Full Recovery For New York City Sidewalk Accidents

Within the five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island) of the City of New York, there is probably a greater network of sidewalks and pathways than in any other location of the State of New York. As a result, there are a large number of trip, slip, and/or fall accidents which occur on various sidewalks, walkways and pathways throughout the metropolitan area.

Many of these accidents result in serious injuries involving fractures of the wrist, arm, shoulder, ankle, knee and other bones in addition to various connective tissue damage, which often requires surgery and protracted therapeutic treatment. Unfortunately, these types of falls can cause significant trauma to the head or brain (also known as traumatic brain injury or TBI), which can result in death, especially when someone is propelled to the hard pavement directly hitting his or her head.

Many people are unaware of the very specific laws within the five boroughs of the city of New York which determine responsibility for maintaining the sidewalks. As this law is very specialized and requires complete and thorough knowledge concerning those persons and entities which may be responsible for the maintenance of various sidewalks, walkways and pathways, it is important to contact a lawyer with all of the necessary knowledge and experience handling this type of case, such as our office.

Clearly, every accident is fact-specific and requires a full and complete investigation concerning the cause of any sidewalk accident. Therefore, if you want to ensure that you or a loved one receives full and adequate compensation for any harm and loss sustained directly resulting from a sidewalk accident, call the Law Offices of Ira M. Perlman, P.C. & Robert D. Rosen, P.C., in order to achieve the outcome you and your family deserve.

Common Sidewalk Conditions Causing Accidents

Obviously, there are numerous hazards occurring on the sidewalk that can cause an accident including but not limited to any type of uneven or unlevel surface, whether caused by faulty construction, a growing tree root, another structure embedded into the sidewalk or improper repair or patchwork on the sidewalk. The following are dangerous property conditions commonly occurring on sidewalks:

• Snow which has been permitted to accumulate on the sidewalk
• Ice that has been permitted to accumulate on the sidewalk
• Water dripping onto the sidewalk due to faulty leaking or improper channeling of precipitation
• Uneven and unequal surfaces
• Faulty construction resulting in an unsafe walking surface
• Faulty reconstruction or repaving of the sidewalk
• Accumulation of dirt or other materials from the sidewalk which has not been removed
• Holes
• Cracks
• Loose, worn, decayed and/or unstable sidewalk material
• Improperly placed sidewalk vaults and/or cellar doors creating a trip hazard
• Protruding pipes, metal structures and/or cables along the sidewalk
• Debris on the sidewalk
• Other potential sidewalk hazards

What To Do After A Sidewalk Accident

• Seek immediate medical attention right away if you have been injured. In the case of severe injuries, call 911 or some other emergency help should be summoned right away.
• If possible, prior to leaving the scene of the accident, take photographs with a cell phone or any other available camera to document and preserve evidence of the condition which caused you or someone else to fall. Time is of the essence in taking these photographs as it is important to document and preserve evidence right away. If you do not have a chance to do so, you can always return to the location or have someone return to the location on your behalf, whether it be a friend, colleague or any investigator retained by your attorney.
• If you slip, trip or fall on private property, such as in commercial development, residential complex or commercial complex, notify the management right then and there concerning the accident. Often, an accident or incident report will be filled out immediately which may contain useful information about the accident, including witnesses, information about causation and other information as well. A report of the accident will also be helpful in proving that the accident did in fact occur as opposed to any claim by the defense that there was no such accident at the location in question.
• Take down the names, addresses and phone numbers of all witnesses who saw the accident and/or witnessed the conditions giving rise to the accident.
• In the days, weeks or months following the accident, make sure that you do not speak with any of the potential defendants or their insurance carriers, investigators or any other representatives on their behalf without consulting an attorney first. Often, potential defendants, insurance carriers and/or their investigators have only one purpose in talking to you and that is to distort and manipulate the truth and the circumstances which actually occurred surrounding your accident. Although you may initially feel there is no harm in speaking to these individuals, these people may very well be trained to secure answers from you based on factually incorrect questions and assumptions, which will result in you giving answers that do not truly reflect an accurate picture of what occurred and may damage your ability to prove the true circumstances surrounding your accident.

When all is said and done, you will want an experienced attorney by your side through all of this as well. At the Law Offices of Ira M. Perlman, P.C. & Robert D. Rosen, P.C., we do not charge fees until and unless we recover compensation for your injuries. We care about your recovery and we are here to help you maximize your recovery. Contact one of our New York offices today to get started on your case, call 212-668-0100 to schedule your free consultation.