations for children between 0 and 14 years old and for adults who are 25 and older. Falling also happens to be the top cause of unintentional injury deaths for 45 and older. Accidents such as these can cause a serious physical toll, as well as a financial burden due to hospitalizations and medical treatments.
What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Are Injured?
In cases of slip and fall accidents, it is sometimes possible to hold the property owner liable for your injuries. Of course, the property owners and their insurance companies will not be happy about this and will try to prevent you from collecting any money for your injuries.
When you’ve been injured, you deserve the maximum compensation you are owed, and working with an experienced Brooklyn slip and fall attorney will help. You don’t want to try to take on the insurance companies on your own, not when so much is at stake.
Why Should I Work with a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney for Premises Liability Cases?
Some people feel that they can handle their own slip and fall case. After all, they see it as being a simple matter of showing that they were injured and then receiving monetary damages. It’s not that easy, though. The laws are complex, and you can be sure the other party and their insurance company will be using attorneys of their own. If you aren’t careful, you may end up with less than you deserve or nothing at all.
Instead, you should work with a personal injury attorney at The Rothenberg Law Firm. Our attorneys are professional and objective and can look at your case from a different perspective. While we can’t predict a specific verdict or settlement, we will have a much better idea of how your case will play out and how to ensure that you are treated fairly.
An attorney will help you every step of the way and our efforts lead to higher compensation than you would be able to obtain on your own.
Often, the other party will be willing to negotiate. The professionals at The Rothenberg Law Firm know and understand how to negotiate with the negligent party’s insurance company. You need an experienced lawyer to help you with the negotiations, so you aren’t lowballed by the insurance providers.
Of course, negotiations are not always enough. Sometimes, a case will have to go to trial when negotiations fail. You want to have an experienced accident attorney working on your side and handling the litigation in the courtroom.
Trying to handle your slip and fall injury on your own is a lot of work, and there are many ways that you could end up making costly mistakes. Working with an attorney will provide you with the peace of mind you need and deserve, so you can put your focus on recovering from your injuries.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Fall accidents can happen anywhere, even when you are being careful. Many times, the cause of the fall is due to a hidden danger or hazard, often due to the negligence of someone else. Some of the most common causes include:
- Damaged stairways and handrails
- Poor lighting
- Slippery floors
- Uneven or cracked walkways and parking lots
- Unsecured electrical wires
- A buildup of snow and ice
- Debris
- Spills
- Loose or uneven floorboards
These are just some of the various types of hazards and dangers that can end up causing injuries. If you’ve fallen, you will want to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer sooner rather than later.
Keep in mind that these types of injuries can occur in many places, including those you might not expect and where you should feel safe. There could be wet floors in a retail store that aren’t properly labeled, for example. You might have walkways covered in ice at the apartment building where you live or are visiting.
Accidents may occur at restaurants, malls, big box stores, the subway station, a museum, in the workplace, and more. When negligence is the cause of these accidents, you need to be sure you hold the correct people accountable for your injuries.
Types of Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
Falling can be more dangerous than many people realize, even when the fall seems relatively minor. Sometimes, the true gravity of the injuries doesn’t present right away. It might take a day or two before they become apparent. Other times, the seriousness of the injuries can be seen and felt immediately. Regardless, you should get checked out and talk with an attorney.
Some of the most common types of injuries following these accidents include:
- spinal cord injuries,
- muscle tears and other soft tissue damage,
- broken bones,
- back injuries,
- lacerations and cuts,
- neck injuries,
- head injuries,
- traumatic brain injuries,
- and even wrongful death.
Consider the seriousness of these types of injuries. If you are lucky, you might only have minor injuries, but that’s not often the case. Some of these injuries are life-changing. They can prevent you from being able to experience and enjoy your life as you once did.
These serious injuries can often cause people to miss work or no longer be capable of working at all. What happens if you suddenly have no means of income? How can you pay your bills? The injuries can cause pain and suffering that lasts weeks, months, years, and in some cases, the rest of your life.
Additionally, there is the financial burden of medical expenses for the treatment and possibly therapy you’ll need to recover. The cost of medication, hospitalization, etc. can be steep, and many people don’t have the money to cover it on their own. More importantly, when the injury is not their fault, they shouldn’t have to pay for the medical bills themselves.
You can’t ignore these types of injuries. Those who are responsible need to be held accountable so it doesn’t happen to other people. Filing a lawsuit and working with an attorney will be the best course of action for you.
What Type of Monetary Damages Could Be Recovered?
If you slip and fall on someone else’s property, you could receive monetary damages for your injuries. If the owner was at fault because they neglected to take care of the problems and/or they did not warn you about known hazards, they are liable for damages.
They should be the ones to pay, but you can be sure their insurance companies will attempt to pay less than you deserve. In some cases, they may try to avoid payments at all. These companies have tactics they use to get people to take the first offer that’s presented to them. However, you have to remember that the first offer is going to be the lowest, and it’s not going to be enough to help you with all of your injuries and recovery.
Working with a slip and fall attorney will help you receive ample compensation for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, disability, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. When you are injured through no fault of your own, you deserve to receive monetary compensation for someone else’s negligence.
Skilled attorneys work to ensure that all of your damages are properly identified, so your case can be valued correctly. They will strive to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve for your case.
Find a Slip and Fall Attorney Before It’s Too Late
One of the most important things to keep in mind is the statute of limitations. Slip and fall cases in New York are subject to a statute of limitations according to the New York Civil Practice Laws and Regs § 214. When filing a civil action for a slip and fall accident in NY, you will have three years from the date of the accident.
There may be some exceptions to this depending on the circumstances. It’s important to consult with an experienced attorney to see whether those exceptions apply or not. This is particularly true when the exceptions could shorten the amount of time you have to act. For example, you may need to give notice about your fall incident within a short time frame if you fell on property owned by NYC or any municipality.
Accident Victims Need the Most Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer for Fall Injuries
Working with fall accident lawyers is your best option for your injury cases. However, not just any attorney will do. You need to be sure you are working with an experienced Brooklyn slip and fall attorney that has handled cases similar to yours in the past. You’ll also want to know the typical types of outcomes and verdicts that you can expect.
Get a Free Consultation for Your Slip and Fall Accident Case
If you or a loved one is injured or is the victim of wrongful death, it’s time to get your case reviewed. The attorneys at The Rothenberg Law Firm always offer a free case evaluation. We work on a contingency fee basis- which means we do not get paid unless and until we win money for you.
No matter where the accident takes place, whether it’s in Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, or elsewhere in New York State, you should get in touch with a personal injury attorney at The Rothenberg Law Firm as soon as possible.
Visit us at our Brooklyn personal injury law firm office location, at 169 Wythe Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11249, Suite 204, by appointment only.
