Rapplaw Blog

New York Law:

Firm news

Nursing Home & Assisted Care Abuse

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Bad Faith Insurance, Unreasonable Claim Denial

Slips and Falls, Dog Bites, Stairway Accidents

Slip and fall accidents occur when a person falls or is injured on private property. Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine represents those injured by owner negligence on premises, dog bites, stairway accidents, and construction site injuries. Inadequate lighting or a lack of warning signs are examples of negligent property maintenance. We help the injured obtain compensation for medical bills, lost time from work, pain and suffering, and permanent or temporary disability

Attorneys for Long Island, New York City and the Greater New York area

Accidents frequently occur when a person falls or is injured in other ways while on the property of another person. Examples of these types of accidents can include but are not limited to:

Unsafe design and/or construction of property
Property that has fallen into disrepair
Dangerous and unmarked ditches or culverts
Improperly maintained equipment, furniture or furnishings
Overgrown or uncontrolled landscaping
Inadequate lighting
Slippery/wet walking surfaces
Defects, holes or obstructions in walking surfaces
Inadequate snow or ice removal
Dog bites and attacks by pets

These are all examples of premises liability cases. Too often, property and business owners neglect the condition of their property and create dangerous and hazardous conditions for others who come into contact with it. Slippery surfaces, due to spills or ice, poor lighting, and any other reasonably preventable condition create a dangerous nuisance. Property owners who allow such conditions to exist on their premises are negligent.

In a premises liability case, you must be able to prove that your injury occurred on another person's property due to the negligence of the owner (or lessee) of that property. You must be able to prove that the owner knew about the dangerous condition which caused your injury. If you cannot prove that the owner knew about the dangerous condition, you must be able to prove that the owner should have known. Finally, you must be able to prove that you were injured, and that your injury was a result of the dangerous condition.

The most common defense against a slip and fall accident is when the defendant denies having any knowledge of the dangerous condition on the premises. Another defense is to deny that it exists altogether.

In most cases, the law will say a property owner "should have known" about a dangerous condition when it existed for such an amount of time that a reasonably careful and considerate person, under similar circumstances, would have discovered it. Finally, another common defense is to claim that you were not injured, aggravated an old injury, or only have a temporary injury. Whenever an injury occurs, it is important to photograph exactly what caused your accident, get the names and contact information of any witnesses, and contact an experienced attorney.

Proving that the owner was at fault may require expert testimony. The law firm of RGG&L consults with numerous professionals who are available to testify in cases requiring expert testimony. RGG&L can help you recover for damages such as:

Medical bills
Lost time from work
Permanent or temporary disability
Pain and suffering

If you have questions or concerns about an injury you sustained while on the property of a business or an individual, contact RGG&L today to discuss your case and your legal options.