Common Locations for Slip- or Trip-and-Fall Accidents

 Slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents may occur just about anywhere ¬– from a small convenience store or an apartment complex to a large supermarket or a luxury townhome. Where slip-and-fall accidents and trip-and-fall accidents occur often determines the types of compensation that are available for victims. Pursuing a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall claim can get challenging depending on where the incident happens and which parties you may have to sue.

Here are just some of the locations where slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents commonly occur in New York City:
• Grocery stores or supermarkets: Slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents that occur in a big box store such as Wal-Mart can be extremely complex in terms of proving liability and dealing with a large corporations’ defense attorneys and insurance companies. If you’ve been injured in a large store, it is critical that you report the incident right away to the store manager and get a copy of that report for your records. This would serve as evidence to show the time, date and nature of the incident. If you wish to pursue a slip-and-fall claim involving a large corporation, it would be in your best interest to get an experienced lawyer on your side who will help safeguard your rights.
• Apartment complexes: A slip-and-fall and/or trip-and-fall accident that occurs in an apartment complex may be the fault of the property owner and/or property manager. In such cases, it would be important to determine precisely what caused the incident and who was responsible for the dangerous condition.
• Hotels or casinos: These claims are somewhat similar to those involving large corporations. So, it is important to report them to management as soon as they occur and keep a copy of the report for your records.
• Private homes: Slip-and-fall and/or trip-and-fall claims involving private homes can be tricky, particularly if the incident occurs at the residence of a friend or a relative. However, it is important to remember that premises liability claims are often covered under a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. In such cases, you may have to deal with the homeowner’s insurance company directly,but a lawyer should represent you.
• Workplace accidents: Slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents are common in all workplaces, not just in high-risk environments such as construction sites or factories. Workplace slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents are often covered by workers’ compensation benefits. In some cases, additional compensation may be sought under a separate third-party claim against parties other than employers.
• Public property: A slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall incident at a public building or on the sidewalk or the street can cause devastating injuries. In such cases, an attorney can help determine who was at fault and file a claim against the at-fault agencies.
Does the Location Matter?
Even though the elements of a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall claim might be similar, each case is unique. There are several aspects of such cases that may have an impact on how much compensation you may be able to receive. For example, if there is a spill in the aisle of a large supermarket, there is the expectation that it would be noticed and cleaned up right away. A homeowner, on the other hand, might have more time to react in a similar fashion to hazards on his or her property.
Another factor in identifying the responsible party also involves looking into whether that entity or person had control over the conditions. A big box store, for example, has several employees and maintenance staff members who can cause or fail to correct dangerous conditions such as spills and tripping hazards. The location of the incident also often determines against whom you would file a claim to seek compensation for your injuries, damages and losses.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you were involved in a slip-and-fall or a trip-and-fall accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, please remember that you have rights. Some of the damages that victims of such accidents can claim include, but are not limited to, medical expenses, loss of wages and benefits, cost of hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, past and future pain and suffering, permanent injury damages, etc.
The experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our law firm recovered $1,700,000 for a woman who slipped and fell and received no hospital or medical treatment for one month after the accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com