New York Slip and Fall Lawyer
An unexpected slip and fall accident can turn your world upside down in mere moments, and our New York slip and fall lawyers know just how overwhelming that can be. Moreover, you shouldn’t have to deal with the costs and consequences alone. This is true when you’ve slipped and fallen because of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property in New York City.
You deserve compensation, and the property owner must answer for their negligence. Fortunately, The Platta Law Firm’s experienced New York slip and fall lawyers can help. We’ll fight for the financial accountability you deserve. Backed by 150 years of combined legal experience, our award-winning New York trial attorneys stand up to powerful corporations. Furthermore, they don’t rest until our clients have been made whole. As a result, our case results speak volumes. In fact, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions in settlements and jury verdicts.
Since we offer a free consultation, reach out today. Contact our New York City law office at (212) 514-5100 to discuss the details of your slip and fall accident case with our team.
A Message to Slip and Fall Accident Victims from Slawek Platta
Why Accident Victims in New York City Trust The Platta Law Firm
Whether you slipped and fell at a local business, at someone’s home, or in public, the property owner won’t rush to take responsibility for your injuries. In fact, they’ll do everything they can to deny liability. They will stand between you and a meaningful financial recovery. Having a skilled, aggressive slip and fall lawyer in your corner can make all the difference in the world as you fight for compensation. Here’s why slip and fall victims in New York City, NY, turn to The Platta Law Firm:
- We’re local New York litigators who’ve dedicated our careers to fighting for injury victims and their families.
- Our case results include hundreds of millions of dollars in record-setting settlements and jury verdicts.
- Members of our top-rated legal team have earned recognition as leaders in personal injury litigation from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Just Great Lawyers, Power Lawyers, Featured Verdict, and Lawyers of Distinction.
- Clients benefit from customized legal strategies and powerful legal arguments that yield life-changing financial awards.
- Our award-winning legal team draws on over 150 years of combined experience handling high-value, high-stakes personal injury disputes.
- We assume the risk of litigation – you don’t pay until we win compensation for you.
Choose an Attorney Who Will Fight for You
Slip and fall accident cases can be challenging, thanks to complex matters of liability and pushback from powerful property owners and insurance companies. Indeed, the New York City personal injury attorney you choose to represent you will set the stage for how your slip and fall case unfolds. Nevertheless, choosing The Platta Law Firm means working with reliable, honest attorneys with a proven ability to win these difficult cases. As a result, this puts you in a position to receive the top-tier case results you need to get your life back on track.
Therefore, if you have questions about your rights, your slip and fall case, or why our law firm is the best choice for you, don’t hesitate to contact our NYC law office today. We’re available to take your call at (212) 514-5100 right now. Of course, your first consultation will always be free.
How Can a Slip and Fall Attorney Help Me?
You need time to focus on recovering from your slip and fall injuries. However, that’s difficult when pursuing compensation from the negligent property owner and their insurance company also stresses you out. Fortunately, when you hire an experienced slip and fall lawyer near you in New York City to handle your case, you not only increase the odds of a successful outcome. You also alleviate the stress you have to deal with when times are tough. Therefore, when you hire The Platta Law Firm, our team will handle your slip and fall case from start to finish by:
- Listening to your story during a free case evaluation, helping you understand your rights, and explaining the process through which we can help you obtain maximum compensation.
- Investigating your slip and fall accident by gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, deposing other parties, and consulting experts.
- Anticipating allegations of contributory fault that could hurt your case and devising a strategy to protect your financial recovery.
- Evaluating your damages and calculating what your slip and fall accident case is worth so that you can make informed decisions during settlement negotiations.
- Building a compelling legal claim that forces the defense to negotiate fairly and offer you full compensation for your slip and fall injuries.
- Being ready to reject unreasonably low settlements and take your case directly to trial, if necessary.
What You Can Expect Working With Us
We’ll handle the heavy lifting on your slip and fall case and keep you updated on its status throughout the claims process. Meanwhile, when you’re asked to weigh in, our slip and fall lawyers will offer sound advice and legal counsel so that you’re confident in the decisions you make.
Our goal isn’t just to help you recover compensation for your slip and fall injuries. Additionally, it’s to make sure that you don’t have to live with the financial consequences of someone else’s mistakes. We do this by fighting for a financial recovery that changes your line in ways you never could have imagined possible.
Millions Recovered for Slip and Fall Accident Victims in New York City
The Platta Law Firm offers experienced, skilled legal representation to fall victims in New York City. Here’s a look at some of our most recent and most notable slip and fall accident case results:
- $3,250,000 for a plumber who slipped while working at the subway station.
- $3,100,000 for a painter who slipped off of an affixed ladder at work.
- $2,920,000 for a woman injured when she tripped over a poorly leveled elevator.
- $2,500,000 for a tenant who slipped and fell on ice in front of his apartment building.
- $2,350,000 for a worker who tripped on debris at his worksite.
