Each year thousands of slip and fall accidents send people to hospital emergencies with deadly physical injuries. While these accidents might be preventable, they leave their victims with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, costs of medication and therapy, and more. The physical, emotional, and financial burden of such incidents is why you should consider filing a lawsuit against the responsible party.
If you or your loved one slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you might be able to pursue legal action against the negligent party to obtain financial compensation for your damages. It is advisable to contact an experienced premises liability attorney in New York who can guide you through the challenging process of filing a lawsuit and help you get justice.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Some of the most common causes of these types of accidents include broken or uneven walkways, poor lighting conditions, slippery or wet surfaces, broken staircases, etc. Most slip and fall accidents occur due to the relevant individuals or organizations failing to take adequate measures against the safety hazards on their properties, which can result in significant physical injury to unsuspecting guests and visitors. If you know the cause of your injury, you should immediately let your lawyer know about it so that they might be able to devise a legal strategy.
Components of a Premises Liability Lawsuit
According to the premises liability law, all property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions at their property. If they fail to do so, they can be held liable for any accidents that might result from said safety hazards. As such, all premises liability cases have a few crucial elements that need to be fulfilled in a court of law to obtain fair compensation for your damages. These include:
Duty of Care
The defendant owned or managed the property and therefore was responsible to maintain a safe environment for all guests and visitors. The defendant owes this duty of care to everyone who visits the property.
Negligence
The defendant failed to maintain the property according to the standard safety laws or failed to take timely action to minimize any safety hazards at their property, putting others in danger of getting involved in an accident.
Damages
As a result of the defendant’s negligence, you got involved in a slip and fall accident and suffered physical, financial, and emotional damages.
Building Your Case
All premises liability cases, including lawsuits resulting from slip and fall accidents, need to be supported by appropriate physical evidence, including photographic or video evidence of the site of the accident, written or audio witness statements, receipts of medical treatment, etc. It is important to document the evidence at the site of the accident and immediately report the accident to the property owner or those in charge of maintaining the property. It is also advisable to obtain a copy of the report for future reference.
Hiring a Lawyer
Without a doubt, one of the most important aspects of any premises liability lawsuit is legal representation. It is advisable to contact an attorney as soon as you can after the accident. An experienced lawyer will help you figure out a successful legal strategy and guide you through the complicated process of obtaining financial compensation for your damages.
