Slip and Fall
Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Buffalo, NY
Falling is one of the most common causes of injuries in the United States. While it’s easy to attribute a slip and fall incident to the injured person’s carelessness, the liability for the accident often lies in someone else’s negligence.
If you’ve suffered a slip and fall injury due to unsafe conditions, you might have a legitimate case. The slip and fall accident lawyer at The Buffalo Injury Law Firm can help determine whether you have recourse against someone for the accident.
Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall
First and foremost, you should visit a hospital or urgent care to get yourself examined by a doctor.. It’s extremely important to seek medical assistance even if you don’t feel pain immediately after a fall. Some injuries aren’t immediately apparent but might become serious complications if left unattended.
What’s more, your medical records will play an important role as a piece of evidence in your case. Another important action to take after a slip and fall accident is to notify the property owner or management overseeing the location of your injuries and where you fell as soon as possible.
Doing so will get the date and time of your accident on record, which will help your lawyer build a strong case if liability does indeed lie on someone else.
Documenting the Accident
Your chances of obtaining compensation are much higher if you take the step to document details of the accident, including photos of the place of fall, photos of any bruises orwounds resulting from the injury, and a detailed account of the event such as the weather, conditions, and other specifics.
These details will prove invaluable to your slip and fall injury lawyer and help your case if there is good reason to suspect a property owner’s negligence.
Common Injuries Resulting from Falls
A fall can cause different kinds of injuries, ranging from mild to serious. Older people are more susceptible to sustain serious injuries after a slip and fall. The most common injuries resulting from a fall include:
- Bone fractures
- Sprained wrists and/or ankles
- Concussions
- Serious head trauma leading to dysfunction in cognitive abilities
- Skin injuries such as cuts and scrapes
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries with risk of partial or full paralysis and chronic back pains
Who Is Responsible for Slip and Fall Injury
In many situations, property owners can be held liable for a slip and fall accident on their premises. To recover from in a slip and fall, generally you must prove:
- That there was an unsafe condition on the property; That the property owner created the unsafe condition;
- If the property did not create the unsafe condition, that he knew or should have known of the unsafe condition;
- that the unsafe condition caused the injury.
A good lawyer will evaluate the facts of the slip and fall case to determine the liability for your slip and fall accident. In the court of law, the judges and jury take into account whether the property owner displayed responsibility and care by ensuring regular maintenance of the property to prevent the development of dangerous conditions.
However, just because a person slipped on someone else’s property is no guarantee that their accident is a result of someone else’s negligence. For instance, if the injured person acted without caution or ignored clear warning signs in a hazardous area, the property owner cannot be held legally accountable in this scenario.
The Storm in Progress Defense Under NY Law
All property owners in New York are obligated to keep their property in safe conditions. However, a property owner is not liable to take any corrective action for hazardous conditions during a storm. The liability does not return to the person responsible for the property until the storm has passed.
If you’re a property owner and someone has slipped on your premises during bad weather, the law grants enough leeway to you because it’s not reasonable to expect any individual to risk their safety and remedy hazardous conditions, especially when they’re unavoidable against the forces of nature.
Slip and Fall Accident Statistics
Slip and fall do not generally lead to serious injuries. Statistics show that only one in five cases of slip and falls are associated with a serious injury. However, a good chunk of the emergency room visits – as much as 20 percent of all visits – are caused by slipping and falling.
Furthermore, statistics reveal that:
- The average cost of a fall injury is more than $30,000.
- Most traumatic injuries to the brain are caused by falling.
- Only 5% of all fall accidents result in broken bones.
How a Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer Can Help
The Buffalo Injury Law Firm will evaluate the strengths of your case against a property owner, help you find the right medical care, and obtain fair compensation for your injuries. Call today for a complimentary case evaluation with a lawyer at the Adler Law Firm if you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident.