Two People Dead in NYC after Slipping and Falling on Ice

 Two men were fatally injured in separate incidents after they slipped and fell on ice in frigid temperatures, underscoring how deadly these types of accidents can be. According to news reports, both incidents occurred on the same day. An 85-year-old man died after he stumbled and fell while walking through the snowstorm in Queens. He apparently lost his balance in a parking lot behind a building on Beach 19th Street in Far Rockaway. He died a short time later at a local hospital.

In another incident, a doorman shoveling the steps of his Upper East Side building died after he slipped and tumbled down the stairs. In what turned out to be a grisly accident, the man’s throat was slit as his head crashed through a window. The 59-year-old worker was clearing the stairs leading from the sidewalk to the basement lobby entrance of 333 East 93rd Street when he lost his footing and fell. The man suffered deep cuts to his neck and face, losing a lot of blood. He was rushed to a local hospital, but died from his injuries shortly afterward. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these two victims for their tragic losses.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents in the Winter
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2014, there were 42,480 workplace injuries and illnesses involving ice, sleet or snow that required at least one day away from work to recuperate. A majority of these weather-related incidents in the workplace involved slip and fall accidents. Out of these injuries, 82 percent were due to falls on the same level (as opposed to falls from heights). Statistics show that in 2014, New York led the nation when it came to workers slipping and falling on snow and ice with 4,470 incidents followed by Pennsylvania (2,390) and Michigan (2,040).
Slip-and-falls or trip-and-fall incidents involving ice build up on roads and walkways can definitely lead to serious injuries. Some victims who fall are lucky to get up without injury and walk away. But many are not as fortunate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year, more than 800,000 people are hospitalized due to a fall injury and the most common reason for a hospitalization is either a hip fracture or a head injury. In fact, the majority of traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. are caused by falls. As we saw in these two most recent cases in New York City, slipping and falling on ice may prove fatal as well.
How New York City’s Laws Apply
New York City has specific rules for buildings that concern snow and ice removal. These laws aim to protect pedestrians by requiring that buildings remove the snow no later than four hours after the snowfall ends. The city’s Administrative Code also requires all businesses to remove the snow and ice from their sidewalks. This law applies to multi-family dwelling and houses of worship as well.
Injuries and Compensation
Whether you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident on ice at work, on someone else’s property, on a sidewalk or on the street, please understand that you have legal rights and options. You may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can help you secure maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
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
Sources: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/elderly-man-dies-slip-fall-walking-snowstorm-article-1.2968698
http://nypost.com/2017/02/09/doorman-dies-after-freak-accident-while-shoveling-snow/