A New York sidewalk fall could cause severe injuries, leaving you to pay extensive medical bills and missing weeks, months, or even longer, of work Do you know what to do after a sidewalk fall injury in New York to protect your rights?
First, you want to safeguard your health and well-being by visiting an emergency room or urgent care center. Once you see a doctor and begin treatment, it is time to consider your legal case and how to recover the appropriate compensation to pay for your care and other damages. Working with a New York slip and fall accident lawyer ensures you have the resources you need on your side.
- Your Well-Being Should Be Your Top Priority After a Sidewalk Fall
- Our Attorneys Help You Understand Who Is Responsible for Your Fall
- Benefits of Hiring a Fall Injury Attorney Quickly After Your Fall
- Continue Healing While Preserving Records Related to Your New York Sidewalk Fall
- Our Lawyers Demand Appropriate Compensation for Fall Injuries
- Discuss Your New York Sidewalk Fall Injuries With Our Team
Your Well-Being Should Be Your Top Priority After a Sidewalk Fall
Sidewalk falls often lead to significant injuries that require immediate medical assessment. Bone fractures, head trauma, and soft tissue injuries like torn ligaments could take weeks or months to heal and the various consequences of the injury may be felt for years or even permanently.
Getting medical care as soon as possible ensures that doctors treat your injuries quickly and effectively. It also produces medical records linking your fall to your injuries and supporting your compensation claim.
While it is not always possible to begin gathering evidence at the scene, there are benefits to taking pictures of the hazard that caused your fall and getting contact information for any witnesses. Some common hazards that could cause a New York sidewalk fall include:
- Broken pavement
- Ice and snow
- Debris from a construction or renovation project
- Other items dangerously obstructing the path of pedestrians
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Our Attorneys Help You Understand Who Is Responsible for Your Fall
Under New York premises liability laws, sidewalk maintenance often falls on the owner of the adjacent property. However, exceptions exist. Local ordinances and other regulations could affect liability in these cases. Identifying the liable party is critical for filing a claim against the correct entity and recovering the money you need and deserve.
Contact a New York personal injury lawyer from our team for help. We understand how liability works based on the applicable premises liability laws. Your lawyer will ensure you get answers to your questions, properly manage the case, and can focus on your healing during this stressful and difficult time.
Benefits of Hiring a Fall Injury Attorney Quickly After Your Fall
Under New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules § 214, you only have a limited time to sue a property owner for negligence. If you have a claim against a city, you have even less time to act. Having an attorney on your side from the start ensures you meet these deadlines.
(It is also very important to note that a shorter statute of limitations may apply to your situation, depending upon the circumstances of your case. It is best to take advantage of a free case review with our firm so that you know exactly what deadlines you are facing and what your best options for legal action are.)
At the same time, your attorney will manage all conversations with insurance companies. Insurers work to reduce payouts and deny claims, often by disputing liability or downplaying your injuries. One tactic they employ is using your statements against you. You should never speak with an insurance adjuster without legal representation.
Lastly, evidence can disappear quickly after a fall accident. Property owners clear ice and snow within a few minutes and repair broken sidewalks in a few days.
Even surveillance video of a fall has a short life if not promptly preserved. Our attorneys will begin building the case as soon as possible and will locate, collect and preserve all available evidence to support your claim.
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Continue Healing While Preserving Records Related to Your New York Sidewalk Fall
Always save any related medical and financial records after a fall. We recommend keeping these in a folder or file box for easy access and to ensure you know where they are. You will want to keep medical records, treatment plans, receipts, estimates, and other documents that show your injuries or damages.
Your attorney could need some or all of the following to help you recover appropriate compensation based on your fall injuries:
- Emergency room bills
- Relevant medical records
- Doctor’s notes related to your treatment
- Medical imaging
- Bills for physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Pay stubs or employer statements documenting your lost income
- Expert testimony about your prognosis and future care needs
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Our Lawyers Demand Appropriate Compensation for Fall Injuries
The damages a property owner is liable for after a fall vary widely. They depend greatly on the severity of your injuries, time away from work, and other expenses and losses incurred.
Your New York slip and fall lawyer will demand appropriate compensation based on the documentation of your damages. These losses could include:
- Past and future medical bills for fall injuries and follow-up care
- Lost income for missing work
- Reduced earning capacity for lasting injuries
- Repair or replacement of damaged property (e.g., broken cell phone)
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Emotional distress
Recovering appropriate compensation based on your entire range of losses requires a compelling case and aggressive handling of your case by your attorney.
Litigation is sometimes necessary if the liable party and their insurer refuse to pay appropriately. Even when a victim files a lawsuit, most cases settle and do not go to trial. However, the best settlements are typically won by being prepared to try a case before a judge and jury in the courthouse if necessary, so this is our mindset on every case we handle.
Discuss Your New York Sidewalk Fall Injuries With Our Team
After a sidewalk fall in New York, your priority after getting initial medical care should be protecting your right to recover appropriate compensation. Hiring a premises liability lawyer allows you to focus on healing while they identify the liable party, gather evidence, and handle your case.
At Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., we provide free consultations for injured parties in New York. We will assess your case and determine your legal rights and options.
Let us evaluate the details of your fall today. Our team meets with people on Long Island and elsewhere in the New York metropolitan area. We will explain how our New York slip and fall accident lawyers will handle your case.
Call today for a free, confidential consultation with our team. We are here when you need us.
Call or text 516-932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form