Slip and Fall Law in New York City
The law on slip and fall in New York City is the same as the law in the rest of the state of New York. It just so happens that New York City has more than 8 million people and an infinite amount of pavement where people can be injured in a slip and fall. Unfortunately, slip and fall cases are far too common in New York City, where people can be injured in a variety of ways. The first step in understanding slip and fall law is determining what a “duty” is and whether you were owed that duty by anyone.
Visitors to property have a legal duty of care to the owner. If the property owner was negligent in keeping the property safe for visitors, they may be held liable for any injuries sustained on their property as a result of a slip and fall. Visitors to a property are divided into three categories, and the level of care owed to you by the property owner is determined by which category you fall into. In New York City, the three main types of visitors for slip and fall cases are:
- Trespassers: A trespasser is someone who is on the property without the owner’s permission, implied or otherwise. The most common type of trespasser is someone who climbs over a security fence to gain access to a property. This person would be considered a trespasser. A trespasser has no legal obligation to a landowner in New York City.
- Licensees: A licensee is someone who can visit a landowner’s property because they have the owner’s implied consent. A utility worker working on your property is the most common example of this. The utility worker is regarded as a licensee. A landowner in New York City owes a licensee a lower standard of care than an invitee. In this case, the landowner is only required to notify the licensee of any hazardous conditions that exist on the property that the landowner is aware of or should be aware of.
- Invitees: These are individuals who have been welcomed and invited onto the property. A typical example is someone shopping at a clothing store. The shopper would be considered an invitee because they are welcome to do business on the property. A landowner in New York City has a legal obligation to make reasonable efforts to ensure that invitees are safe while on the property.
If you were injured on someone else’s property in New York City and you were owed a legal duty of care as described above, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.
5 Things to Do Right Away After an Injury
Did you know that what you do immediately following an injury can have a significant impact on your case? There are five basic steps you should always take after a slip and fall in New York City to help you recover money for your injuries, and they are as follows:
- Take clear photos of the accident scene, indicating exactly where and how you were hurt.
- Ensure that an incident report is filed with the management of the location where your injury occurred and that you receive a copy of that report.
- From the start, write down the names of everyone who is involved.
- Go to the nearest medical facility right away to have your injuries evaluated.
- As soon as possible, take clear photos of your injuries from various angles.
If you fail to do any of these five things, you may seriously jeopardize your potential slip and fall claim. It is critical to remember that the more evidence you have, the more powerful your slip and fall claim will be. If you can gather the necessary evidence, you will be in a much better position to be compensated for your slip and fall injuries. If you have any specific legal questions about a potential slip and fall claim, you should consult with an experienced New York City slip and fall attorney as soon as possible.
For a Free Consultation, please contact Sam N’ Dan.
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a slip and fall in New York City, you should consult with an experienced New York City slip and fall attorney as soon as possible. If you want an honest assessment of your case at no cost, call Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP today at 1-800-726-6326 or contact us online here. The advice is free, and our discussions will be kept private even if you decide to hire another attorney. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that if there is no recovery, you will not be charged a fee. It’s as simple as that.
