New York City can look magical when blanketed in snow. However, winter conditions also contribute to slip-and-fall accidents across New York. Property managers, landlords, homeowners, and government entities must ensure their properties are safe, which includes clearing away snow and ice from their premises in a timely and effective manner. Not everyone takes this responsibility seriously, which can lead to severe injuries.  

If another entity’s negligence contributes to your injury, our winter slip and fall accident lawyers in NYC are ready to review your case. 

Common Causes of Winter Slip and Fall Accidents 

There are multiple slip and fall hazards during winter in New York. Knowing how to identify them can help you prevent another accident from happening.  

Here are some of the most common ones: 

  • Snow and ice: Snow and ice can accumulate on sidewalks and in parking lots. They can cause serious slips and falls. Property managers and owners should take care to remove these and other winter hazards. 
  • Wet surfaces: Rain and melted snow can create wet, slippery surfaces outdoors. As people track snow inside buildings, it melts and creates slipping hazards indoors. 
  • Uneven surfaces: Snow and ice can cause or hide uneven surfaces. This is particularly dangerous for people with mobility issues or anyone unfamiliar with navigating icy conditions. 
  • Poor lighting: Winter brings shorter days. Poorly lit areas can make it hard to see hazards like black ice. Property managers should provide adequate lighting, especially in public spaces. 

How Negligence Contributes to Slip and Falls 

Here are some of the many ways negligence may contribute to your slip and fall injury: 

  • Failure to maintain safe conditions: Property owners must take reasonable steps to maintain safe conditions for visitors. Some fall short by delaying snow removal and de-icing, or not fixing uneven surfaces. 
  • No signage: Property owners should warn visitors of potential hazards. Failure to post a visible sign when hazards exist could lead to liability. 
  • Poorly maintained equipment: Companies and government entities need snow removal equipment to keep sidewalks and parking lots safe during winter. However, if they don’t maintain them properly, they won’t work, which prolongs unsafe conditions. 
  • Assault: Sometimes, slip and fall accidents occur due to physical altercations. Property owners must provide adequate steps to ensure physical security and discourage violence. 

Common Slip and Fall Injuries 

Slips and falls are extremely common in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and all 5 boroughs of New York City. Many of these only result in minor bruises, but others may lead to severe injuries.  

Our icy sidewalk accident lawyers can help with cases involving: 

  • Broken bones: Falls can lead to broken wrists, ankles, and hips. These injuries typically require ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation. 
  • Head injuries: Serious falls can cause traumatic brain injuries, especially down stairs or from heights. These types of injuries may have severe long-term effects on an individual’s life. 
  • Back injuries: Falls are the leading cause of back injuries in people over 65. These injuries can be debilitating and affect a person’s ability to work or perform everyday activities. Spinal injuries are a severe form of back injury that can have long-term effects on mobility and cause disabilities. 
  • Soft Tissue Damage: Falls can also cause injury to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These injuries may not seem serious at first, but they can lead to chronic pain and a need for long-term treatment plans. 
  • Chronic Pain: Injuries from falls can result in chronic pain, which can reduce an individual’s quality of life. Chronic pain can also lead to ongoing medical treatment and may even cause disabilities. 

How to Determine Liability After a Winter Slip and Fall Accident 

A New York winter slip and fall accident lawyer at our firm can help identify who is liable for your injuries. New York law allows injured persons to hold an entity accountable that is more than 50% liable.  

To prove liability, we must show that: 

  • The property owner, business, or government entity was responsible for removing or otherwise addressing the hazards that caused the accident. 
  • They had the chance to address the hazard and failed to do so. 
  • They neither removed the hazard nor warned the victim that the hazard existed. 

Damages in a New York Slip and Fall Case 

These are some of the damages we may pursue on your behalf for a winter slip and fall in NYC: 

  • Medical costs, both now and in the future 
  • Lost income from time missed at work
  • Reduced future income if your injury is long-term or permanent 
  • Loss of quality of life 
  • Pain and suffering

You must act quickly to pursue compensation. Our sleet and snowfall injury attorneys can help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.  

Why Choose Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C. 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to a case involving a serious injury sustained on another person’s property. Our team thoroughly reviews all the details of your incident, such as who has the responsibility for clearing ice and snow from NYC sidewalks. We listen carefully to our clients to learn what happened and why. As part of your free consultation, we’ll lay out all of your legal options and give you all the information you need to decide which next step is right for you and your family.  

Reach out today to see how we can help.