Blog

Extremely serious injuries can happen in slip and fall accidents. Although most people think of these incidents as minor and expect to suffer no more than some light scratching and bruising, slip and fall accidents can lead to catastrophic losses depending on where they occur.  

Some public spots are particularly dangerous and could result in much more significant injuries. You can break bones and suffer traumatic brain injuries that could leave you requiring extensive medical care and unable to live your life as you used to. What are the public spots that pose these risks? 

Public Pools 

Slipping and falling becomes even more dangerous if there is a body of water in the area. Public pools are not always maintained as well as they should be, and that can mean that no one bothers to ensure that the pavement or tiles around the pool are kept as dry as possible.  

Slipping near a pool can put you at risk of not only injuring yourself severely but also drowning. If you hit your head and lose consciousness when you fall, or if you break a bone and the pain sends you into shock, you could struggle to reach the water’s surface. This is a particularly serious risk for the elderly and children. 

Sidewalks Near Busy Streets 

Globally, an estimated 684,000 people die each year from falls, and a significant number of these falls occur on what may seem an innocuous place — a sidewalk. One of the most serious issues that can arise from slipping and falling on a sidewalk is finding yourself in the path of an oncoming vehicle.  

You can fall onto the street and be hurt enough that it’s impossible for you to get up and move out of the way of cars. You can suffer catastrophic injuries if the vehicles are not able to stop in time.  

Motor vehicles are not the only danger, either. Even if you don’t fall onto the street, losing your footing on a busy sidewalk can put you at risk of being hit by skateboarders or bicyclists.  

Escalators 

Falling from an escalator can leave you with life-threatening injuries, especially if you slip and fall from a significant height. The most severe of these accidents are those in which the person slips over the side of the escalator. This often results in brain or spinal cord injuries. 

Falling backwards can also put your life in danger since there’s a greater chance of hitting yourself repeatedly in sensitive areas of the body, like the back of the skull. There is also the danger of people trampling you if the escalator is full or if the accident occurs during very busy times of the day, like rush hour.  

Subway Platforms 

Most people in New York City and the surrounding areas travel via subway. Train platforms are known for being hectic and not always as clean as they should be. Slipping on spilled drinks, wrappers, and all manner of debris can put you at risk of losing your footing and falling onto the subway tracks.  

If this happens, aside from the risk of landing on the third rail and suffering an electrocution injury, you’re also in danger of being run over by the train itself.  

Parking Lots 

Parking lots are typically very crowded in New York City. It’s common for drivers to neglect paying attention to what’s happening around them because they are concentrating on finding a free space. If a pedestrian slips and falls, it’s likely that drivers won’t see them in time to stop the vehicle.  

Often, indoor parking lots don’t have sufficient lighting. This makes it even more difficult for drivers to see pedestrians, and it also makes it more likely that falls will occur.  

Fight for Fair Compensation With Help From Experienced Lawyers 

Being in a slip and fall accident can leave you with piles of medical bills and prevent you from living your life the way you want to. If the accident could have been prevented and it occurred because of the property owner’s negligence or wrongful conduct, one of the options you have is to pursue a personal injury claim.  

It’s essential to hire experienced attorneys to assist you with this process. At Silberstein & Miklos, our team of New York attorneys can help you understand your rights and begin a claim. Remember to Ask4Sam right after the accident. Contact our team for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.