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Brooklyn Slip and Fall Attorney
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury claims in Brooklyn. A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere, whether on private property or on the premises of a business. Regardless of where a slip and fall occurs, you can hold the property owner liable for paying damages associated with your accident. Personal injury claims are extremely complex, and New York has many laws governing slip and fall accidents. An experienced Brooklyn slip and fall attorney from Silberstein, Awad & Miklos can help you through the process and ensure you receive the full settlement you deserve.
Slip and Falls Are a Leading Cause of Preventable Injury
No one ever expects to become injured in a slip and fall accident, but they are extremely common. In fact, falls are a leading cause of preventable injury in New York, according to the Department of Health. A slip and fall accident may seem minor, but they can result in very serious injuries and in some cases, even death.
People under the age of 14 and over the age of 25 are most likely to be admitted to a hospital after a slip and fall. The older a person gets, the more at risk they are for suffering serious harm after a slip and fall accident. People over the age of 45 are at the highest risk of passing away after a slip and fall.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?
A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere and at any time. Some of the most common places slip and falls occur include:
- Shopping malls
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
- Retail stores
- Big box stores such as Target
- Government buildings
- Subway stations
- Sports arenas, including the Barclays Center
- Workplaces
- School campuses and buildings
Any time you are on a property and become injured in a slip and fall, you may have a legitimate claim even if you were not inside a building at the time. Property owners are responsible for ensuring their entire premises are safe, including parking lots, parks, and sidewalks.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Sometimes, falls happen simply because a person is not careful. In the majority of cases though, accidents happen because of hazards and hidden dangers on the property. Some of the most common hazards that cause slip and falls in Brooklyn include:
- Puddles or spills
- Slippery or wet floors
- Uneven and loose floorboards
- Unsecured carpets and rugs
- Uneven stair treads
- Missing or broken handrails
- Unsecured or loose electrical wires
- Poor lighting
- Ice and snow accumulation
- Garbage and other debris
Any time you are injured due to one of these hazards, you can hold the property owner liable for paying compensation to offset the financial costs of the accident.
Negligence in Slip and Fall Accidents
When property owners do not ensure that premises are safe for people to enter, they are considered negligent. A retail store owner that does not clear their parking lot of ice and snow in the winter, for instance, can be held liable for any injuries that result from a slip and fall accident. Likewise, a private homeowner is liable if they do not fix broken stairs and someone becomes injured in an accident. However, it is not only property owners that could be found liable. Accident victims may carry some degree of fault, as well.
Understanding Comparative Fault
Individuals are also responsible for ensuring they remain safe. When they are not, they can also be held partially liable for the accident and will not receive the full compensation they would have otherwise. For example, if a woman was wearing high heels in the middle of winter in an icy parking lot and fell, the property owner would likely argue that she was not wearing proper footwear for the conditions.
Under New York’s comparative fault laws, an accident victim can be found partly to blame for an accident. However, this does not bar them from recovering any compensation at all. New York operates under a pure comparative fault law, which means that accident victims can still pursue compensation even if they were 99 percent at fault for the fall.
Although you can still claim compensation when you carry some degree of fault, it is crucial to work with a knowledgeable Brooklyn slip and fall attorney. Property owners will always try to shift some of the blame to the accident victim to avoid paying fair compensation. An attorney can serve as your advocate to refute those arguments, so you secure the full settlement you deserve.
Get Legal Help Today
The actions you take after an accident are critical to your claim and one of the most important steps is to call a Brooklyn slip and fall accident attorney. At Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., we are passionate about fighting for the rights of accident victims. When you need sound legal advice after an accident, contact us to schedule a free consultation.