New York Slip & Fall Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered a slip and fall injury, you may be entitled to substantial damages. An experienced New York slip and fall lawyer from Alonso Krangle LLP may be able to help you get the compensation you should receive. Call our personal injury law firm today at (800) 403-6191 to schedule a no-obligation consultation, let our NY slip & fall lawyers assess your case and advise you as to whether we are able to help.
Andres Alonso and David Krangle have 50 years of collective experience fighting for the rights of personal injury victims in New York and New Jersey. Whether injured by the negligence of another, carelessness of a corporation or an intentional act, we can help. We have helped out clients throughout New York and New Jersey recover millions of dollars for their injuries. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we are not paid unless we get you paid.
How Our New York Slip and Fall Lawyers Fight for Victims to Recover Financial Awards
We know that suffering a serious and debilitating slip and fall injury can leave you with financial burdens, especially if you must miss work to recover. Our experienced New York slip and fall lawyers fight hard on behalf of the injured to achieve the full compensation they deserve for their damages. We will investigate your case thoroughly, gather evidence from those responsible and work diligently to get the settlement you deserve.
Our attorneys represent clients in both New York state and federal courts, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau County and Suffolk County. We will meet with you for a confidential consultation to discuss your slip & fall accident case at no cost or obligation.
Our Attorneys Assess Your Injuries and Legal Liability
Our Melville slip and fall accident lawyers need to work with you and review medical records to assess your injuries. Whether in New York City, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey or other area – you have a right to be safe and not face injury.
Under New York personal injury law, you need both liability and injuries to recover damages, typically from the property owner as well as other liable parties (which may include a building tenant, a company responsible for maintenance, a company which creates a dangerous situation or other party).
Let A Trip and Fall Attorney on Our Team Evaluate Your Injuries
Your injuries are the basis of your lawsuit. The more serious injury you sustain in your slip and fall case, the higher your damages we would seek. We will consider factors such as:
- Whether the injury constitutes a serious injury or minor injury
- The circumstances of the accident and location where it occurred
- The length of time for recovery
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Other damages
Our goal is to get you fully compensated based in the injuries sustained.
We also focus on assessing liability, which begins with conducting an investigation into all aspects of your accident to determine who was at fault. We obtain police reports, obtain photos and take statements from witnesses. It’s also important that we establish liability for your injuries under the legal doctrine of negligence, which means someone failed to act with reasonable consideration for the safety of others.
To recover damages, either the insurance company needs to settle or the court needs to reach a determination that someone else was, in part or in full, responsible for your injury. We Help You Recover Damages for Your Losses.
We Provide You with Knowledgeable Legal Advice and Personalized Service
You will not be treated like a case number when you come to Alonso Krangle LLP. Every client we take on receives individual attention. We do not assign your case to junior associates. Our partners review all files carefully in order to provide the best possible legal advice and representation.
As seasoned attorneys, we remain current on the changing legal landscape that may impact your case. We also monitor New York slip and fall accident case law developments to keep abreast of future changes in the law that could impact your ability to recover damages for your injuries.
You Deserve Experienced Long Island and New York City Slip & Fall Lawyers
Why hire the slip and fall attorneys at Alonso Krangle, LLP? Because they know how to win. We’ve been protecting the legal rights of injury victims for decades, giving us the necessary experience to help you recover damages for your injuries.
Remember, we do not charge a fee unless we get money for you!
We Can Negotiate a Settlement with the Defendant’s Insurance Carrier
Our slip and fall attorneys give you peace of mind by negotiating or taking your cases to trial. We provide quality legal representation for our clients, but we also understand that sometimes settling is the best solution. Our experience and expertise will come into play when we negotiate on your behalf with insurance company representatives to get you a fair settlement that covers all your losses.
Achieving a fair settlement is not always easy, but Alonso Krangle LLP’s team of slip and fall attorneys have the knowledge and skills to get you maximum compensation for your injuries.
