Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents occur frequently in New York City, often causing victims to suffer various types of personal injuries. These accidents can result in injuries, that range from minor bruises to severe fractures, head trauma, or long-term disabilities. Understanding the root causes of such incidents is crucial for preventing them and ensuring public safety. Here are the five most common causes of slip and fall and trip and fall accidents in New York City.
1. Uneven or Damaged Sidewalks
From cracked pavements to raised slabs, uneven and damaged sidewalks are a common sight, especially in older neighborhoods in New York City. These sidewalk defects create dangerous conditions for pedestrians, who can trip over cracks or uneven surfaces and fall, resulting in significant injuries.
New York City’s laws require property owners/property managers to maintain the sidewalks adjacent to their properties. However, enforcement is inconsistent, and repairs can be delayed for various reasons. Winter months tend to exacerbate cracks in concrete and further contribute to the deterioration of sidewalks. In areas with heavy foot traffic, such as near subway entrances or commercial zones, the risks of trips and falls are even higher.
2. Wet or Slippery Floors in Public and Private Buildings
Whether in a residential building, an office, or a retail store, wet and slippery floors are one of the leading causes of slip and fall accidents in New York City. This hazard is especially prevalent in areas where spills, leaks, or cleaning activities are not promptly addressed. Entrances and exits of buildings are particularly prone to becoming slippery during inclement weather, such as rain or snow, as water gets tracked inside. Without proper signage or mats to reduce the slipperiness of the floors, the risk of accidents increases significantly.
Businesses, in particular, have a duty to ensure the safety of their customers by promptly cleaning spills or fixing leaks and providing warnings where needed. However, negligence (carelessness), improper cleaning protocols, or failure to post/display adequate warning signage often lead to slip and fall incidents. The consequence can be severe, as even a minor slip can result in injuries like sprains, fractures, or concussions.
For example, supermarkets and restaurants are particularly prone to this type of accident. Spilled drinks or leaks from refrigeration units can cause the floor to become dangerously slick, creating a hazardous situation for customers and employees alike. Lawsuits stemming from these types of accidents often revolve around whether the property owner or property manager took reasonable steps to prevent them.
3. Ice and Snow Accumulation on Walkways
Winters in New York City can be harsh, with snowstorms and freezing temperatures creating hazardous conditions on outdoor surfaces. Snow and ice buildup on sidewalks, building entrances, and outdoor staircases is a major contributor to slip and fall accidents, especially during the winter months. While New York City ordinances require property owners/property managers to clear snow and ice from sidewalks within a certain timeframe after a snowfall, compliance is not always consistent.
The freeze-thaw cycle can also make conditions even more treacherous. As temperatures fluctuate, ice can melt during the day and refreeze at night, creating black ice — a thin, nearly invisible layer of ice that is particularly dangerous for pedestrians. Slip and fall accidents caused by ice are common, often leading to injuries such as broken bones, concussions, and back injuries.
Elderly individuals and those with mobility issues are particularly susceptible to winter-related falls. Despite legal requirements for property owners/property managers to clear snow and ice, many residents and businesses fail to do so in a timely manner, exposing pedestrians to unnecessary risks.
4. Poor Lighting in Public and Private Spaces
Adequate lighting is essential for pedestrian safety, especially in high-traffic areas like subway stations, staircases, and parking lots. Poor lighting, whether in public spaces or inside buildings, can significantly increase the likelihood of slip and fall or trip and fall accidents. Inadequately lit areas can make it difficult for individuals to see potential hazards such as uneven pavement, debris, or wet surfaces, leading to accidental falls.
For example, dim lighting in stairwells can cause individuals to miss a step or fail to notice an obstacle in their path. Likewise, poorly lit outdoor areas like parking lots or pathways can obscure dangerous conditions like potholes or uneven ground, leading to trips and falls. Building owners, property managers, and city officials are typically responsible for ensuring that their properties and public areas are adequately lit.
5. Obstructions and Debris on Walkways
Debris, clutter, and other obstructions on sidewalks, in stores, or inside buildings are common causes of trip and fall accidents. In a bustling city like New York, it’s not unusual to see garbage bags piled on sidewalks, construction materials left on the ground, or merchandise strewn in store aisles. These obstacles can pose significant trip hazards to pedestrians.
Construction zones are particularly notorious for leaving tools, materials, or debris in places where pedestrians walk. If these obstructions are not clearly marked or barriers are not put in place, it can lead to serious trip and fall accidents. Construction companies or building managers may be held liable if proper precautions were not taken to prevent accidents.
In addition to construction sites, improperly maintained or cluttered indoor spaces, such as retail stores or office buildings, can present similar hazards. Boxes, loose wires, and other obstacles left in walkways increase the risk of accidents, especially for individuals who are visually impaired.
New York Premises Liability Lawyers
Slip-trip-and-fall accidents could result in serious, disabling or even life threatening injuries. If you were involved in a slip-and-fall or a trip-and-fall accident as a result of someone else’s negligence (carelessness), 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, 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 and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 52 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims.
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. Our law firm also recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
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, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, 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.
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