The New York slip and fall accident lawyers at the law firm of Jaroslawicz & Jaros have been successfully representing persons and their families who have suffered injuries as a result of slip-and-fall accidents for over 45 years.
There are many causes of slip-and-fall accidents that result from dangerous property conditions at both residential and commercial properties. Some of the many causes are icy sidewalks that were not properly cleaned and salted; a broken, uneven or cracked sidewalk pavement; spilled liquids on stairs, hallways or supermarket aisles; deteriorated or broken ramps, steps or handrails; dangerous and defective equipment at gyms; and many other causes too numerous to mention.
For a free consultation with an experienced lawyer, call Jaroslawicz & Jaros in New York at 212.227.2780. You can also contact us by completing our our online questionnaire. Let us help you get the compensation you need and deserve.
What is a slip and fall accident?
A “slip and fall" accident - sometimes called “trip and fall accidents" happen when someone falls on another person’s or company’s property. In NYC slip and fall cases, it’s often the property owner at fault for the accident because of neglect relating to a hazard or hazardous conditions.
Although a slip and fall accident might seem like a minor issue compared to constuction accidents or vehicle accidents, they can be every bit as serious. Slip and fall injuries can be severe - including broken bones, spinal damage, head injuries. Sadly, slip and fall victims can even succumb to their injuries, so it’s not uncommon for a slip and fall attorney at a personal injury law firm to handle wrongful death claims. Rest assured, if you’ve lost a loved one because of the actions or inactions of someone else, you can expect us to fight with grit and determination when we act on your behalf - but with care and compassion when we discuss your case with you.
Ultimately, there’s no one cause or injury relating to slip and fall accidents - so if you’ve been injured, you should always get in touch with an experienced NYC slip and fall lawyer to understand if you have a case. With decades of experience successful pursuing slip and fall cases and helping to shape the New York State law, we’re perfectly positioned to help.
What might cause a slip and fall claim?
There’s no single cause for a slip and fall accident case. Instead, there are countless issues that can be overlooked by property owners that can lead to serious injuries. These issues often include:
Uneven surfaces
When we walk, our feet are very close to the ground - even as we step forward. This makes uneven surfaces especially dangerous, as even catching your foot slightly can leave you off-balance and liable to fall.
Uneven surfaces include misaligned paving materials, loose carpets and rugs, corroded or damaged flooring - and much more.
Unsuitable surfaces
Some surfaces just are not suitable for walking on safely. As such, people are far more likely to slip, trip, or fall. Gravelled sufaces, surfaces that don’t drain water, and surfaces that are particularly dangerous when wet can be examples of surfaces that should not see footfall.
Cluttered walkways
Clutter makes walkways or paths dangerous for people to negotiate. It’s no unreasonable to expect to be able to walk through a space without having to side-step, climb, or move items - so when they’re there, it can result in collisions and falls.
It’s not possible to keep an area tidy all the time - but if someone’s health and safety relies on it, it’s the duty of the property owner to make sure it’s done.
Slippery sufaces
New York City sees the full spectrum of weather - including our fair share of rain, snow, and ice. Unfortunately, some surfaces turn slick when wet, making falls far more likely.
In other cases, sidewalks and paved areas can collect ice and snow when the weather is poor. While we all know to take care in poor conditions, property owners also have a duty of care to make sure their property doesn’t represent an additional risk.
Poor lighting
Obsticles and hazards in our path can only be avoided if they can be seen - which is why lighting is so important. Without the correct level of light, we have to trust that a walkway is safe - and if the lights are neglected, it’s not uncommon to find the overall property is neglected and dangerous too.
No handrails or supports
When staircases or steps are constructed, it’s important that they have adequate support for users. Unfortunately, this is often overlooked or forgotten - either for design purposes or because a property owner’s negligence means issues have no been dealt with.
Falls up or down stairs can be incredible hazardous and often result in catastrophic life-changing injuries.
Construction equipment
New York can often feel like an never-ending series of constuction projects - and often, that construction spills out into areas accessed by the public.
Construction sites have far more hazards than typical public areas - including materials, tools, equipment, vehicles, excavations, and more. With the right training, these can be avoided - but for most of us, they can be an accident scene waiting to happen.
