Irene H. Gabo, New York Premises Liability Lawyer, Handles Slip and Fall Injuries on Sidewalks
Falling on broken or icy sidewalks can result in catastrophic injuries. If you fell on a sidewalk and suffered harm, you might be able to seek compensation.
Most people in New York and the surrounding boroughs don’t think about the sidewalks in their cities and towns. Many New Yorkers walk with confidence for miles a day on the city streets, on park paths, and in residential neighborhoods. We all take for granted that the sidewalks are safe. But it is not that easy to watch where you are going on a crowded city street or a poorly lit one. Even small cracks in the pavement can result in a fall that causes severe, life-threatening injuries.
Slip and fall accidents on sidewalks and curbs make up a large portion of personal injury claims that the law office of Irene H. Gabo, P.C. handles. When you suffer injuries because of a dangerous sidewalk, various parties might be liable for your injuries. A successful premises liability claim requires you to prove someone was negligent, and their negligence caused your injuries.
As an experienced, highly skilled premises liability lawyer in New York, Irene H. Gabo understands how to navigate the complexities associated with slip and fall accidents on sidewalks. If you want to ensure that you have the opportunity to collect the maximum damages allowed by law, look no further than Irene H. Gabo.
What Are Some Common Causes of Sidewalk Accidents in New York?
Unless you have suffered injuries in a fall, you may not know how many dangers are lurking on our busy streets. Most of us walk to work, the store, or the playground without thinking much about whether we will suffer harm on the way.
Many conditions exist, however, that cause many of the trip and fall accidents that give rise to personal injury claims. These are some of the causes of sidewalk accidents:
- Trip and fall accidents from sidewalk buckling
- Trip and fall accidents from sidewalk cracks
- Trip and fall accidents caused by uneven pavement
- Slip and fall accidents caused by snow, ice, and rain
- Trip and fall accidents caused by debris or garbage
- Trip and fall accidents from loose bricks, loose stones, or loose pavers
- Trip and fall accidents from metal grates
- Trip and fall accidents caused by the defective design or construction of the sidewalk
- Trip and fall accidents caused by cracked curbs or curbs that are too high
What Can you do After a Falling on a Sidewalk
Your priority should be your safety. Have someone call an ambulance if it is necessary. Be sure that you see a doctor, even if you are not sure you are hurt. It is not unusual after a fall for injuries to appear the next day or a few days later.
It is imperative that if your injuries allow, you take a look around after you fall. Try to take photographs of the sidewalk and the surrounding area. If possible, get the names and contact information of witnesses to your accident. This information can be beneficial when you and your lawyer are trying to determine if negligence was a factor in your accident.
Injuries From Sidewalk Accidents Can be Severe
When you trip and fall on a sidewalk, you can suffer a wide variety of injuries. You may have bruises or scrapes which are easily treatable. But, even a tiny elevation change in a sidewalk, a minor crack, or a small ice patch can send a pedestrian smashing to the ground. Injuries to senior citizens or small children can be especially severe.
Common injuries from falling on sidewalks include:
- Broken nose
- Broken wrist
- Broken ankle
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Concussion
- Bruising
- Shoulder injury
- Back injury
- Broken hip
These injuries can require surgery, physical therapy, medications, and more. Some may lead to complications such as memory loss, mobility loss, and cognitive disabilities. In some situations, especially for the elderly, a fall on a sidewalk can result in injuries from which they never recover.
Proving Negligence to Collect Compensation After a Sidewalk Trip and Fall Accident
You might be able to collect compensation if you can prove that negligence caused your accident and injuries. A home or business owner generally has to maintain the sidewalks and keep their surrounding property safe. For example,
- If you slip and fall on an icy sidewalk in front of someone’s home, you might be able to prove the owner was negligent by not removing the ice promptly. If you fall on ice in front of a store, the same might be true of the store owner.
- If you fall on a sidewalk made uneven because of the roots of a falling tree, you might be able to prove the homeowner or landlord was negligent by not removing the tree and/or fixing the sidewalk.
Compensation for your injuries after a trip and fall accident on a sidewalk should cover your medical costs, lost wages, lost future wages, and the value of your pain and suffering.
Contact Our Experienced Premises Liability Lawyer in New York.
Call the Law Office of Irene H. Gabo if you suffered injuries because of a dangerous sidewalk. You might be able to hold someone negligent and collect compensation to pay for your expenses and trauma. Let an experienced lawyer negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to be sure you don’t settle for less than you deserve. Irene H. Gabo represents personal injury victims in New York and can help you pursue a premises liability claim.
Call (800) 560-0214 today to find out if you are eligible to collect compensation for your trip and fall injuries from a sidewalk accident.