- $2,200,000 for a roofer who slipped on ice atop a library building.
- $2,200,000 for a construction worker who tripped on an unsecured scaffold.
- $800,000 for a mother and son who slipped and fell on ice outside of a Brooklyn store.
Compensation amounts like this secure a financially stable future for our clients and their families.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in NY
Every year, millions of Americans make trips to local emergency rooms to be treated for slip and fall injuries. While some slips and falls happen at home, most are caused by dangerous conditions at work or on someone else’s property. Hazards that commonly contribute to slips, trips, and falls include:
- Slippery floor surfaces, often due to recent waxing, spills, rain, or puddles
- Unsecured electrical cables, wires, and cords
- Uneven floor surfaces
- Unsecured rugs and carpets
- Buildup of ice and snow
- Uneven sidewalks or pavement
- Iced sidewalks
- Debris, clutter, or garbage
- Broken floor boards
- Loose, broken, or missing railings
- Stairs not built to code
- Poorly lit rooms or walkways
When hazards like these exist in a non-obvious way, the owner of the premises may be financially responsible. In these cases, if you slip, fall, and get hurt, you may have a claim.
How Do I Win a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
Most slip and fall lawsuits are a matter of premises liability. New York’s premises liability laws require property owners to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. Ultimately, owners of property should take steps to prevent slip and fall hazards from being present on their land by conducting regular inspections, fixing hazards upon discovery, and, at a bare minimum, warning invited guests and visitors of potential threats to their safety.
As a victim of a slip and fall, you’ll have the burden of proving the owner of the premises was negligent. This involves establishing:
- A duty of care was owed to you by the property owner because you were legally on their premises with consent as an invitee or licensee.
- This duty of care was breached because the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to keep their property free from slip and fall hazards.
- The owner’s actions (or, more likely, inaction) were a direct and proximate cause of a slip and fall accident in which you were injured.
- You’ve suffered damages, such as emergency room bills, lost wages during your recovery, and emotional distress.
Ultimately, you’ll win your slip and fall accident case by proving that you wouldn’t have slipped and fallen if the property owner had taken reasonable steps to keep their premises safe.
Factors Evaluating Your Claim Worth
A lot of factors will go into evaluating what your slip and fall injury claim is worth. In New York, you’ll have the opportunity to seek two types of compensatory damages through an insurance claim and/or personal injury lawsuit. Economic damages are awarded to offset the direct and indirect financial consequences of your slip and fall injuries, such as:
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Temporary lost wages and job benefits
- Long-term disability
- Changes in earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Hospitalization, diagnostic testing, specialist consultations, surgery, medical devices, follow-up treatment, and other medical expenses
Your claim’s value will depend largely on your financial costs and projected monetary losses, which will all hinge on how badly you’ve been hurt in the slip and fall accident.
Non-Economic Damages in a Slip and Fall Case
Non-economic damages are awarded to acknowledge harder-to-value struggles you experience as the victim of a slip and fall, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Inconvenience
- PTSD
- Chronic pain
- Physical disfigurement
These damages are much more difficult to value. In turn, they’re often the source of a lot of dispute between parties. Our New York City slip and fall lawyers will collaborate with trusted expert witnesses and specialists. These include rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, and medical professionals. Together, they help us fully understand the impact your slip and fall injuries have on your quality of life. In turn, this helps us determine how much compensation is appropriate to help you cope.
Factors like your age, earning capacity, and changes in your overall ability to enjoy your life can all impact valuation. Shared fault can too. The Platta Law Firm will work hard to help you understand your claim’s value. This way, you can discern lowball offers from fair ones and make smart decisions as the claims process unfolds.
Common Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents and trip and fall accidents can cause serious, debilitating physical injuries, including:
- Broken bones and fractures, often to the hands, arms, face, skull, and chest
- Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Sprains, strains, contusions, and other soft tissue injuries
- Chest injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Eye injuries
- Degloving and amputation injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
The Platta Law Firm has extensive experience representing workers and citizens who’ve suffered serious slip and fall injuries in New York City. We understand the complex laws and regulations that often impact these claims. We also know the best way to handle disputes involving powerful corporations. Don’t hesitate to contact our New York slip and fall lawyers at (212) 514-5100 to discuss your slip and fall accident case with our award-winning team today.
Slip and Fall Accident FAQ
You’ve slipped and fallen in New York City. Faced with painful physical injuries, a sudden loss of income while you’re out of work, and emotional hardships, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn for you. You undoubtedly have questions – and The Platta Law Firm is here to help you get the answers and insight you need.
What Should I Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in NYC?
Decisions made today, tomorrow, and in the weeks that follow will affect how your slip and fall accident case unfolds. After a slip and fall accident in NYC, it’s important to:
- Report the slip and fall accident to the owner of the premises and ensure that an incident report is filed.
- Document the fall hazard by taking pictures and/or video footage before the owner has an opportunity to fix it.
