Work from Home Slip and Fall Accidents During the Pandemic

Due to the spread of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, many New Yorkers are finding themselves working at home for the very first time. Not only can working at home pose technological and logistical challenges, but it can also lead to compromised safety and more accidents around the home.

Here is some information about work from home slip and fall cases and where to turn for legal help with your slip and fall case.

Common Causes of Work from Home Slip and Fall Accidents

If you are not used to working at home, you might not realize potential safety hazards until it is too late. You might slip and fall inside or just outside your home because of a wet or uneven surface, such as a poorly built staircase, loose floorboard, or defective sidewalk.

Weather conditions may also cause you to slip and fall outside your home, especially on rainy spring days in New York. If you are feeling especially tired or stressed out while trying to work during these challenging times, you may slip and fall in your home because you’re distracted or feeling too depressed to pick up clutter around the house.

Landlord Negligence for At-Home Accidents

Although some slip and fall accidents while working at home may be due to your own clumsiness or a simple mistake, other accidents are the direct result of a landlord’s negligence. This is especially common among New Yorkers who live in apartment buildings and particularly right now when we are all spending more time at home in uncommon ways.

To prove that your landlord is liable for your slip and fall at home injuries, you need an experienced local attorney on your side. This is because you’ll need evidence to show that your landlord was responsible for controlling a dangerous situation, had knowledge of the danger, should have foreseen the possibility of an accident, and failed to take reasonable action to prevent the accident that caused your injuries.

How to Prevent Work from Home Accidents

The last thing you want right now is to become injured and be hospitalized due to a work from home slip and fall accident, thereby creating more strain on the healthcare system and putting your immune system at risk. Therefore, it’s best to take precautions now to prevent work at home accidents if you no longer go to a physical location for your job.

Here are some prevention tips to practice:

Try to get enough rest so that you aren’t overtired or overstressed
Contact your landlord right away about essential repair needs
Reduce clutter around your house to prevent falls
Clean up spills and secure rugs that you have personal control over
Communicate with your employer if safety concerns are compromising your work at home situation

Legal Help with your At-Home Slip and Fall Case

After seeking medical attention for your slip and fall injuries, contact the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum to discuss your potential claim against your landlord or other responsible party while working from home. Since these types of cases have a statute of limitations in New York, it is important to seek legal help right away rather than waiting until pandemic restrictions are lifted.