When you slip and fall due to the negligence of another party, you need to know your legal options and how to secure compensation for your medical bills. This post will break down who a New York slip and fall attorney is, how they can help with your claim and the difference between a slip and fall and a trip and fall lawsuit.
Who Is The New York Slip And Fall Attorney?
A New York slip and fall lawyer is a personal injury attorney who specializes in slip and fall cases. A “slip and fall” accident occurs when a person slips and falls due to a hazard on a floor, sidewalk or other surface. A person involved in a slip and fall accident could potentially sustain injuries as a result. These types of accidents occur to millions of Americans each year.
Slip and fall lawyers may not exclusively work on only these types of accidents. A New York slip and fall attorney also works on other New York personal injury cases, like auto accident cases, possibly medical malpractice, construction accidents, product liability cases, and so on.
Regardless, a New York slip and fall attorney is well-versed in the legal circumstances and specifics surrounding these unique cases.
What Is The Difference Between A Slip And Fall vs. Trip And Fall?
Although slip and fall and trip and fall cases sound similar, they are technically legally distinct.
- A person “slips and falls” backward, either because the surface they are walking on was unbalanced or because there was a hazard on the floor, like water or ice.
- A person “trips and falls” forward, either because they stepped on something slippery, their foot/feet were caught on an object, or there was a hazard in their path.
For example, if you lose your balance on a wet restaurant floor, fall backward and land on your hands, you slip and fall. Alternatively, if you trip over a crate left in an aisle in a grocery store and fall forward, you tripped and fell.
Types Of Injuries Resulting From Slip And Fall/Trip And Fall Cases
Both slip and fall and trip and fall cases can result in numerous serious and possibly permanent personal injuries, such as:
- Bruising
- Cuts or lacerations
- Spinal disc herniations
- Traumatic brain injuries like concussions
- Broken bones
- Death
- And more
In many cases, these personal injuries can cause the victim to incur high medical bills or possibly miss time from work. You or a loved one may have no choice but to file a slip and fall lawsuit claim against a negligent party, like a business owner, negligent employee, landlord or property owner.
Do You Need The Services Of A New York Slip And Fall Lawyer?
A slip and fall attorney can help guide you through the legal process. New York slip and fall attorneys are experienced and knowledgeable regarding New York State and local laws. The New York slip and fall attorney will handle your claim, conduct a proper investigation, and obtain all the necessary evidence to support your claim.
Alternatively, a person who was injured in a slip and fall accident could decide to represent themselves in a personal injury lawsuit. While that is an option, it is highly not recommended because there a lot of intricacies in a slip and fall accident that the injured person may not know about and this could negatively impact their case. It is recommended that if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, retain the services of a New York slip and fall attorney. This way you can focus on yourself and recovering from your injuries.
What Are The Benefits Of Hiring An Experienced New York Slip And Fall Attorney
When you hire the right New York slip and fall attorney, you’ll see several major benefits come to your case right away.
Evidence Gathering
Any person injured in a slip or trip and fall incident must report the fall to the appropriate person immediately, if possible. This may be a manager at a business establishment, or an employee at a theme park or management in a commercial or residential building. Reporting the fall is the key and could be very important in your case. If you are able to do so, you or someone with you should take photos of the area, especially focusing on the condition that caused you to fall. From there, a knowledgeable New York slip and fall attorney can assist with gathering the evidence needed to strengthen your case. This evidence can include:
- Video camera footage, such as footage from a restaurant, business, or on the street.
- Eyewitness statements from people who may have seen the incident occur.
- Documentation, such as accident reports at a business record or emergency room records or a doctor’s note.
More importantly, your New York slip and fall attorneys can gather the evidence on your behalf while you focus on your recovery and so that you don’t strain yourself unnecessarily.
Legal Counsel
In addition, New York slip and fall lawyers can provide sound legal counsel from the moment you contact them until a successful verdict. They can tell you:
- Whether you have grounds for a successful lawsuit
- Who is likely liable for your injuries
- Whether you may be found partially at fault for the occurrence of your slip and fall accident
They may also advise you regarding your options and the legal actions you may wish to pursue.
Potential Damages From A Successful Slip And Fall Claim
In addition to the above benefits, with the assistance of a New York slip and fall attorney, you could see much higher potential damages or compensation from a successful claim as opposed to handling your personal injury claim on your own.
How much could you recover as damages from your New York slip and fall lawsuit? That depends on the circumstances of your case, the level of negligence assigned to the accused party, and other factors. It is important that every case is different. However, it is possible that punitive damages may also be awarded, if the court deems it necessary, although punitive damages are very rare in the case of a New York slip and fall or trip and fall case. You could see damages to compensate you for:
- Both your past and future medical bills, like physical therapy costs
- Both past and future pain and suffering if your injuries were sufficiently severe, debilitating, or painful
- Loss of income if you had/have to take time off work to recover from your injuries
- Loss of ability if your injuries resulted in a permanent disability or loss of physical ability
- Lost property, if property on your person was damaged due to your fall
- And more
Some slip and fall accident plaintiffs recover thousands of dollars. Others recover millions. In any case, a New York slip and fall attorney can help improve your chances of seeing a successful case verdict and significant payout.
Contact A New York Slip And Fall Attorney Today
At the end of the day, the right New York slip and fall attorney can help make it possible so that your case is a much smoother process. They may even be able to help you secure more damages to pay for medical bills than you would see otherwise.
Why should you wait when a qualified, experienced New York slip and fall attorney is ready and waiting for your call? The Law Office of Effie Soter, P.C. offers free case evaluations to all of our new clients, so contact us today and let us start working on your case together.