Slip and fall accidents sound the same as trip and fall accidents to most of us. After all, both can come as a surprise and cause serious injuries. If you were injured in either a slip and fall or a trip and fall accident, you could seek damages in a personal injury lawsuit. Each type of accident is different, however, and the facts can impact your personal injury claim. 

If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident or a trip and fall accident, contact an experienced New York personal injury attorney to learn more about your options. You could have a legal right to seek compensation from a negligent property owner. Contact Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule your free consultation

What is a Slip and Fall Accident? 

A slip-and-fall accident occurs when someone falls on a slippery surface. Typically, this happens when somebody thinks they have more traction under their feet than they really do. 

Slippery surfaces that can cause accidents include: 

  • Hard surfaces that were recently mopped, waxed, or cleaned 
  • Hard floors covered with liquid due to a spill or leak 
  • Cold floors with water condensation
  • Carpeted surfaces with worn, flattened carpeting 
  • Surfaces coated with ice or snow

Coming into contact with a slippery surface can cause a person to fall to the ground. Often, the victim will fall backward as their weight shifts behind them. Since a fall can happen quickly and unexpectedly, a wide variety of injuries can result. 

Common injuries in a slip and fall accident might include: 

  • Sprained or broken wrists. When people fall after a slip, they will instinctively reach their hands out to break the fall. Unfortunately, the wrist will then absorb the force of impact. 
  • Sprained ankles. Due to a slip, your ankle can twist out of alignment – leading to a sprain or worse. 
  • Dislocated shoulders. When a person reaches out to break a fall, the shoulder can move into an awkward position that leads to serious injury. 
  • Back and spine injuries. The spine, surrounding nerves, and back muscles are delicate structures that can be quickly injured in a slip and fall. 
  • Brain injuries. A slip and fall can cause a victim’s head to hit the ground at high impact. When this happens, brain injuries can result. Injuries to the brain can range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries and even wrongful death

No matter what injuries you suffered, you might be entitled to compensation if someone else was responsible for your accident. 

What is a Trip and Fall Accident? 

A trip and fall accident happens when someone trips over an obstacle that is in their walking path. When tripping over something unexpected, a person cannot bring their other leg ahead quickly enough to keep their balance. Usually, the victim of a trip will then fall forward instead of backward. 

Common causes of trip and fall accidents often include: 

  • Unexpected differences in elevation (such as when a segment of sidewalk cement is higher than another or when a person steps into a pothole)
  • Uneven paving stones or steps 
  • Cracks or ridges caused by damage to the surface 
  • Hazards on the ground, such as unattended tools, materials, or boxes. 

When a person encounters a hazard of this nature, it is difficult to adjust quickly enough and avoid a fall. In many cases, a person might not even see the danger until it is too late. 

The key difference between a trip and a slip and fall is that tripping usually forces a person forward instead of backward. 

Common injuries in a trip and fall include: 

  • Broken bones. Falling forward can cause fractured bones – especially in the arms and hands – when a person tries to break their fall. 
  • Neck injuries. Due to the force involved, a tripping victim’s neck can suffer strain and whiplash.
  • Foot injuries. The human foot contains 26 bones, any of which can be broken due to a tripping accident
  • Cuts and abrasions. The act of falling onto pavement or other surfaces can cause damaging cuts, abrasions, and bruises. 
  • Head injuries. Just as in a slip and fall, a trip can cause someone’s head to hit the ground with enough force to cause injury. 

Again, regardless of what injuries you or your loved one suffered, you may be entitled to compensation if someone else was responsible for your trip and fall accident. 

A New York City Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help If You Have Been Injured 

Slips and fall accidents can differ from trip and fall accidents. If you were hurt in either situation, however, you have important legal rights – including the right to financial compensation. The New York City slip and fall and trip and fall accident lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers can help you recover the damages you deserve after a serious accident. Call our office to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today. 

Contact Our Slip and Fall Accident Law Firm in New York City

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Manhattan, NY, and need legal help, contact our New York City slip and fall accident lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.

Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers
100 Wall St 15th Floor
New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007