Sidewalk Accidents

Do I Need a New York Sidewalk Accident Lawyer?

If you’ve recently been harmed in a sidewalk accident due to unsafe sidewalk conditions, you may not know where to turn or what your next step should be. Continue reading to learn more about sidewalk accidents and how our New York personal injury lawyer may assist you.

How Sidewalk Accidents Happen

Sidewalk accidents, like most other accidents, can occur for several reasons. That being said, also like most accidents, they are most frequently the result of negligence. Some of the most common causes of sidewalk accidents in New York are as follows

• Uneven sidewalks
• Potholes
• Debris
• Standing water
• Unsafe weather conditions (e.g. snow or ice) left uncleared

Keep in mind that in the winter months, each municipality has its own rules in place regarding snow pickup on sidewalks. In many cases, the individual who owns property adjacent to a sidewalk is responsible for clearing snow or ice away from that sidewalk after a certain period of time. This means that if you slipped and fell on someone else’s snowy/icy sidewalk after the legally acceptable window of time for snow/ice removal has elapsed, there is a very good chance that you will have a valid personal injury claim.

Recovering Compensation After a Sidewalk Accident

To recover financial compensation after an accident, you and your New York sidewalk accident lawyer will have to gather and present sufficient evidence to satisfy the burden of proof. As long as you can prove that the sidewalk owner knew or should have known about the unsafe sidewalk conditions, failed to fix them timely, and you were injured as a result, you should recover the compensation you need to make up for any economic or non-economic damages you’ve sustained.

Ensure you bring your personal injury claim within three years of the date of your accident, as the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in New York State is, typically, three years.

Contact a New York Sidewalk Accident Lawyer

Accidents of all kinds can leave innocent, cautious people seriously injured. If you’ve been wrongfully hurt, the time to act is now, and our firm can help. Contact New York Injury Law today to schedule your initial consultation with our experienced legal team.