Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), more than 1 million Americans visit the emergency room each year for injuries caused by slip and fall accidents. Some falls are just accidents caused by inattention or unforeseeable conditions. In many premises liability cases, however, fault for the accident rests on a negligent property owner, rather than the injured party.
In these cases, the attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy commit themselves to holding the negligent parties accountable and recovering maximum compensation on behalf of those who have been hurt.
If you or a loved one has been injured on another’s property, our slip and fall lawyers can help you recover compensation for damages. To receive a no-cost, no-obligation review of your case, call 212-736-5300 or fill out our contact form.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
While not every premises liability accident can be attributed to a property owner’s negligence, many injuries are caused by unsafe property conditions which should have been preventable. Whether they occur in a shopping mall, grocery store or other business, there are a variety of conditions that can cause indoor slip and fall accidents, such as:
- Failure to provide adequate signage or notice when a floor is slippery, damp or freshly waxed
- Failure to provide barriers to sections of floor that are slippery and unsafe
- Using excessive wax or polish that creates a slippery surface
- Failure to use a safe, nonskid floor treatment when appropriate
- Ignoring worn, torn or bulging areas of carpeted floors, or rugs with unsecured edges
- Failure to repair stairs when steps are worn down or rounded
- Failure to keep stairs free of debris
- Failure to maintain a nonskid surface on steps
- Missing or broken handrails on stairs or escalators
A property owner or manager may also be liable for dangerous outdoor conditions, including:
- Excessive accumulation of snow or ice caused by melting and refreezing, or by dripping pipes
- Negligent or inconsistent use of snow or ice removal services
- Inadequate outdoor lighting
- Inadequate supervision at swimming pools or other areas with a high risk of falls
- Failure to maintain a parking lot in a safe manner by patching cracks and avoiding steep height changes
- Failure to maintain sidewalks and walkways that are safe, uniform and free of hazards
- Failure to fill or warn patrons of ditches, trenches and potholes
Unsafe property conditions can occur anywhere. But while it may seem simple to determine when a property owner is at fault for a slip and fall which occurs on their property, establishing negligence under New York premises liability law can be a difficult task.
Who Is Responsible?
In slip and fall claims, defendants often include property owners, property management companies and employees. If the accident occurred on public property, a municipal entity, such as New York City, the Metropolitan Authority (MTA) or New York State, may be liable. Identifying all responsible parties can help your attorneys build the strongest possible claim and maximize the compensation you receive for your injuries.
At Block O’Toole & Murphy, our New York premises liability attorneys have a thorough understanding of the laws applicable to slip and fall lawsuits. From decades of experience securing record-setting results for injured clients, we know how to swiftly and accurately identify responsible parties. Our record of success affords us the resources to conduct a timely, thorough examination of the conditions surrounding your accident – and get to work holding the negligent party accountable.
Representative Case: $2.75 Million for an Outdoor Trip and Fall
In a past slip and fall lawsuit which Block O’Toole & Murphy settled, our client, a lifelong New Yorker, fell because two sidewalk flags were positioned with a height differential of nearly two inches. She sustained injuries to both knees and required four knee surgeries as a result.
The property owner and managing company argued that the hazard was trivial and they had no reason to be aware of it. Had they succeeded with that argument, our client would not have been able to recover the compensation she needed for her medical bills and other damages. Fortunately, our attorneys were able to demonstrate that the sidewalk defect had existed for enough time that the defendants should have known about it.
By identifying the cause of the injury, investigating the history of the property and making a compelling argument that the defendants should have known about the hazard, our team was able to secure a $2,750,000 settlement for our client’s injuries.
Visit our Verdicts and Settlements page to learn more about our history of success representing clients in premises liability cases.
Get Answers About Your Case. Schedule a Free Consultation Today.
The sooner you reach out to our team of accident attorneys, the more thoroughly we can investigate the details of your case and begin holding the responsible party accountable. We have helped hundreds of clients secure the compensation necessary to make a full recovery from their injuries.
To speak with a lawyer about your case in a free consultation, please call our New York office at 212-736-5300. Serving clients based in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island, Upstate New York State and New Jersey.