Many people dismiss falling accidents as something only older people are at risk for, but anyone can sustain injuries from a bad fall. The medical bills and lost income from missing work can put you and your family under great financial and emotional strain.
Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers can help you file a claim for your injury-related losses, including your medical expenses, lost work income, pain and suffering, and more. Our Freeport personal injury lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience and have recovered over $100 million for clients.
Contact our offices today to schedule a free case consultation with a slip and fall accident lawyer in Freeport.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in Freeport?
Slip and fall accidents can happen virtually anywhere there is foot traffic. They can happen in both residential and commercial spaces, or happen on public or private property.
Below are some of the most common locations where slip and fall accidents happen:
- Private homes
- Apartment buildings
- Grocery stores
- Retail outlets
- Restaurants
- Sidewalks or parking lots
- Shopping malls
- Hotels/resorts
- Workplaces (e.g., construction sites, offices, etc.)
- Government buildings (e.g., courthouse, post office, etc.)
Causes of slip and fall accidents can range from wet flooring and uneven walkways to floor obstructions and a lack of safety features, like handrails.
Case Today (212) 977-2020
Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents
Even a fall from a minor height can cause serious complications if the victim hits the ground at an awkward angle or orientation. Slip and fall accidents, where the individual’s feet slide out from under them, tend to result in injuries to the spine, shoulders, and back of the head.
Alternatively, trip and fall accidents where the victim falls forward can result in facial, dental, wrist, and chest injuries. Victims can also strain joints and muscles if they try to catch themselves while falling. Below are common injuries from slip and fall injuries:
- Bruising and soft-tissue injuries
- Joint sprains and muscle strains
- Head injuries and concussions
- Arm and wrist injuries
- Leg and torso injuries
- Herniated discs and spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
These injuries can cause long-term mobility restrictions and other physical impairments, leading to a life of expensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Who Is Liable for Slip and Fall Accidents in Freeport?
Slip and fall accidents in Freeport typically fall under the wider umbrella of premises liability claims. Under premises liability, property owners can be liable if guests sustain injuries on their property.
Landowners who know about some dangerous conditions that could cause falls but do nothing to address them can be liable for slip and fall injuries.
The classic example is a wet floor in a grocery store: Say a store owner mops the floor but doesn’t place a “wet floor” sign to warn customers. Later, you slip on the floor and break your wrist. In this case, you could file a lawsuit against the owner for negligence. They knew about the danger and failed to mitigate the risk, which makes them responsible for your condition.
The key to a premises liability claim is proving the landowner knew about the slipping hazard. As such, video footage and building logs can make or break a slip and fall lawsuit. These types of evidence can prove that the landowner neglected to act on knowledge and didn’t sufficiently reduce risk.
Financial Compensation for Slip and Fall Accidents in Freeport
A fall can leave you under significant financial and emotional strain.
A Freeport slip and fall lawyer can help you recover financial compensation for your injury-related losses, like:
- Emergency medical bills and future medical expenses
- Lost work income and other forms of employment compensation
- Reduced lifetime earning capacity due to permanent disability
- Out-of-pocket injury-related expenses (e.g., transportation, childcare, etc.)
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish
- Quality-of-life reductions from scarring or disfigurement
Time Limit for Filing a Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit
NY CPLR 214(5) typically gives you three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit for injuries. After three years, your legal claim to financial damages will expire, and you won’t be able to file a lawsuit for compensation.
Note that the rules are different if you are suing a government entity. When suing the government, you must first provide the relevant agency with a notice of your intent to sue within 90 days. After that, you then have one year to file a lawsuit.
These time limits are extremely strict and have very few exceptions, so you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to get started. Every day you delay makes it harder to gather evidence and connect your injuries to the landowner’s negligent actions.
Freeport Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
A serious fall injury can throw your life into chaos as you struggle to navigate the aftermath. The team at Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers can be your legal advocate and help you find the financial stability for healing and recovery.
We prepare every case as if it will go to trial and will not compromise to secure a quick win. You can count on us to use every strategy and resource at hand to reach a satisfactory resolution.
Contact our offices online or call today to speak to a Freeport slip and fall accident lawyer.