Clarkstown is a bustling area, making it a prime location for slip and fall injuries. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you might not know where to begin recovering the compensation you need for your recovery.
That is where our firm can help. With our experience, you can ensure that the right parties are held accountable. Determining who to sue if often the most challenging aspect of a slip and fall lawsuit. Since these accidents can occur almost anywhere, it is important to identify the exact cause of your slip and fall injuries. Several parties could owe you compensation, providing more paths to recovering what you deserve.
For a free assessment of your case, contact our slip and fall injury attorneys at The Martello Law Firm, PLLC today at (914) 685-6950.
Locations Where Slip and Fall Injuries Commonly Occur in Clarkstown, NY
Injuries from slip and falls are frequently reported in places such as bars, restaurants, and medical facilities, where people often gather. However, it is the responsibility of the owners and businesses to ensure the safety of those on their premises. Fortunately, our slip and fall injury lawyers can help you recover compensation regardless of where your injuries occurred. In Clarkstown, the following places are most prone to slip and fall accidents:
Restaurants and Bars
Bars and restaurants can have slippery floors due to grease, food residue, or wear and tear, which can also result in uneven surfaces. To avoid potential hazards, these businesses should implement procedures to regularly inspect and identify these dangers. Failure to do so can result in legal action against them.
Hospitals and Other Medical Facilities
Clarkstown medical facilities often experience slip and fall accidents due to the high volume of foot traffic. In addition to the number of individuals, hallways can be cluttered with equipment and patients, making it easy for floor hazards to go unnoticed. Slip and fall injuries are also common in medical facilities due to the highly polished vinyl tile and linoleum flooring. If a hospital neglects to display enough warning signs or maintain a safe environment free of slippery surfaces, it could be held accountable for any resulting injuries sustained by visitors or patients.
Stairwells
Slip and fall accidents are frequently reported on stairs in Clarkstown. Stairways pose a significant danger due to poor lighting, steep inclines, and high ledges that can cause tripping if one is not careful. Additionally, stairs made of slippery materials like tile or marble can also lead to injuries. If a property owner or business, like apartment complexes, neglects these hazardous conditions in their stairwells or fails to provide proper warning signs, they should be held accountable for the injuries their negligence caused.
Sidewalks
Slippery sidewalks during rainy days or pedestrians tripping in cracks can lead to slip and fall accidents. Determining liability in such situations can be very challenging since it might not be obvious who has control over the area. Liability will often depend on where the accident occurred on the sidewalk. If the fall happened in front of a residential property, the homeowner, local government, or other agencies like the water or gas company could be accountable for the dangerous condition. In some cases, suing multiple parties might be necessary to determine who, in fact, owes you compensation.
Parking Lots
Parking lots can also pose a significant risk for slip and fall accidents, especially during inclement weather or if there is debris or ice accumulation left unattended. This is particularly true because cars are often parked tightly together in these areas. Generally, the business that owns the parking lot is responsible for keeping it safe, but further investigation will usually be needed if the accident occurred in a lot shared by multiple businesses.
Workplaces
Slip and fall accidents are a common occurrence in Clarkstown workplaces. This is because most workplaces tend to be extremely busy, with many workers operating in different areas. This makes it difficult for individuals to keep an eye out for others walking through the area, especially when those workers fail to maintain their areas or clean them when leaving. In some cases, you might need to sue your employer for not maintaining a safe working environment in violation of state and federal regulations.
Who Can Be Sued for Slip and Fall Injuries in Clarkstown, NY
If you slip and fall and injure yourself due to another’s negligence, the party responsible for the safety of the premises should be held to account. However, to seek compensation through a lawsuit in Clarkstown, it is necessary to prove that the defendant had a responsibility to maintain a safe environment and that they failed to do so by allowing the property to become hazardous.
Determining who is responsible for the injuries can be difficult in these cases since multiple parties could be liable, making it challenging to identify the responsible party initially. More often than not, the best strategy is to name all parties that potentially control the premises in your lawsuit and wait for them to provide reasons for why they should not be named a lawsuit.
Owner of the Property
In most cases, the owner of the property where you fell is the first party to be examined and likely to be held responsible. This could be a homeowner, landlord, or business owner. Fortunately, our team can review your case and determine who owes you for your slip and fall injuries. The owner has the responsibility to maintain their property so that it is reasonably safe for others. This means removing ice or snow from walkways before it becomes dangerous, ensuring there are no potholes in parking lots, keeping the grass cut short enough so people do not trip over it, and addressing any other dangers that might arise on the premises.
If a hazardous situation arises on a property, the responsible party may extend to employees of the owner or those in charge of maintaining the property during regular business hours, such as maintenance workers or landscapers. In such cases, if the owner was unable to reasonably detect the danger, these individuals might also be held liable for not carrying out their responsibilities.
Business Owners
As a typical business practice, business owners rent properties from other parties rather than owning the property outright. However, these businesses assume responsibility for ensuring the safety of the premises, not the owner typically. Nevertheless, if both parties share the responsibility of maintaining the property’s safety, they could both face legal action if slip and fall injuries occur on their premises.
Local and State Government Agencies
If a slip and fall injury occurs in a public space in Clarkstown, both local and state government agencies might be held accountable for the injuries that result. It is the responsibility of local governments to keep public sidewalks in good condition by repairing holes and uneven sidewalks. Many agencies, such as gas, water, and electric companies, have multiple installations throughout Clarkstown that could result in severe slip and fall injuries if not properly maintained. They could also be responsible for injuries caused by municipal construction if adequate safety measures are not taken.
Our Clarkstown, NY Slip, and Fall Injury Lawyers Can Help
Our slip and fall injury lawyers can provide you with a free case evaluation by calling The Martello Law Firm, PLLC at (914) 685-6950.