We Can Litigate the Case in Civil Court
In the event we can not reach a settlement, Alonso Krangle, LLP is prepared to litigate your case – and the insurance companies know this. Not all attorneys can achieve the same outcome, and insurance companies tend to settle more aggressively with law firms that are more experienced and willing to take your personal injury claim to trial.
What Will a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Do to Represent Me?
While you are entitled to compensation for injuries, we must still establish your case and liability. Let us handle the legal side of things while you concentrate on healing. Our skilled attorneys will work hard to obtain the greatest possible outcome for your injuries.
The slip and fall attorneys at Alonso Krangle LLP will help you:
- Investigate your claim to determine liability for your injuries
- Review all evidence related to your accident
- Evaluate your injuries and potential compensation
- Consult with experts including medical experts and engineers
- Analyze similar cases to help determine the value of your settlement
- Negotiate with the insurance company to try to reach a settlement
- Litigate on your behalf to obtain the best possible outcome
In the end, it is our job as personal injury attorneys to maximize compensation for your serious injuries.
What Are Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?
According to the CDC, an alarming number of slip and fall accidents occur each year. These accidents are responsible for over two million injuries annually. The majority of slip and fall events occur in the home or at commercial establishments. Injuries range from minor to severe, including approximately 17,000 deaths each year.
Many of these trip and fall injuries are preventable, caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party, poor maintenance, improper design, construction that does not comply with applicable construction and real estate code, and other factors.
Inadequate lighting, slippery floors and walking surfaces, tripping hazards, defective stairs or ramps, and poor housekeeping are all factors which can lead to a slip and fall injury.
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Sidewalk falls, which may include both landlord liability and municipal liability
- Ice and Snow falls caused by negligent property owners, homeowners associations, landlords, or municipal entities who fail to properly clean snow and ice
- Stairway falls that could have been prevented by proper maintenance and upkeep
- Slips and falls due to poor/defective handrails, stairs, and landings
- Wetness on floors or stairs, due to plumbing leaks or improper floor cleaning
- Slips and falls due to failure to provide adequate safety signage or barricades
- Fallen objects resulting from negligent maintenance, improperly stored material, defective display fixtures, etc.
- Broken stair treads that have been poorly maintained or repaired
- Uneven stair treads that lead to a slip and fall accident
- Slips, trips, and falls due to an improperly maintained or obstructed walkway
- Improper risers in stair treads which are too high or too low according to code
- Failure to clean up spills in stores, restaurants and other locations
- Defective handrails that were not built according to code, or that are too short or nonslip for safety reasons
- Uneven flooring surfaces that were not built to industry standards
- Uneven walking surfaces caused by worn carpeting or torn tile flooring
- Slippery floors caused by spilled liquids or debris, condensation from pipes or equipment or other sources
- Debris and clutter that presents a dangerous hazard
- Unsecured rugs and mats causing trips and falls
- Loose wiring or cables that may be tripped over
- Improper maintenance or lack of sufficient lighting for walkways and staircases
- Slips and falls on grocery store floors due to poor sanitation practices
- Slips and falls caused by oil deposits from vehicles or construction equipment
- and many other causes
Sidewalk Falls in New York City and Long Island
Sidewalk falls are particularly common in large metropolitan areas with significant amounts of pedestrian traffic.
The majority of sidewalk trip and falls occur when the injured party slips on ice, snow, wet leaves, spilled liquids or other debris that has not been cleared away from a public sidewalk or street by city personnel. Others are caused by uneven, improperly installed or poorly maintained sidewalks.
These slip and fall events can be attributed to negligent property owners in NYC and elsewhere, homeowners associations, landlords and municipal entities who fail to properly clear snow and ice from public sidewalks.
Sidewalk falls often involve municipal liability, especially in NYC where they are so heavily used. However, the normal statue of limitations for a personal injury action does not apply to municipalities. For municipality property owners, your attorney needs to file a notice of claim within 90 days of the accident. This is true in NYC slip and fall accidents, as well as the rest of New York and Long Island
Do not wait until the last minute to hire an attorney, as they will not have time to prepare your notice of claim on your behalf.
