Sidewalks in New York City and all areas around New York State are used by millions of people every day — they should be safe to walk on and for you to use. That being said, sidewalks are often left in disrepair and become dangerous to pedestrians. Slip and fall accidents on sidewalks are extremely common and can result in serious injuries or possibly even death.
When property owners, cities, towns, villages, or businesses fail to properly maintain or repair sidewalks, they may be responsible for the damages you have suffered. Dangers from potholes, negligent construction, cracks, uneven height, failing to maintain and repair, or failing to keep the sidewalk free of debris, ice and snow and much more could cause you severe harm and long-lasting injuries.
A New York City sidewalk accident lawyer at Roth & Roth is ready to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Our qualified team of lawyers will take your case seriously. We know how to pursue compensation for sidewalk injuries and fully represent our clients.
Roth & Roth has been successfully representing individuals and families throughout the State of New York for over 25 years. If you or someone you know was injured or killed in New York due to someone else's wrongdoing, contact us to discuss your options. Initial consultations are always free and we never get paid unless and until you do.
Sidewalk injuries are usually the result of tripping over a raised or broken-up sidewalk flag. Whatever the reason, when a person falls onto a hard sidewalk they can become grievously injured. Unlike television and movies that make falls look funny, they are anything but that in real life. Even younger people can be seriously hurt by a fall on a sidewalk. A fall is especially dangerous for adults and seniors — such could result in incredibly harmful injuries.
Common causes of sidewalk injuries often include:
- Raised sidewalk flags
- Gratings and spaces in between the sidewalk
- Tree roots pushing up the sidewalk
- Curb cuts where the driveway crosses the sidewalk is broken and hazardous
- Negligent construction of the sidewalk
- Uneven sections that create trip hazards
- Holes in a sidewalk
- Cracked surfaces
- Loose debris from a crumbling sidewalk
- Slippery surfaces due to negligently created icy conditions
- Improper warnings of known hazards on the sidewalk
These and countless other possibilities could be why you suffered a serious sidewalk injury. When that happens, you need a New York sidewalk accident lawyer to fight for your rights to compensation.
Who is responsible for NYC sidewalk injuries?
For a party to be responsible for your sidewalk injuries, you and your attorney must prove that their negligence caused the accident. Negligence occurs when the other party breaches their reasonable duty of care and that this has caused you harm. Negligence is the legal standard in most personal injury cases.
Certain parties are commonly responsible for sidewalk injury cases. These might include but are far from limited to:
- The City of New York: The City is responsible for most of the public sidewalks in New York City that are adjacent to 1-3 family-owned occupied homes or where the City owns the property adjacent to the sidewalk. This responsibility requires them to maintain the sidewalk safely. The failure of the City to properly maintain the sidewalk subjects the City to liability.
- Private businesses or commercial property owners: Pursuant to 7-210 of the Administrative Code of New York City commercial owners of property are responsible to maintain the sidewalks next to their premises. Additionally, some sidewalks are owned or maintained by a private business or property owner. In these situations, it is their responsibility to keep their sidewalks free from hazards, and broken or raised areas of the sidewalk. If the sidewalks adjacent to their premises are poorly maintained and present tripping hazards then the adjacent commercial property owner is responsible.
- Construction companies and contractors: When a company or contractor is doing work on a sidewalk, they must take reasonable precautions to avoid injuring people. When they fail in this requirement, they may be financially liable to you.
What injuries may result from a New York City sidewalk accident?
Serious harm can result from sidewalk accidents in NYC and throughout the State. These often include:
- Skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones requiring surgery
- Concussions
- Head Injuries that can result in memory loss
- Twisting injuries causing ligament and tendon tears requiring surgery
- Penetrating injuries from objects on the ground
- Death
These injuries and more could be very costly. They can rob you of your ability to work, socialize, and live a normal life.
What compensation is available for my NYC sidewalk accident case?
Every case is different, and the amount of compensation will be unique to your case. In most personal injury cases like these, you could be entitled to financial compensation such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship and support
- Wrongful death compensation
- Lost income and earning capacity damages
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation services costs
These types of compensation and more may be available with the help of a skilled sidewalk accident lawyer in NYC.
The lawyers at Roth & Roth are fully prepared to consult on your case. We know how to analyze and investigate what happened to give you a picture of the available compensation in your case. Your sidewalk injuries deserve a close look from a team of trained professionals that actually care about your health and financial well-being.
Let an experienced New York City sidewalk accident lawyer work with you and fight for the monetary damages you deserve. Our firm has worked with countless injured people to win them substantial compensation. Let us put that experience to work for you. Contact us today for help.