Types of Slip and Fall Accidents in New York
Slip and fall accidents in New York City, NY, can vary in significant ways. The type of accident can determine who is liable and what the victim must prove to recover compensation. However, the same laws apply to all types of slip-and-fall accidents in New York.
Specifically, the victim can seek financial compensation from negligent parties for their injury-related losses. An NYC slip and fall accident lawyer from Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers investigates your claim and identifies the parties who may bear legal responsibility for it. Call (212) 514-5007 to schedule a free consultation.
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How Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Slip And Fall Accident in New York City
Our law firm protects and aggressively represents injured people in New York City, New York. Our attorneys have over 40 years of experience standing up to insurers and at-fault parties. The firm’s strategy is responsible for securing millions of dollars in compensation for the firm’s clients.
When you suffer an injury in a slip and fall accident caused by a property owner, manager, or tenant, our attorneys can:
- Analyze your accident and determine the claims you can pursue
- Gather evidence, including witness testimony and photos from the accident site
- File a claim with the responsible party’s liability insurer and negotiate for a settlement
- Litigate against the at-fault party if their insurer denies your claim
Slip and fall accidents can have life-changing consequences, including permanent injuries. Contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your fall with an NYC slip and fall accident attorney and learn about your right to seek compensation under New York law.
Slip and Fall Accident Types in NYC
Falling accidents fit into two broad categories. Same-elevation falls occur when someone falls on the same level they are standing. Elevated falls occur when someone falls from a higher level to a lower level.
These falls can be further divided into the following subtypes:
Slip and Fall
Slip and fall accidents occur on the same elevation. These falls occur when your feet lose traction on the ground and begin to slide. In many cases, your feet slide forward, causing you to fall backward.
The following surface conditions can cause your feet to slip:
- Ice or water
- Floor polish
- Dirt and gravel
- Spilled liquid or moist food
For example, a common cause of grocery store falls is fruit on uncarpeted floors. A crushed grape on a tile floor will cause a shopper’s foot to slide, throwing them off balance.
When you fall backward, you might reach back or turn your body. However, in most cases, you will not have time to break your fall.
As a result, common injuries from slips often affect the head, neck, back, hips, and buttocks. A particularly severe slip might even fracture the skull, a vertebra, or a hip. People who slip and fall can suffer serious and permanent brain injuries, nerve damage, and other disabilities.
Trip and Fall
Trips differ from slips. Trips occur if you lose your footing. Examples of trips include walking into a hole, catching your foot on a loose rug, or stubbing your toe on an unmarked step.
Often, your momentum causes you to fall forward, resulting in injuries to the front of your body, such as your head, face, and knees. Moreover, when you fall forward, you might extend your arms forward to catch yourself. In addition to injuring the front of your body, you may also damage your arms, wrists, shoulders, and hands.
Fall Down Stairs
Stairs can be dangerous for anyone. Objects on the steps, broken handrails, and loose carpet can cause you to tumble down a flight of stairs. These falls often combine features of both slips or trips and elevated falls. In other words, your accident may start with a trip or slip, but your fall can be severe due to the height of your fall.
New York Legal Principles That May Apply to All Slip and Fall Accidents
Falling accidents are generally handled under an area of law known as premises liability. In these cases, a property owner or operator may be held liable when a dangerous condition on the property causes an injury, and the owner failed to exercise reasonable care.
To establish negligence, an injured person generally must show that the property owner owed them a duty of care and failed to meet that duty.
For example, landlords owe certain duties to tenants and lawful visitors, while store owners must take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe for customers. Property owners are generally required to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition, which may include correcting dangerous conditions or providing adequate warnings.
New York also follows a comparative negligence rule. This means an injured person’s compensation can be reduced if they are found partly responsible for the accident. For example, after a slip and fall in a restaurant, the property owner might argue that the customer contributed to the accident by looking at their phone and failing to notice a spilled drink.
Contact Our NYC Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A slip and fall accident can leave you facing painful injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and uncertainty about what comes next. If a dangerous property condition caused your fall, you may have the right to pursue compensation from the responsible party.
Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers can review what happened, explain your legal options, and help you pursue compensation for your accident-related losses. Contact our NYC slip and fall accident lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.