Staten Island Landlord Settles Case Involving Slip-and-Fall on Ice

 A Staten Island landlord has settled a slip-and-fall accident case for $200,000, the Staten Island Advance reported. According to the article, the case involved a medical worker who suffered an ankle fracture after she slipped and fell on ice two years ago in the parking lot of the Dongan Hills building where she worked. The 35-year-old woman was employed as a lab assistant and phlebotomist at the lab on Richmond Road.

Victim Suffers Ankle Injuries
She was taken to a local hospital with a fractured left ankle and underwent surgery, according to court documents. The woman sued the building’s owner and the managing agent in Staten Island Supreme Court. The defendants said they were not liable and invoked the “storm in progress” doctrine, which says a property owner does not have a duty to clear snow while it is still snowing.
The law requires that once the storm has stopped, responsible parties (property owner, property manager, etc.) must clear the snow within a reasonable time period. The woman argued that she fell on ice that was beneath a thin layer of snow. Her lawsuit alleged that the pitch and grade of the parking lot created a ponding condition, causing ice to form in below-freezing temperatures. The complaint also stated that the defendants knew about the recurring ponding, but failed to rectify the problem.
What Are NYC’s Snow Removal Laws?
When it comes to snow removal, New York City has some very specific rules for buildings. These laws aim to protect pedestrians. New York City requires that the snow be removed no later than four hours after the snowfall ends.
If it is challenging to remove the snow due to packed ice or other conditions, the building may be allowed to place down snowmelt or other products for traction. Once the snow has melted, it should be removed right away. Property owners or management companies are also prohibited from shoveling the snow on to the streets. As far as sidewalks are concerned, the city’s Administrative Code requires all businesses and property owners including multi-family dwellings and houses of worship to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks.
Knowing Your Rights
If you are injured in a slip-and-fall accident on ice due to a property owner or property manager’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. There are a number of steps you can take to protect your rights. First, report the incident to the property owner or property management and obtain a copy for your records. Use your cell phone to take pictures of the icy area you fell on. Photo and surveillance video can help show where you fell, how you fell and whether snow and ice were accumulated in the area. Try to obtain statements from eyewitnesses corroborating your account of the incident. It is also important that you get prompt medical attention and treatment for your injuries. Keep track of all expenses you have incurred as a result of the injury. Immediately contact an experienced New York City slip-and-fall attorney who can help protect your rights and help you secure maximum compensation for your losses.
Compensation for Victims
Slip-and-fall accidents on snow and ice can result in serious injuries such as head injuries, neck and back trauma, broken bone injuries, etc. Injured victims of slip-and-fall accidents can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident on snow or ice, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at 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. 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
Source: http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2017/01/200k_settlement_for_medical_wo.html