Bronx Premises Liability Lawyer

When you are out in New York City seeing the latest live show, having a drink with some friends from work, or even just grabbing some groceries, you are usually focused on the task at hand. In most cases, things progress as you would expect and you go about your day as you normally would. Most locations are usually well-managed. However, there are always exceptions: improperly maintained elevators, uneven flooring, electrocution risks, slip hazards, and more. Oftentimes these exceptions can lead to harmful accidents.

Sadly, a lot of accidents are caused to some degree by one of many forms of negligence. On an improperly maintained property, you may find any number of things that should be cleaned up or fixed. If a property owner fails to address these issues, they can cause someone to slip, trip, fall, or otherwise injure themselves.

If you or a loved one were injured while on someone else’s property, you may be eligible to file a premises liability lawsuit. If you are successful, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries and subsequent damages that occurred as a result of the accident. Contact an experienced Bronx premises liability lawyer at Shulman & Hill for a free case review to see if you may be eligible for compensation.

What is Premises Liability?

Under New York premises liability law, property owners have a duty to make sure that their properties are safe for guests. When you set foot in a Bronx-area business, you are owed a duty of care. This means that the places you visit for business or pleasure are to be kept reasonably safe. Ideally, patrons should be able to go about their day without fear of injury.

Locations that are well-managed and maintained have protocols that strive to provide safe conditions for visitors. Any hazards that could potentially harm visitors are actively sought out and remedied.

A breach of this duty of care could include any number of things. Whether it is a wet floor that lacked warning signage or cracked and uneven floor tiles, there are countless ways for a property owner’s negligence to potentially cause a visitor to be injured.

Different Types of Premises Liability Accidents in the Bronx

No matter how careful you are and how prepared you may be, accidents can and often do happen. Unfortunately, accidents like slip and falls happen every day. In many cases, these incidents do not occur  because the victim was “clumsy” or “should have been paying more attention.” In fact, it is often because there was a hazard or danger that the property owner or manager failed to take care of. Some of the most common accident types include:

Slip and Falls

Slip and falls are among the most common accident types in the United States (second only to car crashes). They are also the leading cause of hospital visits. A slip and fall accident occurs when a victim slips or trips over a hazard on the floor or stairs. In areas like the Bronx that see snow and ice, these accidents may be more common. If snow and ice are not cleared quickly or sufficiently from sidewalks and entryways, it can present a danger for those who inhabit the premises. Even in situations where snow has been cleared, it can be tracked into businesses and lead to a slip and fall accident.

Animal Bites

Dogs are widely considered to be man’s best friend, but not all are comfortable around strangers and visitors. If you are visiting someone and their dog (or another animal) attacks or bites you, you may suffer serious injuries. Depending on the severity, some injuries may lead to nerve damage or permanent scarring.

Assault & Battery

While the criminal prosecution of a suspect in an assault case is handled separately, the owner of the property where the crime happened may face civil liability. If you were in a parking lot, bar, or nightclub and were attacked, a property owner may be liable if there was inadequate lighting, security cameras, or security personnel.

How Negligence is Determined in a Bronx Premises Liability Case

Before you or your attorney can proceed with your premises liability lawsuit, you must be able to demonstrate negligence. This will often depend on the type of location where the injury occurred and numerous other factors.

Property owners and managers must maintain reasonably safe conditions and act as a reasonable business or property owner would. For example, if a spill occurs in a department store and an employee walks past it several times without mopping it up and/or placing a warning sign, the store may be held liable if a customer later slips and falls on the wet floor.

Submitting a written report of the accident to the relevant business or property owner can be immensely helpful and create a paper trail for your case. Our Bronx premises liability attorneys will use written reports, surveillance camera footage, witness accounts, medical records, and more to build a strong case on your behalf.

How Shulman & Hill Can Help You

Filing a premises liability lawsuit is not something most people can do on their own without help from a lawyer. In addition to collecting evidence and proving liability and injury, you may need to go head-to-head with an insurance company.

When you work with the attorneys at Shulman & Hill, you will have a wealth of legal knowledge at your disposal. Our premises liability lawyers have helped numerous injured New Yorkers secure fair compensation for their injuries. To date, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on their behalf.

Contact our Bronx team at Shulman & Hill today for a free legal consultation to learn more.