Who Is Liable For A Slip And Fall Accident On Snow And Ice?

If you suffered a slip and fall accident on snow and ice, the liable party may be:

• The person or company that owns the property
• The person or company hired to look after the property
• Any person to whom the owner has ceded control of the property
• A combination of the above

An experienced Garden City, NY slip and fall attorney can help you figure out if you have a case or not.

Shoveling and De-Icing Is the Property Owner’s Responsibility

Property owners are responsible for the upkeep of their property. This includes seeing to the repair or resolution of any obvious issue that they could potentially harm others. Icy sidewalks are just one type of hazard that the owner must eliminate or mitigate (e.g., putting up warning signs or putting down rock salt) in a timely manner.

If you slipped on someone else’s snowy or icy property, you may have suffered several serious consequences, including:

• Physical harm
• Emotional anguish
• Financial distress

All of the above are potentially recoverable. In other words, you could file a claim or lawsuit that demands compensation for your losses.

The Liable Party May Owe You Compensation

According to NY CVP § 214, you generally have three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, exceptions may shorten the time you have to get started. For instance, the process is more complicated if you are filing against a government entity, per the New York Courts and General Municipal Law.

If you start your lawsuit within the prescribed amount of time, you may be entitled to receive the following types of compensation:

Non-Economic Damages

These serve as compensation for the physical and mental consequences of your slip and fall. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Pain and suffering, which accounts for your physical and emotional distress
• Disability, if your injuries cost you the total or partial use of any part of your body or mind
• Loss of consortium, if your injuries had a harmful effect on your marriage
• Reduced quality of life, if you can never resume your old lifestyle (e.g., playing sports with the kids) or you will need help with basic daily tasks (e.g., cleaning the house)

Economic Damages

These serve as compensation for the money you lost or spent because of the fall and your injuries. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Loss of income, if your injuries forced you to take time off work or reduce your working hours temporarily
• Loss of earning capacity, if you will never be able to work and/or earn as much as you did prior to the accident
• Medical expenses, if you needed or will continue to need medical intervention to manage the accident injuries
• Other expenses, if you needed to hire outside services (e.g., a landscaper) to assist with chores that your injuries prevented you from doing

After You Have Listed Your Damages

Once you have compiled a list of your damages, you will have to determine the monetary worth of each damage. Our team can make sure that you have not missed any other losses or expenses and help you ask for the appropriate level of compensation.

Hiring Legal Representation to Help with Your Case

Understandably, you may not have the energy to deal with a personal injury case right now, no matter how much you need the money or want to hold the liable party accountable. A lawyer from our firm can help you through this process.

When you first contact our team, you can receive a free case review and ask any initial questions you may have. If you decide to work with us, we will:

• Look for evidence to support your claims
• Guide you through your legal options
• Calculate the maximum amount of damages you may recover
• Notify the liable party about your lawsuit
• Manage all communications with the liable party
• Provide you with regular updates about your case
• Negotiate for a fair settlement
• Take your case to trial

Call Our Team Today

If you are looking for a slip and fall lawyer on Long Island, call our team at Rosenberg & Gluck L.L.P. to discuss your case. We can help you figure out who is liable for your slip and fall accident on snow and ice and manage your case on your behalf. We have numerous successful recoveries for clients injured due to a slip and fall on snow or ice. In one case, we were able to win $900,000 for a client who slipped on ice.

Call us at (631) 994-1910. Our team can assist you in English or Spanish.