Slip and fall accidents are a common occurrence in a big city such as New York. Nationwide, thousands of people are injured each year, some seriously or even fatally, when they lose their footing and fall on a slippery floor, a flight of stairs or an uneven patch of ground. Slip and fall accidents normally result in abrasions, sprains or broken bones. But sometimes, they can result in catastrophic injuries such as brain injuries or spinal cord injuries, and death. In such cases, it is important to determine how the fall occurred, who was at fault and who should be held liable.
There are many instances where improper maintenance or failure to properly warn visitors about existing hazards may lead to a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. A common example is when a liquid is spilled on a supermarket floor. The supermarket employees are required to immediately mop up the wet area, and place barriers around the spot so no else falls. If someone slips and falls on the wet floor, the supermarket could be held liable for the injuries sustained by the victim as a result of the fall.
When is the property owner liable? There are certain criteria that must be met in order to hold the owner accountable. In such cases, the property owner must have caused, or failed to correct the spill or dangerous surface. The owner of the property or premises may have known about the dangerous condition, but have done nothing about it. Liability in slip and fall, and trip and fall cases is often decided by common sense. Judges and juries will usually determine whether the property owner maintained the property well and took reasonable steps to fix existing problems.
If you have been injured in a New York slip and fall accident or a trip and fall accident, please remember that you do have legal rights. The experienced New York personal injury attorneys of the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm are here to help. Remember, you don’t have to shell out a penny until we recover compensation for you. We can send our representative, often within the same day, and provide a free consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your personal injury claim. Call us at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help you with your accident if it occurred in New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit our website: www.work4youlaw.com