Icy Sidewalk Slip and Fall Injuries
Winter in New York is filled with festive holiday markets, open-air ice skating, and sparkling decorations worth braving the cold to see. But it is also a time for harsh weather conditions that makes getting around the city particularly challenging.
Regardless of your age or agility, you can be at risk of having an accident on an icy sidewalk and suffering from painful injuries. If this happens to you outside of a business, here’s how a slip and fall lawyer can help you hold the responsible party accountable and get compensated for your fall-related medical bills.
A Business’ Duty of Care During Icy Weather
No one can control the weather – not you, local businesses, or your favorite New York City meteorologist. However, business owners are responsible for making conditions on their property safe and taking care of hazards to prevent pedestrian accidents.
Property owners are required by law to take reasonable care to decrease the risk of falls on their properties by removing snow and ice. If hazardous conditions are not addressed within a fair amount of time, a property owner can be held liable for a victim’s fall.
Types of Icy Sidewalk Injuries
Slip and fall accidents in the winter often occur on sidewalks, streets, and parking lots outside of businesses and residential homes. Black ice is one of the most common causes of falls in New York, and fall risks increase if a pedestrian is distracted or intoxicated. Icy sidewalk injuries send many New Yorkers to the emergency room every winter to treat broken bones, hip fractures, herniated disks, spinal cord injuries, and concussions.
Oftentimes, a person will fall on ice and be in a state of shock afterward. Even if your injuries do not seem significant after a fall on an icy sidewalk, it is best to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible in case minor aches are actually an early warning sign of a more serious problem.
Pursuing An Icy Sidewalk Case Against a Business
If you fell on an icy sidewalk outside of a New York business, you may be able to file a claim against the company or another third-party group and receive a settlement to help you pay for the damages of your fall. Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum is a local slip and fall lawyer who can help you prove that the business owner was negligent in clearing the sidewalk of ice and maintaining a safe place of business. This is especially true if the icy conditions were left unattended to for an extended period of time and ignored by the business owner.
To prove your case, your slip and fall lawyer will utilize all available documentation to bring justice to your unfortunate situation. Documentation may include photos of the accident scene, witness testimony from other people who noticed the icy conditions, and medical records showing your fall-related injuries.
Contact a Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
Icy sidewalks are inevitable and a part of life in New York City, so it is wise to be prepared for whatever comes your way as you navigate the city’s sidewalks. If you or someone you care about suffers from a fall outside of a business this winter, remember Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum’s name and keep the phone number 718-237-5586 handy.
We offer free icy sidewalk slip and fall consultations to assess potential cases against negligent businesses and can guide you through the legal process of filing a claim. Please stay safe during and after winter storms this season, and contact us 24/7 if you need legal help.
