Property owners and occupiers have a certain duty to keep visitors safe from unreasonable risks while in their home, store, restaurant, or other location. While not every slip and fall warrants a personal injury claim, many falls occur because the property owner failed to remove or repair a known hazard. When this occurs, you can hold them liable for the cost of your medical care, lost wages, and more.
Call the team at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C., today to learn more about your options for compensation after a slip and fall injury. We can help you understand how liability works based on the facts of your case and file a claim on your behalf if you are eligible. You can reach us at 631-600-0000 to schedule a complimentary case review with a slip and fall lawyer in Sayville, Long Island.
Is the Property Owner Liable for My Sayville Slip and Fall Injuries?
Premises liability laws outline the responsibilities of property owners and their obligations to keep visitors safe. In general, there are two categories of premises liability cases:
- Commercial properties; and
- Private residences and other private properties.
When it comes to commercial properties, the owners or occupiers of the property have to keep their store, restaurant, or other business reasonably safe for customers. They have a duty to regularly inspect their property for any potential hazards in public spaces. If they find a hazard, they must take action to remove it, repair it, or warn customers of the risk. If the managers or owners fail to uphold this duty, they may face insurance claims or lawsuits holding them liable for any resulting injuries.
The owners of private properties have a similar duty to invited guests and those who visit for the benefit of the home owner. If they do not take reasonable action to prevent accidents, they may be liable for any injuries that occur. In most cases, private property owners do not have a duty to protect trespassers from harm or warn them of hazards.
Whether your fall occurred on public or private property, our attorneys can help. Contact us today so we can determine if you qualify for compensation for your injuries.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Long Island Fall Injuries?
Slip Hazards
Almost any type of spill or leak can cause a slip hazard. While we commonly see these incidents occur in restaurants, they can happen almost anywhere. Tracked rain or snow may also fall under this category, if the property owner fails to clean it up after the bad weather ends.
Trip Hazards
Like slip hazards, trip hazards are exceedingly common. Items in the walkway, rolled rugs, cracks in the sidewalk, and uneven walking surfaces are among the most common causes of trip and fall accidents. In many cases, property owners can remove trip hazards in seconds. In others, they need to install permanent warnings about the hazard.
Inadequate Lighting
Poor lighting can make it difficult to see stairs, inclines, and other uneven surfaces. If a property owner is aware of burned out light bulbs or poorly lit areas and they do not take action to fix the issue or warn visitors, they may be liable for injuries that occur.
Poor Maintenance
Ripped carpet, broken or missing tiles, cracked sidewalks, potholes, and other maintenance issues can easily cause a fall. Both commercial and private property owners have a duty to keep their property properly maintained. If they fail to do so, they may be liable for any resulting injuries.
Unmarked Hazards
Permanent hazards are inevitable, but require signage, paint, or other warnings. This may include stairs, step ups or step downs, uneven floors, curbs, and other trip hazards. If a property owner fails to mark these hazards, they may be liable for any injuries sustained because of them.
What Type of Evidence Is Necessary to Prove a Long Island Slip and Fall Case?
To win compensation in your case, we need to provide evidence to document the cause of your fall, your related injuries, and the responsible party. We may turn to a variety of evidence in your case.
Eyewitness Testimony
Eyewitness testimony plays a key role in many slip and fall cases. If possible, we will also obtain any video evidence of your fall or the aftermath.
Police Report
If you received onsite attention from emergency medical personnel, there will likely also be a police report about the incident. This may offer the officer’s take on how the incident occurred.
Incident Report
Most businesses require employees to file an incident report anytime a customer suffers an injury on their property. We can get a copy of this report, which may contain details about how they handled a spill or other hazard.
Medical Records
The nature and severity of your injuries plays a key role in how much we can recover in your case. We use your medical records to prove your injuries occurred in the fall and to document your pain and suffering damages.
What Types Of Damages Can I Recover In My Sayville Slip And Fall Case?
The damages available through a slip and fall claim or lawsuit are very similar to those you might recover in any other personal injury case. They generally include your accident-related medical expenses, as well as compensation to cover things like damage to the smartphone in your pocket and the parking fees at your physical therapist’s office.
Some of the most common damages we recover for clients include:
- Medical expenses;
- Rehabilitation or physical therapy costs;
- Lost wages;
- Property damage;
- Ongoing care costs, when necessary;
- Other related expenses;
- Out-of-pocket reimbursement; and
- Pain and suffering and other emotional losses.
How Can I Talk to a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Sayville, Long Island?
At Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C., our personal injury lawyers can help you navigate a slip and fall claim and recover the compensation you deserve. We will file a claim or lawsuit on your behalf and fight to ensure your rights remain protected. Call us today at 631-600-0000 to schedule your complimentary consultation with one of our Sayville slip and fall attorneys.
