What Determines if a Slip and Fall Case Can Be Pursued by an Injured Person?
People are more likely to suffer a slip and fall injury during the winter months because of the snowy and icy weather. When a slip and fall accident results in an injury that would not have happened if the dangerous condition had been corrected, you may well have a case. If you have been injured, and need compensation to pay medical bills and lost wages, and also want to ensure that the dangerous condition or defect does not happen to someone else in Brooklyn, you are best served by retaining a Brooklyn slip and fall attorney. Generally, a person injured in a slip and fall on someone else’s property must prove that the cause of the accident was a “dangerous condition” or defect, the owner or possessor of the property knew of the hazardous condition and had the chance to correct it.
In order to establish that a property owner or possessor knew of a dangerous condition, it must be shown that:
The property owner or possessor caused or created the condition; or
The property owner or possessor knew the condition existed and failed to correct it; or
The condition existed for such a length of time that the property owner or possessor should have known about and corrected it prior to the slip and fall accident that it caused.
It’s always better to be safe than have to bring a lawsuit for your injuries. The good news is that there are several things that can be done to prevent a slip and fall accident. Below are some tips for preventing a slip and fall accident during the winter months:
Wear the Right Footwear
Your chances of falling will be a lot lower if you select the right footwear. Shoes with neoprene composite or rubber soles are the best to wear during the wintertime. They provide better traction for the snow and ice than leather or plastic soles. It is also a good idea to avoid wearing sneakers or cowboy boots in areas covered with snow and ice.
Be Very Careful When You Are Getting Out of Your Vehicle or Getting Off a Bus
Many people suffer a fall when they are getting in and out of their vehicles. That is why you want to make sure that you are extra cautious when entering or exiting your car or off a bus. You may also want to hold on to your car for extra support. Also hazardous are potholes, or broken curbs– it is important to look down before putting your foot down to exit the car.
Put Up Wet Floor Signs
In some cases, it can be very hard for one to distinguish a wet from dry floor. That is why safety may require the placement of “wet floor” signs. Floor mats should be placed in building entrances on rainy or snowy days. They help reduce the amount of snow and ice that people track in when they enter the building.
Additionally, building owners or managers should regularly check mats for curled-up edges and frays. If a mat has curled-up edges or frays, then it should be replaced immediately. Mats that are soggy should be changed frequently. Make sure that extra mats are kept on hand.
A slip and fall can end catastrophically. It’s smart to be cautious and remains aware of where you are walking. Wearing the proper shoes is another one of the simplest things that can be done to prevent a slip and fall injury. You should also make sure that you are careful when you get in and out of your car or are walking on a recently mopped or otherwise wet floor. Sometimes, however, as careful as we are, a fall can happen. If you are entering a building or walking down the hall of an apartment or office building with no warning sign and a recently mopped floor and injure yourself by slipping & falling, that may be a situation that calls for an experienced Brooklyn slip and fall lawyer.
Hire an Experienced Brooklyn Personal Injury Attorney
The Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens slip and fall accident attorneys at Peters Berger Koshel & Goldberg, P.C. are skilled and experienced in the slip, trip and fall injury cases and have been obtaining maximum settlements and verdicts for their clients for over 30 years. During this time, they have established a reputation as being among the best trial lawyers in the state of New York and have a long record of recovering full & fair compensation for the victims and the families of those injured due to other parties’ negligence. One such case was a $1,500,000 verdict against a building owner for injuries to a construction worker who suffered neck and back injuries from a ceiling collapse.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, contact the Brooklyn personal injury lawyers of Peters Berger Koshel & Goldberg, P.C., 718-596-7800, to schedule a free case evaluation. They do not collect any money unless they have secured full and fair financial compensation for you or your injured loved one. Their offices are located in at 26 Court Street, Suite 2803, convenient to all trains and opposite Brooklyn Supreme Court.