Ice and Snow Falls
Another common form of slip and fall injury is caused by ice and snow falls. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable to this type of accident, as are young children who may have more difficulty maintaining their footing on slippery surfaces.
A majority of these slip and falls are attributable to negligent property owners, homeowners associations, landlords or municipal entities who fail to properly clear snow and ice from public sidewalks.
Stairway Falls and Broken Stair Treads
Stairway falls are one of the most common type of slip and fall injury. Inadequate, worn or loose handrails are a major cause of stairway falls. In addition, broken steps and incorrect riser heights may lead to accidents as well.
Other causes include poor lighting in stairways, insufficient warning signals or signs, lack of slip resistant surfaces on stairs and other factors that contribute to defective, hazardous stairways.
Uneven and Slippery Floors
Slips and falls caused by uneven walking surfaces are also very common, particularly in grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, retail stores and other locations with high foot traffic.
The majority of these accidents involve spills that should have been cleaned up immediately but were not at the time of the accident. Uneven surfaces can also include torn carpets which become loose and trip individuals, as well as areas where tiles or grout have been worn down or cracked.
Inadequate warning signs regarding uneven walking surfaces also contribute to these types of injury accidents.
Debris and Clutter and Slip and Fall Accidents
Another common cause of slip and falls arises from inadequate maintenance of a commercial or residential property.
Inadequate housekeeping practices often lead to hazardous debris and clutter accumulations. Broken furniture, boxes full of old clothes or other items left in hallways, staircases or walkways may present a substantial danger to individuals walking inside the building.
Inadequate cleaning and maintenance practices may also lead to accumulations of dirt, dust and other materials on floors in areas such as aisles, hallways or walkways. These accumulations may cause individuals to slip and fall if the debris is not properly cleaned up.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?
Slip and fall injuries can occur in almost any place. Some of the most common places for slip and falls are in grocery stores, shopping malls, retail stores, restaurants, hotels and other locations where individuals walk inside.
Other locations where individuals may slip on wet or oily surfaces include gas stations, car washes, parking lots and repair garages. Was it on uneven or slippery surfaces? On broken sidewalks?
Commercial establishments, such as those in New York City, that see a high volume of customers and foot traffic, such as movie theaters and sporting events, also commonly see slip and fall accidents, as do other New York premises.
Grocery Store Slip and Fall Injuries
One of the most common types of commercial premises liability cases in New York City and Long Island involve injuries that individuals suffer inside grocery stores or other retail groceries.
Most slip and falls in these stores are caused by spills, debris or other hazardous conditions that the store failed to clean up in a timely manner.
What Are Typically Injuries Suffered by Victims of Slip and Fall Accidents in New York City and Long Island?
Victims of NYC slip and fall accounts can suffer severe, life-threatening and even deadly injuries in a fall, whether a hazardous condition, a trip and fall on a sidewalk or wet surface, or other situation.
Trip and fall accident and premises liability lawsuits often arise from these injuries. Some examples of these injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can occur in a slip and fall accident. Symptoms of a TBI include impaired cognitive abilities, such as memory or concentration; fatigue; irritability; mood swings and personality changes. Severe TBIs may leave individuals with permanent disabilities and may require long-term rehabilitative treatment.
Broken and Fractured Bones
Severe fractures commonly occur in an NYC slip and fall due to the severity of the falls. Fractured bones and broken bones can include those in the pelvis, shoulders, wrists and other locations.
Pregnancy-Related Injuries
Slip and falls are one of the leading causes of non-fatal injuries among pregnant women in New York. These accidents can cause miscarriages; abdominal injuries; damage to the uterus and other pelvic organs; and even brain and head trauma in fall victims.
