Valley Stream Slip and Fall Lawyers

Helping Victims of Slip & Falls Throughout Long Island

You have probably seen the large yellow signs warning you of wet floors and slipping hazards while shopping at your local grocery store. These are put up by management to protect consumers, but when stores neglect to notify customers of dangerous conditions, their customers may slip, fall, and injure themselves as a result.

If you or a family member has suffered an injury by slipping and falling while on someone else’s property in New York, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit and recover compensation for your injuries. Elderly individuals are particularly susceptible to serious injury which may require surgery, rehabilitation, and assistive mobility or medical devices. In these, and any other case, it is important to seek the full and fair compensation you need to cover necessary medical costs and help you on the road to recovery. 

Call Nass Roper & Levin, PC at (718) 775-3246 to schedule a consultation today. Our attorneys speak English, Spanish, and French for your convenience.

Premises Liability Claims in New York

Property owners owe a duty to their customers to warn them of dangerous conditions on their property. If a business owner knew or should have known that a hazardous condition, like a wet and slippery floor, existed on the property where you slipped and fell, a court may hold the owner liable for your injuries.

Common injuries resulting from slip and fall incidents include: 

• Serious bruising
• Fractured bones
• Dislocated joints
• Cuts and lacerations
• Back and spine injuries
• Neck and head injuries, such as concussions

Wet floors are not the only cause of slip and fall injuries. People can slip on anything that has been spilled, such as food, drink, detergents, or chemicals that the property owner has not yet cleaned up. Snow, ice, or rain can also lead to falls, particularly when mats have not been put down for customers to wipe their shoes after entering a store. Business owners have a duty to not only clean up spills they know about but also to inspect for dangerous conditions like wet or slippery floors.

Slip and fall victims can recover damages for the injuries as well as property damage that result from their fall. For example, if the fall resulted in damage to an expensive watch or handbag, the victim may be able to recover the cost of that personal property, if their lawsuit is successful.

New York’s Slip and Fall Statute of Limitation

Slip and fall cases fall into the broader category of personal injury law under the umbrella of tort law. New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules Section 214 states that the injured party must file a slip and fall lawsuit within three years of the accident happening or it will be time-barred in New York.

Navigating Comparative Negligence in New York Slip & Fall Cases

Our experienced Valley Stream slip and fall attorneys will help you prove that the property owner’s negligence caused your accident and, in turn, your injuries. New York state is a pure comparative negligence state. Thus, if a jury finds you to be 30% responsible for your slip and fall because you were wearing unsafe footwear when you fell, and the property owner was thus 70% negligent, you will only receive 70% of the damages. Thus, if a court awards you $100,000 in damages, you will receive $70,000. It is advisable that you hire an attorney dedicated to proving that the property owner was substantially more negligent than you were.

If your case settles before going to trial, the pure comparative negligence rule will come into play during negotiations with the opposing side. You will need a skilled negotiator to help you earn the most compensation possible.

Do not let the statute of limitations run out before you file your slip and fall lawsuit. Give yourself the time you your attorney will need to gather information, evidence, and expert testimony for your case. 

Contact the lawyers of Nass Roper & Levin, PC for skilled personal injury help today.