Winter in Brooklyn Means Thousands of People Will Suffer Injuries in Accidents
Did you know that the number of personal injuries increases dramatically during the winter due to slip and fall accidents on ice and snow?
Winter wreaks havoc on our roads and walkways. Freezing temperatures, blizzard conditions, and poor visibility cause motor vehicle accidents. Ice and snow pile up on walkways and corners, making it difficult to navigate sidewalks, parking lots, and stairways. People get injured shoveling snow, putting up holiday decorations, and hypothermia.
According to statistics, over 75,000 people are injured in car accidents that occur while it is snowing or sleeting. Over 100,000 people are injured on snowy, slushy or icy roads every winter. Over 1 million people in the US are injured in slip and fall accidents every year, and this risk increases dramatically during the winter.
If you suffer injuries falling or slipping on the ice or snow in Manhattan Beach, Bensonhurst, Midwood, Gravesend, or Bushwick, consider contacting our premises liability lawyer at the Law Office of Irene H. Gabo, PC.
We have the personal injury experience you want on your side when a slip and fall accident causes you to suffer. We can assess whether you are eligible to obtain compensation for your injuries and help you get the maximum damages the laws allow.
Did Negligence by a Property Owner or Business Operator Cause You to Slip And Fall?
If negligence caused your slip and fall accident, the negligent party could be legally responsible for paying for your injuries. What is negligence? Negligence occurs when someone violates a duty of care.
In the context of slip and fall accidents in Borough Park, East New York, Canarsie, Park Slope, and Brooklyn during the winter, negligence can occur when a property or business owner fails to maintain their property. For example, a homeowner might have a duty to clear ice off their stairway for the mailman. If the homeowner does not remove the ice and the mailman slips, falls, and suffers injuries, the homeowner may be held liable.
Another example? The owner of a parking lot might have a duty to remove snow from the lot so cars and pedestrians can pass through safely. If a pedestrian trips and falls over a snowy curb or icy patch, the parking lot owner might be liable for negligence and have to pay for the injuries and expenses incurred.
Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents in Winter Can Be Fatal
Injuries from falling on ice and other hazards result in billions of dollars in health care costs. They also result in millions of dollars in lost wages and decreased workplace productivity. Slip and fall injuries in Bay Ridge, Crown-Heights Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Sunset Park and Bedford-Stuyvesant, range from minor to fatal. Slipping on ice, in particular, causes some of the most severe injuries, including;
Brain injuries – Falling is the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the US. Almost half of all TBIs in this country result from falling. Symptoms of TBI from falling include:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Nausea
- Slurred or incoherent speech
- Vomiting
- Ringing in the ears
- Trouble remembering and processing new information
- Mood swings
- Loss of balance
- Paralysis
- Increased risk of having strokes, seizures, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Broken Bones – slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of fractured hips. Fractured hips, especially for the elderly, can change a life forever. Repairing hip damage after a fall usually requires surgery, is painful, and results in limited mobility. Broken wrists, noses, elbows, and ankles are also common slip and fall injuries that require various degrees of treatment.
Back and Neck Injuries – the slightest misstep on a patch of ice can cause a back injury that will hurt for life. Slipping on ice or snow can cause severe back and neck injuries that can require surgery, physical therapy, and medications to treat. Often, slip and fall injuries that affect the back and neck never fully heal, causing a lifetime of pain and suffering.
Who is Responsible for Your Injuries When You Slip and Fall on Ice and Snow?
Various parties might be legally responsible for your slip and fall injury. Premises liability laws require owners and tenants to keep their property reasonably safe and free from hazards. There are also specific codes and local laws that impose responsibilities for clearing ice and snow. We can help determine who owed you a duty and if they violated that duty, causing you to fall and become injured. Some parties who might owe you a duty include:
- A building owner
- A landlord
- A tenant
- A homeowner
- A parking lot owner
- A snow removal company
What Damages Can You Possibly Recover After a Slip and Fall Accident?
When a slip and fall accident in Flushing, Rego Park, Park Slope, or Brighton Beach results in injuries, the negligent party might be legally responsible for compensating you. By filing a claim with the holder of their insurance policy or a civil lawsuit, you might be eligible to collect damages including:
- Medical bills from health care professionals like doctors, surgeons, hospitals, physical and occupational therapists.
- Lost wages as a result of missing work because of your injuries
- Future income should you be unable to return to your job
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
Call Our Personal Injury Lawyer at The Law Office of Irene H. Gabo, PC to File a Premises Liability Claim
If you slipped and fell on ice, snow or debris, our lawyers represent personal injury victims in Flushing, Rego Park, Park Slope or Brighton Beach, Bay Ridge, Crown-Heights Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Sunset Park and Bedford-Stuyvesant Manhattan Beach, Bensonhurst, Midwood, Gravesend, or Bushwick, Borough Park, East New York, and Canarsie.
After being injured in a slip and fall accident this winter, call the Law Office of Irene H. Gabo, PC, to find out if you are eligible to file a premises liability claim. For a free case evaluation, call our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers at (800) 560-0214.