Severe Burns
Burns occur when individuals slip or fall onto a hot surface like a stovetop, iron or radiator that is turned on accidentally. Severe burns may include those to the face, hands and feet
Lacerations and Cuts
Slip and fall lawsuits in New York often result in laceration and cut injuries due to the severity of falls. Some slip and falls can also cause wounds that require stitches, including facial lacerations that may require plastic surgery if the scarring is severe.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A slip and fall may result in spinal cord injuries if the individual falls down a flight of stairs or breaks their neck in some other way. Slipped vertebral discs are commonly associated with these types of injuries.
Broken Teeth
Individuals who suffer slips and falls can also sustain broken teeth, which is another common injury resulting from a slip and fall.
Head Injuries
People who slip and fall face a high risk of head injuries and brain trauma. A slip and fall accident can cause the head to hit something on its way down, such as a countertop or floor surface. This impact causes bruising and other types of damage to the skull, fractures, damage to the eye sockets and other injuries.
Concussions
Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) can occur in slip and falls. Symptoms of a concussion include headache; dizziness; nausea; memory loss; impaired vision; sleep disruption; irritability and confusion.
Back Injuries
Slip and falls can result in back injuries, including muscle strains; herniated discs; spinal compression fractures; nerve damage in the arms or legs; or even paralysis.
Leg Injuries
Some slip and falls can cause leg injuries that require surgical repair. Some victims of slip and falls may suffer Achilles tendon rupture, if they fall onto their feet.
Injuries from trip and falls can include damage to the hip, knee, ankle or foot. If a person slips and falls on an uneven surface, such as one with a raised crack or moldy spot , they may injure muscles, tendons or ligaments in the leg or foot.
Knee Injuries
Knee injuries are another type of slip and fall accident that can affect the ligaments in the knee, causing damage to cartilage or tearing of the meniscus.
Neck Injuries
Slip and fall incidents can cause nerve damage in the arms or legs, if a person slips and falls down a flight of stairs. If the slip and fall accident causes whiplash, individuals may suffer from stiffness or pain in the neck, backaches and headaches.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Slip and fall injuries can include soft tissue injuries, such as bruising or muscle tear. Soft tissue damage is often the result of a slip and fall accident.
Paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
In extreme cases, slip and fall can cause paralysis if the individual breaks their neck, suffers a head injury or sustains an injury to the spinal cord. Paralysis may affect one limb or multiple limbs, depending on the location of damage to the spinal cord.
Loss of a Limb
People may also slip and fall because of slippery surfaces or objects left on the floor, which can lead to the loss of a limb. If someone falls off a ladder and breaks their leg, they may need to have it amputated due to the severity of the injury.
Internal Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can also cause internal injuries, including damage to organs. The harsh impact of an individual hitting their floor after a slip and fall accident can cause damage to the liver, spleen or other vital organs. Fractures can also lead to internal bleeding or organ laceration if not treated immediately.
Severe Emotional and Psychological Injuries
In some slip and fall cases, the injuries are not physical in nature but rather emotional or psychological. These types of accidents may result in conditions such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or a major depressive disorder.
Wrongful Death
A slip and fall that result in death are considered wrongful deaths. Victims of wrongful death may file a claim for financial compensation if their loved one dies as a direct result of someone else’s negligent actions or behavior.
How Much Compensation Do Slip and Fall Accident Victims Receive?
Victims turn to our experienced NYC slip and fall claim attorneys, as well as those on Long Island, to help bring claims against property owners, a municipality (such as New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey), or others. They can seek financial compensation from the property owner and others with a duty of care.
The amount of compensation varies on a case-by-case basis, depending upon many factors, including liability, injuries sustained, wages lost and the insurance coverage.
Free Consultation to Evaluate Your Case
Our New York City slip and fall attorneys will provide a free consultation, analyze the property owner, assess your fall injury claim, and whether your trip and fall accident can bring you the fair compensation you deserve.
Whether on public or private property, you may have rights against the property owner, operator and others, and it is our role to help you assess your situation and help you decide whether to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Let an experienced personal injury lawyer on our team help.
Common types of Compensation
Our attorneys help identify potential sources of compensation for your case. When you speak with a New York City slip and fall lawyer or Long Island slip and fall lawyer to review your case, they will ask a variety of questions to assess your situation and what may constitute full and fair compensation: for your injuries.