- Seek medical attention right away, even if you don’t think you’ve been badly injured.
- Deny requests to provide the insurance company with a recorded statement or to discuss your slip and fall accident without legal counsel present.
- Resist any temptation to apologize, admit fault, or say anything that the insurance company could potentially use to limit or deny your claim for damages.
- Contact an experienced slip and fall lawyer in NYC to protect your best interests and increase the odds of a meaningful financial recovery.
Choosing The Platta Law Firm shows the property owner and their insurer that you’re going to push back if they attempt to deny you the compensation you rightfully deserve. We’re respected trial attorneys who never waiver when a case gets tough. The legal community and insurance adjusters know our reputation well, and having us in your corner can be the difference between a small settlement and a life-changing financial award.
How Long Do I Have to Pursue Compensation for My Injuries?
New York imposes a three-year statute of limitations on most slip and fall lawsuits. However, a different statute of limitations might apply in certain situations.
If you suffer a slip and fall injury at work in New York City, you’ll have 30 days to notify your employer. You’ll then have two years to pursue workers’ compensation benefits.
If you suffer a slip and fall injury on public property, you’ll have 90 days to notify the government agency responsible for the premises. You’ll then have one year and 90 days to file a government tort claim. The statute of limitations might also toll in certain situations, especially when a child suffers a slip and fall injury in the city.
Can I Get Compensation if I’m Blamed for a Slip and Fall Accident in New York?
Yes. However, your degree of shared fault can reduce your damages. Under New York’s pure comparative negligence rule, your degree of blame for your slip and fall accident can reduce your settlement proportionately. For example, if you’re 15 percent liable for your slip and fall accident, that liability can reduce your settlement or jury award by 15 percent of its value.
What Evidence Can Help Me Win My Lawsuit?
To win your slip and fall lawsuit, you’ll need to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence. Essentially, your claims have to be more likely true than not. Proving your case requires helpful facts and evidence, which might include:
- Property maintenance and inspection records
- Photographs of the slip and fall hazard
- Reports of other similar accidents or incidents on the premises
- Eyewitness accounts
- Surveillance footage
- Medical records
- Details from the incident report filed by the owner or police
- Expert witness testimony
Our slip and fall attorneys in New York will work hard to obtain relevant evidence that can build a strong case and move the needle in your favor.
How Does a Slip and Fall Attorney in NYC Get Paid?
The Platta Law Firm represents victims of slip and fall accidents in New York City on a contingency fee basis. We assume the risks of litigation and front the costs of pursuing your claim. We only get paid once we’ve won compensation on your behalf. Our attorney fees are a percentage of your financial recovery that we establish before we officially take your case. If we don’t win, you’ll owe us nothing.
How Long Will it Take for My Case to Settle?
It depends. Every situation is different. Specifically, several factors matter here. These include the injuries you’ve suffered and how severe they are, as well as how long it takes for you to make a full recovery. Additionally, other factors are the strength of the evidence supporting your claim and the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate fairly.
For instance, straightforward cases can resolve in a matter of weeks. On the other hand, more complex cases or those involving catastrophic injuries can take months or longer. Sometimes the insurance company won’t offer you a fair settlement. When that happens, you can potentially bring your slip and fall lawsuit to trial. Depending on the court’s schedule, a resolution could then take a year or longer.
Why a Quick Settlement Isn’t Always Best
It’s important to know that a swift settlement isn’t always in your best interest. Often, it takes time to fully appreciate the extent of your injuries. In turn, this affects how much your claim is worth. Furthermore, if you settle too early, you run the risk of leaving valuable compensation on the negotiating table. Once you settle, you waive the right to pursue additional compensation in the future.
How The Platta Law Firm Helps You Get the Best Result
The Platta Law Firm appreciates that you face a lot of financial stress and uncertainty. This can make it difficult to be patient during the claims process. That’s why we’ll invest the time, resources, and manpower needed to build a strong case.
Additionally, we’ll force meaningful negotiations and help you achieve the best possible case results as quickly as possible. Above all, we’ll be there with you every step of the way, ready to take your case to the next level if the insurance company refuses to make things right.
New York City Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers You Can Count On
You got hurt because a property owner in New York City was negligent. Now, it’s time for them to step up and take responsibility for the consequences you face. Importantly, The Platta Law Firm is ready to help you make the most of your slip and fall accident lawsuit.
Our New York slip and fall attorneys are award-winning litigators. We have a proven ability to take on tough cases and win record-setting case results.
We’ve won hundreds of millions of dollars for injury victims and families in New York City, New York. Now, we’re here to help you win top compensation in your slip and fall accident case, too.
Our New York slip and fall lawyers represent slip and fall victims in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, and throughout the greater New York City metro area. For more information, contact our law office at (212) 514-5100 today. We’re happy to discuss the details of your slip and fall case with our team. Your first consultation is free.