New York is not only one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, but the biggest and most densely populated city in America. It is also one of the most populous megacities in the world. The pace is fast, the traffic is heavy, and pedestrians are always out in force. And because New York is an old city, many old roadways and walkways are in disrepair. They pose a high risk of injury.

In 2016, the New York Times reported that overcrowded sidewalks were driving throngs of pedestrians into the streets – actually causing “sidewalk gridlock.” With heavy foot traffic everywhere, at all times of the day and night, the danger of slip and fall accidents is great.

Slip and fall, also known as trip and fall accidents, are more common and more dangerous than you might think. They can result in serious injury or even death, especially for the elderly. It pays to know what you should do if it happens to you or a loved one.

Next Steps

After ensuring that the victim is safe and receiving medical attention, it is helpful to file a police report right away. You may have a valid claim, and your case will carry much more weight if the police take a report on the scene. If they are not present, call 911.

Further, if the police are not present, it is especially important to take photographs of the scene and to get the names and addresses of any witnesses.

Slip and fall accidents are often due to negligence. When a property owner fails to keep their property maintained, for example, they expose others to unsafe conditions. Under New York law, the victim may be eligible for compensation from the negligent property owner. In any public setting, such as a restaurant or store, the owner of the property is obligated to protect people on their premises.

Slip and fall cases require certain facts to be established.

  1. You were on the property lawfully, or if unlawfully, the owner was aware of your presence.
  2. The owner knew (or should have known) about the unsafe condition of the property, and failed to make repairs, restrict access or provide fair warning. If repairs were made, the owner knew the repairs were insufficient to restore safe conditions.
  3. Your injury resulted from the property’s unsafe conditions.

If you have been involved in an accident, please call us as soon as possible.

BH

Brenda Harvin

★★★★★

I have been a client of The Seitelman Law Offices for over 30 years now. From my very first experience, this office has been a Godsend to me. I will never forget my first case with them. It was a rainy day, and I went into a grocery store to buy a drink. I slipped and fell flat on my back because of the wet floor. When I got home from the Emergency Room, I began to call law firms. The first firm I called, the girl on the phone laughed aloud and informed me they did not handle such small cases. I began to get discouraged, and then I dialed the Seitelmam Team. The secretary was polite and put me on with a paralegal who listened carefully and then put me back on with the secretary who made an appointment for me to come into the office. Once I got there, I spoke directly with the paralegal, who went to explain the situation to the attorneys. I was fortunate enough to get Mr. Seitelman himself to handle my first case. He also listened carefully and then told me they would take my case. He explained that the procedure meant the case would take about a year. At the end of that time, he called me with a settlement offer. When I asked him what he thought, he suggested it was up to me, but he felt I shouldn't take the first offer. Long story short, at the end of that year, I received an offer of thirty thousand dollars, which I accepted. I have been with them ever since. It has been over 30 years, but whenever I needed an accident law firm, I would contact the Seitelman Team. While living in upstate New York, I slipped and fell backward flat on my back getting out of the shower and was trapped for 5 days because the landlord hadn't installed a grab bar. That time, the Seitelman Team got me an award of over one hundred thousand dollars. I have recommended them to several friends who were also extremely satisfied. I highly (and happily) recommend the Seitelman law firm.