Slip and fall accidents can happen nearly anywhere, from a staircase at work to an icy step outside a retail store. Some slip-and-fall accidents result in minor injuries, such as bruises and contusions, that heal within a few days. Other slip and fall accidents involve catastrophic or fatal injuries, including head injuries and bone fractures.
Property owners are legally responsible for keeping their premises safe for visitors and customers. They should remove any hazards that could cause a slip-and-fall accident or warn visitors about the dangerous conditions. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident that wasn’t your fault in Garden City or throughout New York, you’ll benefit from speaking to an experienced attorney. The personal injury attorneys at Dell & Dean, PLLC are prepared to help you understand your legal rights and pursue the full compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Property owners have a legal obligation to keep their properties safe for their visitors. This legal obligation includes keeping their premises free from hazards or dangerous conditions that would cause visitors to slip and fall. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a property owner’s negligence, you may have the right to pursue compensation from your insurance provider or through a personal injury lawsuit.
Depending on the facts in your case, you may have a valid legal claim against a property owner, manager, supervisor, or homeowner for damages caused by your injuries. Some of the most common examples of dangerous situations that can cause slip and fall injuries include the following:
- Uneven or cracked sidewalks, walkways, driveways, and boardwalks
- Slippery floors from dry product usage or spillage, including dirt, hay, sand, powder, and granules
- Slippery floors caused by product usage such as water, oil, food, and cleaning solutions
- Uncleared ice and snow in storefronts and other areas with significant foot traffic
- Uncleared trash and debris in driveways, on steps, and in parking lots
- Loose or broken handrails
- Rotten flooring, worn-out floor coverings, broken tiles, and loose carpeting
- Unsecured wiring or extension cords on floors
- Dangerous staircases without handrails
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
The steps you take after a slip and fall accident can help your compensation claim. The first thing you should do is call 911 or ask someone else to call 911. You must receive medical treatment and document all of your symptoms so you can prove the full extent of your damages. If you can do so safely, try to take photos of the circumstances that led to your slip and fall accident.
For example, if you slip on an icy step leading into a commercial property, use your cell phone to take photos of the icy step. It’s important to try to obtain evidence of the dangerous condition before employees or the property owner clear it away. After you’ve received medical treatment, you should reach out to an attorney as soon as possible.
How Much Is My Slip and Fall Claim Worth?
The amount of compensation available in your case depends on several factors, including the severity of your injury. Generally, the more severe the victim’s injuries, the higher the claim’s value. The best way to receive an estimate of the value of your claim is to speak to an experienced attorney.
When you meet with Dell & Dean, PLLC, we will help you better understand what your case may be worth. We regularly work with financial and medical experts to determine our clients’ current and future losses. Working with an experienced attorney is important so you don’t undervalue your claim.
Dell & Dean, PLLC pursues the full compensation our clients need to receive all the medical treatment they need for the rest of their lifetimes. We will gather relevant documents and work with experts to advise you on what damages may apply to your claim for compensation.
We’ll also work with you to explain your options, so you develop a strategy to recover the most compensation possible. Some of the factors that will affect the amount of damages you may be able to recover in a New York slip-and-fall claim include the following:
- The total amount of time you have already missed from work because of your injuries
- Whether you will not be able to return to work due to a disability caused by your injuries
- The scope and severity of your injuries
- The total economic loss you’ve incurred, including your medical expenses
- The likelihood of you making a full recovery from your injuries
When you meet with our attorneys, we will carefully review your case, ask you questions, gather relevant evidence, and advise you on which damages apply to your claim. We know how to negotiate successfully with insurance companies and defendants. If a fair settlement isn’t available, our trial-ready attorneys are always prepared to take our clients’ cases to court.
Compensation Available in Slip and Fall Accident Cases
Under New York law, victims who are seriously injured by another party’s negligence can pursue multiple types of damages. The bulk of personal injury claims usually include medical treatment costs. Victims can pursue expenses related to their ambulance transport to the hospital, surgery, diagnostic imaging, pain medication, rehabilitation, and all of their follow-up doctor’s visits.
When victims break bones, including their hip bones, they may need ongoing rehabilitation to gain the mobility they had before the accident. Victims can pursue compensation for the physical, occupational, and speech therapy they need. They can also pursue damages for the estimated future medical expenses they’ve incurred when they need continuous treatment.
When a victim cannot return to work because of a disability caused by the accident, he or she can pursue damages for the estimated future lost wages. Finally, victims can pursue non-economic damages related to their physical and emotional pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and loss of consortium.
Discuss Your Case with a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Long Island
At Dell & Dean, PLLC, Our attorneys have decades of experience negotiating and litigating slip-and-fall accident cases. Under New York’s statute of limitations, victims of slip-and-fall accidents only have a limited amount of time to pursue a claim for compensation. Don’t hesitate to contact Dell & Dean, PLLC to schedule a complimentary case evaluation and learn more about how we can fight for your rights.
Dell & Dean, PLLC handles claims throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island as well as the boroughs of New York City, and the surrounding areas.
