Slip and fall accidents often lead to claims in New York. In fact, slip and fall claims are among the most common of all personal injury claims. Those who are injured through the negligence of a property owner can file such a claim and, if successful, be reimbursed for things like medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress and lost wages.
Slip and falls can occur in a number of ways. The owner may have failed to remove ice or snow outside the building after it had built up to an unnatural level. The owner may not have kept the sidewalks leading to the building free of such hazards, and he or she could be held liable even if these sidewalks are owned by the city. The parking lot is especially dangerous since it can develop ice patches as well as cracks and holes that pose a trip hazard.
Entrants may also injure themselves as a result of poor outdoor lighting obscuring the sight of holes, cracks, ice and so on. When it comes to proving property owners’ negligence, though, there must be evidence that the hazard could have been clearly recognized and that the property owner had sufficient time to do something about it.
Property owners can be held liable not only for leaving slip, trip and fall hazards unattended but also for negligent security. Lawful entrants who are assaulted, for example, could bring this up when filing a premises liability claim. Whatever the situation, though, it is usually a good idea to see a lawyer.
A lawyer might hire investigators to gather whatever evidence there is against the defendant, including the incident report, eyewitness testimony and surveillance footage. The lawyer may then handle negotiations for a fair settlement, litigating if one cannot be achieved.