Slips, trips, and falls can occur at any time and place, potentially leading to severe injuries such as broken bones, back injuries, concussions, and others, resulting in debilitating pain and significant medical expenses.
Even with extreme caution, you might still suffer injuries from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. For instance, you may have a valid claim if you have experienced a slip-and-fall accident on Long Island due to a property or business owner’s failure to manage risks such as slippery floors or icy walkways.
You might be entitled to compensation for your losses if you’ve been injured due to negligence on another’s property. Our dedicated Long Island slip and fall attorneys at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm are prepared to evaluate your case during a free legal consultation.
We are ready to fight fiercely if you have any slip-and-fall cases.
How Can Our Long Island Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Help With Your Case?
Before we detail our services, it’s important to mention that we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t face any upfront fees, retainers, or hourly rates when you partner with us.
We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you. If we don’t secure compensation, you don’t owe us any attorney’s fees.
Here’s how we can assist you:
Identifying the Negligent Party
Responsibility for maintaining safe property conditions typically falls on those who control the property. This could include:
- Retail business owners like stores, supermarkets, restaurants, movie theaters, gas stations, hotels, pharmacies, malls, car dealerships, and hospitals
- Property managers of apartment buildings, office spaces, shopping centers, parking lots, and garages
- Private individuals, including homeowners and landowners
- Government agencies responsible for maintaining public spaces like parks, roads, sidewalks, and transportation facilities
We determine who is liable in your case by thoroughly examining evidence such as the accident report, medical records, and other pertinent documents.
Expertise in Law and Medicine
Our founder, Ali Awad, brings a distinctive combination of legal and medical expertise to the table. As an attorney, he understands the nuances of medical trauma and its impact on a victim’s life.
His experience as a trial lawyer enables him to thoroughly record and explain the losses you have suffered.
Timely Filing of Your Case
According to CVP §214, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to initiate a lawsuit. If you are filing a claim due to a loved one’s death, EPT §5-4.1 provides a two-year period to file. Engaging our services immediately ensures that your case is filed within these statutory limits, protecting your right to seek compensation.
By choosing us, you ensure that your case is handled with expertise and timely diligence, increasing your chances of a favorable outcome.
Types of Cases Our Long Island Trip and Fall Law Firm Specializes In
A trip or slip-and-fall accident can happen almost anywhere, yet such accidents are particularly prevalent at business locations.
Here are some common conditions and scenarios that often lead to slip and fall injuries:
- Absence of handrails on staircases and slopes
- Unsignaled curbs and steps
- Wet floors due to fresh mopping, spills, or leaks
- Cracked or uneven pavement
- Poor lighting, both indoors and outdoors
- Accumulation of snow and ice
- Damaged or torn mats and rugs
- Persistent leaks from plumbing or environmental factors
- Loose electrical cords and cables
- Violations of building or safety codes
Property owners have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a safe condition and to quickly address and rectify any risks. If a property owner was aware of, or reasonably should have been aware of, a potential danger and failed to sufficiently warn visitors or rectify the situation, they may be held responsible if it leads to an injury.
How to Protect Your Claim After Slipping and Falling?
If you or someone close to you has been involved in a slip and fall accident, it’s important to protect your legal rights.
Our team of slip and fall injury attorneys in Long Island recommends taking the following steps:
- Report the Accident Immediately: If possible, report the incident as soon as it happens. Complete an accident report form or notify the property owner, management company, or occupants directly. Ensure you obtain a copy of any report filed, whether by you or the authorities.
- Document the Scene and Injuries: If you’re physically able to do so, take comprehensive photographs of the accident location from various angles, as well as the worst condition that caused the fall. Also, photograph any injuries you sustained.
- Seek Medical Attention: Consult a doctor without delay to assess your injuries and determine their severity. Follow your doctor’s recommendations closely after the evaluation.
- Preserve Your Clothing: Keep the clothes and footwear you were wearing at the time of the accident in their post-accident state without washing or altering them. These items can serve as crucial evidence in your case.
- Maintain Expense Records: Compile a detailed file of all expenses related to your injuries, such as medical bills and costs for medications. Also, keep copies of all correspondence with your insurance company.
- Exercise Caution on Social Media: Avoid discussing your accident on social media platforms and posting related photos. Anything you share online can potentially be used against you by insurance companies.
- Avoid Recorded Statements: Do not agree to provide a recorded statement or sign any documents from insurance adjusters until you have consulted with your slip and fall attorney in Long Island.
What Can Cause a Slip, Trip, or Fall?
Slip, trip, and fall accidents can cause significant injuries and financial strain, making it essential to understand their common causes. In Long Island, slip and fall attorneys from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm have identified several factors that frequently contribute to these accidents:
- Uneven pavement
- Spills on floors that are not easily cleaned up
- Damaged or broken steps
- Gaps or unevenness in walkways
- Construction or maintenance areas lacking proper barriers or warnings
- Unexpected obstructions like protruding nails on surfaces
- Faulty or insecure railings
- Icy or slippery pathways
- Unsafe terraces or balconies
Victims of such accidents should seek legal advice quickly due to specific time constraints when filing a claim to secure adequate compensation. The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm offers expert legal representation with a team experienced in negotiating with insurance companies and holding negligent property owners accountable.
