New York Sidewalk Slip and Fall Attorneys
A poorly-maintained sidewalk can be a dangerous thing. Tree roots can force sidewalk panels to buckle, snow and ice can be allowed to accumulate, or construction and road work can spill onto the sidewalk, all resulting in sometimes difficult-to-see hazards that can cause you to fall and incur debilitating injuries. Our sidewalk slip and fall lawyers at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello represent clients who have major medical expenses after a sidewalk slip and fall injury, and we fight with determination to ensure that they receive the compensation they’re owed by the responsible property owners. Let us help you to recover what you deserve for your trip and fall injuries.
Property owners must keep sidewalks safe
In New York, the owners of the property that is connected to a segment of sidewalk are obligated to keep the sidewalk from developing any hazardous or dangerous conditions, making it reasonably safe for those passing by. If you fall and become injured by an uneven, cracked, or slippery sidewalk, and you couldn’t see the danger in order to avoid it before you encountered it, that property owner may owe you for your injuries if they knew the sidewalk was dangerous. Where the property owner was responsible for making the sidewalk unsafe, knew that the sidewalk was unsafe but didn’t do anything about it, or would have known about that condition if they had conducted a reasonable amount of maintenance or inspection of their property, then they can be considered responsible for the unsafe condition.
What should you do after a trip and fall on a New York sidewalk?
Take photos: You’ll want to document not only what made you fall, but also any nearby buildings attached to the sidewalk , to make it clear who or what business owns the property responsible for keeping that sidewalk safe. If you are unable to take photos at the time of the accident, ask someone with you to do so, or to return to the scene of the accident as soon as possible afterward to document what made you fall.
Speak to witnesses: A witness to your accident will be able to describe in a deposition or to a court the fact that you were paying attention to where you were going and weren’t able to spot the hazard in the sidewalk before reaching it.
Seek treatment: Even if you aren’t sure whether you’re seriously injured after a slip-and-fall, see a doctor right away so that you can undergo a full checkup. Some injuries aren’t obvious, but a doctor can help you get the treatment you need and can later provide testimony on your condition after a fall to a court or insurance adjuster.
Contact an attorney as soon as possible after an accident: Many sidewalk trip and fall claims will involve a claim against a municipal government, and these claims are subject to very strict time limitations for filing. You’ll need to take immediate action if you wish to recover compensation for your trip-and-fall injuries.
After experiencing a trip and fall on a sidewalk, contact the Kingston sidewalk trip and fall lawyers who have been representing injured accident victims for generations. Call Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello for a free consultation, in Marlboro at 845-236-4411, and in Kingston at 845-331-4100.