No warning signs
Sometimes, property issues happen that are completely out of the hands of the person responsible. Perhaps a storm forces rain to drip into a tiled surface, maybe cleaning is taking place, or maybe some repair work is underway.
If this is the case and an additional slip and fall hazard is present, people should be made aware of it with the appropriate signage. If this isn’t present, the hazard may not be seen.
What is a typcial slip and fall injury?
As you can no doubt tell from the huge range of different slip and fall hazards that can be found in New York City, slip and fall attorneys deal with a huge range of injuries. These can include:
Sadly, slip and fall accident victims can sometimes be injured so seriously that they simply cannot recovery. We have supported numerous families whose loved ones have died as a result of the injuries they’ve suffered in a slip or fall. In cases like this, we will sensitively explain what’s involved with a wrongful death lawsuit and support you through the process.
What is a slip and fall case worth?
Since every slip and fall premises liability claim is a little different, there’s no set figure that we can quote for a potential settlement.
Rather than looking for a set figure, we will help you to understand what your claim could be worth. We base this on a number of factors, including your medical bills, lost wages, the pain and suffering you’ve had to deal with since the injury occured, and a number of other factors.
With decades of experience handling slip and fall cases, we can make sure we anticipate future damages you may face too. Lost work opportunities, changes to your routines and relationships, the effect on your family - and much more. Insurance companies or property owners’ attorneys will often jump in quickly to try to settle your case - but it’s important you don’t let them decide what your claim is worth. Instead, we’ll carefully consider everything and work towards a figure that reflects the true impact of your injuries and the effect on your life.
Past Results
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$1.6 Million verdict for a 36-year-old man who slipped and fell on slippery steps while in a hotel and suffered hip and back injuries
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$1.125 Million settlement for a man who suffered injuries when there was an explosion at his home
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$900,000 settlement for a woman who tripped over a raised oil cap on a sidewalk and injured her shoulder
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$850,000 settlement for a woman who slipped and fell on ice while working at the airport
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$800,000 settlement for a woman who tripped and fell over uneven pavement while crossing the street and suffered a leg injury
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$665,000 settlement for a man who suffered a knee injury when he slipped on ice
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$600,000 settlement for a 62-year-old woman who suffered a shoulder injury when she fell while in a hospital for medical treatment
Our staff of dedicated professionals is proud of the fact that we have been involved in many cases that were decided by the higher courts on various appeals that have helped shape and define the law of slip-and-fall accidents in the State of New York.
Examples Of Slip-And-Fall Cases
Slip And Fall On Ice
In a slip and fall on ice, the attorneys at Jaroslawicz & Jaros were successful in the case of Hecht v. City of New York, 02 Civ. 4029 (JGK) (JCF) United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. In a negligence claim for falling on ice, the court found it survived summary judgment because the evidence established that the building superintendent attached a hose to a water spigot, left the water in the “on" position, and did not advise the resident that it was necessary to turn the water off to prevent the hose from icing and bursting.
Settlement For Client Injured At Health Club
Jaroslawicz & Jaros was successful in the case of Kaplan v. Lucille Roberts Health Clubs Inc., Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department 63 A.D.3d 470 (2009), 880 N.Y.S.2d 284. The court decided that there were issues of fact as to whether the plaintiff, a paying member at the club, was limited to choosing among defective step-aerobic boards supplied by the club for participation in a club-sponsored class, and whether defendants had notice that a fair number of those boards allegedly lacked stabilizing bottom grips. Factual issues exist as to whether the absence of these grips unreasonably increased the risk of use of the boards, whether this risk was apparent to the plaintiff and whether it proximately caused her injury. Jaroslawicz & Jaros then proceeded to obtaining a substantial settlement for this client.
CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
If you or a loved one has a claim involving a slip-and-fall accident that has resulted in a serious physical injury and are in need of legal assistance, call Jaroslawicz & Jaros in New York at 212-227-2780, or submit an online questionnaire.
The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call to ensure that you do not waive your right to compensation. Or you can email Abraham Jaros directly at ajaros@lawjaros.com.