They are prepared to take cases to trial to achieve a just settlement.
Suppose you or a loved one has been injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident. In that case, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm provides free case evaluations, ensuring you can explore your legal options without any initial financial commitment.
Calculating Long Island Slip and Fall Accident Injury Damages
In a premises liability case, such as a slip and fall accident, compensation typically starts with medical expenses. Those affected may be eligible for reimbursement for various medical-related financial damages, including:
- Emergency room services
- Ambulance fees
- Consultations with physicians and surgeons
- Hospital admissions
- Diagnostic tests
- Physical therapy sessions
- Rehabilitation services
- Medical assistive devices
- Home modifications for accessibility
It is common to engage medical experts, vocational rehabilitation specialists, life care planners, and economists to estimate the long-term costs of injuries that require continued or future treatment.
If you are dealing with the tragic loss of a loved one due to a slip-and-fall accident, please accept our deepest sympathies. We are dedicated to securing the compensation you rightfully deserve.
It’s important to note that any outstanding medical debts incurred by the deceased can often be claimed as well.
Additional Economic Damages
Beyond medical expenses, you might also be entitled to claim compensation for other financial losses, such as:
- Current lost wages and benefits
- Future loss of income and benefits
- Reduction in earning capacity
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
In cases of wrongful death, costs related to funeral services, burial, or cremation are also recoverable.
Compensation for Non-Economic Damages
Victims are also entitled to seek compensation for non-economic damages, which include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Decreased quality of life
Our Long Island personal injury law firm has experts dedicated to fighting for the full compensation you are legally entitled to, taking into account the particulars of your case.
Common Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are not only common but can also result in serious injuries or even fatalities. Each year, many individuals suffer from the consequences of falls, which range from minor to severe.
Those who survive may face extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation. Significant injuries such as hip fractures and brain damage can demand costly and ongoing medical treatment, often plunging victims into financial hardship.
Here are other prevalent injuries caused by slip and fall accidents:
- Head Injuries: Falls can cause head trauma, leading to traumatic brain injuries or concussions, which can have long-lasting effects on brain function.
- Hip Fractures: Hip injuries from falls are particularly severe, often resulting in extreme pain and reduced mobility, which can severely impact one’s quality of life.
- Spinal Cord Damage: A fall that impacts the spine can be catastrophic, potentially leading to paralysis and other neurological issues due to damage to the spinal cord.
- Shoulder Injuries: It is common to sustain shoulder or rotator cuff injuries during a fall as people instinctively stretch out their hands to break their fall, thereby transferring much of the impact to the shoulder area.
- Knee Damage: The knees often absorb a significant amount of force during a fall, leading to various injuries that can affect mobility and require surgical intervention or therapy.
Knowing these common injuries can help in recognizing the serious nature of slip and fall accidents and the importance of safety measures to prevent them.
Who Is Responsible for a Slip, Trip & Fall Accident?
In Long Island, property owners are required by law to keep their premises safe, which includes promptly addressing any dangerous conditions that might lead to injuries. If a property owner fails in this duty and someone is injured as a result, they may be held liable for damages.
Individuals who suffer injuries from slip and fall incidents can pursue claims against property owners. These owners generally have insurance policies that cover such accidents. Alternatively, the injured parties can choose to sue the property owners directly for compensation.
To build a successful case against a property owner, the following elements must be proven:
- You incurred injuries.
- You were present on the property at the time of the accident.
- There was a dangerous condition on the property.
- The property owner or another party responsible for the condition knew or should have known about the danger.
- The property owner or responsible party failed to rectify, repair, or adequately warn about the danger.
- This risky condition was the direct cause of your injuries.
- You did not contribute to or were not solely responsible for your injuries.
As the plaintiff, you carry the burden of proof to support these allegations.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our Long Island personal injury attorneys are adept at handling slip and fall cases. They thoroughly investigate each case to pinpoint the cause and identify those at fault. By collaborating with expert witnesses and industry specialists, we uncover negligence and build robust arguments to secure justice for our clients.
Deadline to File a Long Island Lawsuit for Slip and Fall Injuries
You have a limited window to initiate legal proceedings for injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident in Long Island. New York State imposes a statute of limitations, which, if exceeded, will prevent you from filing your lawsuit. There are distinct deadlines for personal injury and wrongful death claims:
- For personal injury: Refer to New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules § 214
- For wrongful death: Refer to Estates, Powers & Trusts § 5-4.1
It’s important to recognize that certain case specifics might necessitate a shorter statute of limitations.
To understand the specific deadlines that apply to your situation and to explore your legal options, consider consulting with our team at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm today.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With Our Long Island Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer!
After a slip or trip and fall, our committed Long Island personal injury lawyers at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm are on hand to help you get the financial assistance you need to pay your bills and get medical attention. Our sympathetic wrongful death attorneys are ready to fight for your family if you are pursuing claims pertaining to the untimely loss of a loved one.
Get started by scheduling a free legal consultation. Please use our contact form or call us at (516) 689-1132. Get a free case review from us and find out how our Long Island slip and fall accident attorneys will handle your lawsuit.
