Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of severe injuries and death across the U.S. You may be entitled to compensation if you’ve become injured after slipping and falling in Long Island. Under New York law, victims of accidents can pursue damages from negligent property owners.
The personal injury attorneys at Dell & Dean, PLLC know how to hold negligent property owners accountable for their negligence. If you or your loved one are facing severe, life-altering injuries after a slip and fall accident, we are prepared to help you by fighting for the compensation you need and deserve. Contact Dell & Dean, PLLC to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation case evaluation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents are among the most common reasons people visit the emergency room and receive medical care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that slip-and-fall accidents cause 32,000 deaths annually in the United States. Additionally, approximately one out of every four falls causes an injury, and falls account for nearly three million emergency room visits for older individuals annually.
Approximately 319,000 older individuals are hospitalized for hip fractures caused by falls every year. Many slip and fall accidents are preventable and happen due to negligence. Some of the most common causes include the following:
- Potholes
- Broken, uneven, or loose stairs
- No handrails in staircases
- Loose mats, rugs, and carpeting
- Slippery, wet floors
- Inadequate lighting in aisles, stairwells, and pathways
- Clutter and debris in walkways and aisles
- Electrical cords protruding in walkways
- Unsafe ladders
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Commonly Occur?
Slip-and-fall accidents can happen nearly anywhere, from an office building floor to an icy step. However, they are more likely to happen in certain common places. Retail environments, Grocery stores, and some restaurants and bars may have polished, smooth floors that can quickly become slippery. A slip-and-fall accident is far more likely to happen when a person spills liquid on slippery floors.
Icy or Slippery Sidewalks and Parking Lots
Parking lots and slippery sidewalks are also dangerous. Cracks, uneven pavement, potholes, or ice that hasn’t been defrosted can cause dangerous accidents. Many of these areas have poor lighting, which makes slip-and-fall accidents even more likely.
Dangerous Stairs and Escalators
Property owners are legally obligated to keep their stairs and escalators reasonably safe. Unfortunately, poorly maintained escalators and stairs are far too common. Inadequate lighting, missing handrails, uneven steps, and slippery services can all cause slip-and-fall accidents in office buildings, subway stations, malls, and other locations with stairs and escalators.
Slip and Fall Accidents in Hospitals and Healthcare facilities
Patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities are at a higher risk of being injured in a slip-and-fall accident. When patients aren’t being monitored or helped to and from the bathroom, in and out of wheelchairs, and walk down the hallway, they may slip and fall while getting out of their beds or wheelchairs. Spills from fluids or medications and cluttered hallways make healthcare facilities dangerous locations for slip and fall injuries.
Slip and Fall Injuries Can Be Severe
Falls can cause serious, life-altering injuries. When someone hits the hard ground, they can experience torn ligaments, cuts, bruises, sprains, and broken bones. Some of the most severe injuries include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) caused by a person hitting their head on a shelf or another object as they fall or on the hard ground. People can even suffer spinal cord injuries that lead to partial or complete paralysis. Older individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing hip fractures, which can be challenging to heal from and may cause lifelong pain and immobility. Serious injuries can result in temporary or permanent disability, chronic discomfort, the need for long-term medical care, and a loss of earning capacity. Victims can also experience emotional trauma from their injuries.
How to Obtain Compensation
Pursuing compensation after a slip and fall injury is one of your most important steps. After receiving medical care for your injuries, you must contact an attorney. An attorney can review the facts of your case, identify who is liable for your injuries, and develop a strategy for recovering the most compensation possible. There are two main ways to recover compensation: an insurance claim and a personal injury lawsuit.
If you became injured on someone else’s premises, you can file a claim through their insurance policy. If filing an insurance claim isn’t the best option, you may have the right to pursue a premises liability lawsuit against the property owner for damages. The victims can pursue the following types of damages:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income and a loss of future earning capacity
- Permanent injuries caused by disability
- Pain and suffering
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Proving Liability
To recover compensation, you must show that someone else’s actions or actions were negligent and that the accident resulted in your injuries. For example, if a property owner knew their staircase was dangerous because of uneven steps and low lighting and failed to fix the problems, they can be held liable for the resulting injuries.
Restaurant owners, hotel owners, property owners, and local governments have a legal duty to keep their premises relatively safe. They can be liable for slip-and-fall accidents if they breach their duty by failing to clean up spilled liquid, keep their steps free from ice, pick up debris, and fix other dangerous conditions.
Contact a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Long Island
At Dell & Dean, PLLC, our Long Island slip and fall accident attorneys have extensive experience representing victims of personal injury accidents. We’ve successfully recovered millions of dollars in compensation for clients, and we’re prepared to help you understand your rights and pursue the damages you need and deserve. Don’t hesitate to contact Dell & Dean, PLLC to schedule an initial case evaluation and learn more about your legal rights and options.