Lost Wages
If a person is unable to work because of their injury from a slip and fall accident, they may be entitled to lost wages. Victims of slip and fall accidents may file a claim against the property owner for property in New York or New Jersey, or any other responsible party. They can seek their lost wages and earning potential due to being injured.
Medical Bills
Besides physical injuries, slip and fall victims also incur medical expenses. Victims of slip and fall injuries may pursue compensation for costs incurred from medical treatment, surgery or hospital stays.
Pain and Suffering
The financial cost of pain and suffering is another type of damages awarded in a slip and fall lawsuit settlement. This form of compensation is meant to cover the victim’s mental anguish associated with their injury, such as:
Compensation for Wrongful Death
Compensation is available for individuals who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to wrongful death. If you win your slip and fall lawsuit, you may be entitled to compensation.
Compensation under wrongful death provisions may include:
- Pain and suffering of the individual prior to their death
- Medical treatment costs
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of the deceased individual’s future income
Every case is different, and to assess the full and fair compensation for your situation, we need to speak with you, and discuss topics such as:
- Potential liability,
- Any hazardous condition or unsafe conditions that contributed,
- Private property owners involved,
- Public property owners involved,
- Operators, tenants and others involved,
- Whether they followed New York State law,
- Exactly where your fall occurred,
- Whether the fall caused your injuries,
- Exactly what injury occurred,
- Whether it was on someone else’s property, and
- Whether serious injuries were sustained.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Accidents in New York?
Every state, including New York has its own statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including a slip and fall case. In New York, this law limits the amount of time an individual has to file a lawsuit or be barred from doing so.
In New York, potential victim has only three years to file their claim against most entities. If one of the parties responsible is a municipality (New York State, New York City, a county, a city, town or village) the injured person must file a notice of claim within 90 days of the injury. Failure to file a timely notice of claim may result in the loss of ability to file a legal claim against that party.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall Accident Case?
As with any personal injury claim, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant was negligent. If negligence cannot be proven, the plaintiff may not win their case or recover compensation for damages.
The property owner’s negligence can manifest in several ways including (but not limited to):
- The property owner’s failure to correct a dangerous condition on their property despite notice of its existence is grounds for negligence.
- The property is built in a negligent way, not to code, with inferior materials.
- The properly is not properly maintained or illuminated.
- The property owner or occupant is aware of the dangerous condition, or should be aware of it, but did nothing to warn visitors.
- The property owner was aware of the dangerous condition and failed to fix it in a reasonable amount of time (depending on the situation).
A New York City slip and fall lawyer at our law firm must prove that you were injured because someone else did not exercise reasonable care, and that you were harmed as a result of their lack of reasonable care.
By establishing the property owner’s negligence, whether on Long Island, in New York City, the boroughs or elsewhere, we are able to demonstrate your entitlement to compensation from that property owner and/or operator.
Our Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in New York Handle all Sorts of Cases
The New York slip and fall attorneys at our law firm have handled all types of personal injury cases. We handle cases throughout New York, including New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and northern New Jersey.
In addition to slip and fall, we’ve helped victims of medical malpractice; automobile, truck and motorcycle accidents; wrongful death; defective products; dangerous prescription drugs and medical devices; sexual abuse; premises liability; and a range of other cases involving injuries to a victim.
Contact Our New York Slip and Fall Lawyers Today and Learn What Your Case is Worth
If you’ve been injured in an accident of any sort, contact our New York City slip and fall lawyers and our Melville slip and fall lawyers. Our personal injury law attorneys will help you better understand your case and explain what we can do to help you get the compensation that you deserve.
Contact us today at (800) 403-6191 for a free consultation and case review. We will fight for you to get you the money you deserve.
I want to thank you for your kindness and compassionate communication through this process. I truly want to thank you for your time and for being such an advocate for people! The world needs more people like yourself .
All my best to you,