Slip & Fall Lawyer FAQ
As leading slip and fall lawyers, we’ve been asked so many questions about slip and fall cases over the years. Below are some common and unique questions that you should know the answers to before you file a slip and fall lawsuit.
Call 1-800-HURT-511 to speak with our slip and fall lawyers. We’ve secured favorable judgments for slip and fall victims throughout the Five Boroughs, and we’ll make sure you get properly compensated for your injuries.
What Causes Individuals To Slip And Fall?
The following factors often cause individuals to slip and fall:
- Wet and slippery floors
- Ice and snow
- Defective surfaces like torn carpet, broken tiles, and eroding steps
- Poor lighting
- Unmarked hazards
- Uneven surfaces
- Debris
Where Do Individuals Slip And Fall The Most (Outside Their Homes)?
Below are common locations where individuals may slip and fall:
- Workplaces
- Sidewalks
- Apartment buildings
- Private residences
- Retail stores
- Supermarkets
- Theme parks
- Concert venues
- Sports stadiums
- Government buildings
- Subways
- Construction sites
- Public parks & trails
Who’s Liable In A Slip And Fall Case?
In the instance where an individual slips, falls, and gets injured while on another’s property, it’s often the owner of the property where the injury occurred who’s held liable for damages. All slip and fall cases fall under an area of law known as premises liability. Under this doctrine, a property owner is expected to prevent against foreseeable accidents, and they’re also expected to keep their property in good condition.
If there are hazards present on the property, these must be properly marked. If an individual slips, falls, and gets injured at a property where they’re either a guest or someone conducting business, they may sue the property owner for negligence under premises liability law.
Which Injuries Are Common In Slip And Fall Cases?
While a variety of injuries can result from slipping and falling, the ones listed below are the most common:
- Muscle tears & strains
- Broken bones
- Dislocations
- Cuts and bruises
- Sprains
- Knee damage
- A traumatic brain injury TBI)
- Concussions
- A broken pelvis
Can I Sue My Neighbor If I Slipped & Fell At Their Property?
If you were invited to somebody’s home as a guest, and you slipped and fell during your time there, you may be able to recover damages from the homeowner who invited you if certain conditions are met. Homeowners are responsible for telling their guests about any dangerous conditions that exist on their property, and a homeowner is also expected to keep the property in good condition (under premises liability law).
If, for example, a house guest is in the basement and they slip and fall because they stepped on a puddle that’s in front of a washer that the homeowner knows is prone to leaking, it’s likely the house guest would be able to successfully sue for damages because the homeowner did not take necessary steps to fix the problem, nor did they tell their guest about it.
What Happens If I Slipped And Fell At A Rental Property?
Slip and fall cases are often complex when they involve tenants and landlords. While landlords are responsible for maintaining their properties, there are instances where a renter’s negligence creates the hazardous condition which caused them to slip and fall. A renter may also fail to make a hazard known to their landlord in a timely manner, and in this instance the landlord wouldn’t be liable if the hazard ended up injuring the renter.
If you’re renting in Brooklyn and you believe a recent fall was because of your landlord’s negligence, contact our slip and fall lawyers in Brooklyn immediately.
What Do I Do If I Slipped And Fell At Work?
If you slip, fall, and get injured at your workplace or in the course of performing work responsibilities, then it’s likely you’ll be compensated for your injuries through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Not all employers, however, are required to carry this insurance, and not all slip and fall accidents are covered. For example, if you slipped and fell while horsing around with one of your coworkers, your injuries will not be covered. The same goes for those who slip and fall on the job while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
How Do You Sue A Store Where You Slipped And Fell?
Under premises liability law, store owners are responsible for keeping their properties safe for their customers and employees. Regular inspections should be conducted to ensure there are no dangerous conditions, and if dangerous conditions are found, these must be marked properly so customers and employees steer clear.
For example, if you’re at the local pharmacy and you slip on a puddle of spilled medicine—and it seems the substance had been there for awhile and there was no warning indicating the danger—a court may find that the hazard could’ve been corrected, in which case the store owner would be obligated to pay you damages.
Can I Sue If I Slipped In A Parking Lot Because Of Ice?
In most states, property owners aren’t required to deal with ice and snow accumulation. However, there are instances where abnormal ice and snow accumulation lead to slip and fall injuries, and in these instances it’s typically found that property owners should’ve done something to mitigate the ice and snow accumulation. Moreover, if a property owner is contractually obligated to provide ice and snow removal services for their tenants, they must do an adequate job, or else they risk being held liable for a slip and fall injury.
Do Slip And Fall Cases Involve Building Code Violations?
If a property owner violated local codes and these violations led to an individual slipping, falling, and getting hurt on the property, the building owner will most likely be help liable for not keeping their property up to code. For example, if local code mandates that all exterior steps must have handrails, and a guest slips on your steps and there aren’t any handrails present, the injured party may cite the code violation (the handrails being absent) as the reason why they slipped and fell.
Should I Hire A Lawyer After I Slip And Fall?
There are many reasons why hiring a lawyer is a good move after you’ve been injured from slipping and falling at somebody else’s property. A qualified and experienced slip and fall lawyer will navigate the legal process on your behalf, and they’ll make sure all fault-bearing parties are sued for damages. They’ll also make sure you demand fair compensation, and should your case go to trial, they’ll be able to represent your interests in court in front of a judge and jury.
Call the Sanders Law Firm now at 1-800-HURT-511 to speak with our highly sought after slip and fall lawyers. Whether you’re in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, or NYC, we’ll represent you.
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