Premises Liability Attorney in NYC
In New York, if you were injured on someone else’s property, you could have grounds for a premises liability claim. What exactly is premises liability? Put simply, premises liability is an area of the law that protects people who are injured on the property of another. This could be someone who was shopping at a grocery store, someone who was in a hotel, or even someone visiting an amusement park. Under premises liability law, you could be able to pursue compensation should certain elements be met. To discuss your legal options for financial compensation, contact a premises liability attorney at our firm today.
Elements That Must Be Proven In A Premises Liability Case:
- Duty of Care: The first step in a premises liability case is proving that the property owner or the possessor of the property had a duty of care to the plaintiff. If the property owner has a duty of care, it means that he or she must use reasonable care to maintain reasonably safe conditions on the premises.
- Breached Duty of Care: The property owner did not use such reasonable care. For example, a grocery store owner knowing about a spill and failing to clean it up, or failing to monitor the premises and therefore never noticing the spill, even though they should have.
- Breach Caused Injury: The third element that must be proven is that the property owner’s breach of their duty of care was the direct cause of the plaintiff’s injury. It is not enough to simply say the property owner was negligent and it is not enough to say the plaintiff suffered an injury. These two must be tied together so that the injury can be directly linked to the breached duty of care.
Understanding A Property Owners ‘Duty Of Care’ in New York
There are several conditions in which a property owner would have a duty of care toward an individual on his or her premises. The first is that the individual was lawfully in their property as an invitee or a licensee.
- Invitee: Someone who was invited onto the premises for commercial or business reasons. For example, people who enter into department stores to purchase clothes are considered invitees.
- Licensee: Someone who was on the premises for non-commercial and non-business reasons. This could include someone going to someone’s home for a house warming party or social gathering.
While the most common, these are not the only instances where a property owner may have a duty of care. In some cases, a property owner could owe a duty of care to trespassers. For this to apply, the property owners need to have known that the trespasser was there; in these cases, they typically must warn the trespassers of man-made dangers, such as electric fences that could have lethal side effects.
The final situation where a property owner may have a duty of care is to children trespassers. These are treated special and very unique, especially in cases where the property owner has conditions that are tempting to a young child, such as an unfenced pool. In these cases, the property owner needs to take special precautions to warn of the potential harm, repair unsafe conditions, and protect the children.
Examples of New York Premises Liability Cases
Many different situations can fall under premises liability law. In fact, if you were injured on property that belonged to someone else, there is a chance that it could have grounds to pursue a claim. Common types of New York premises liability cases include:
- Slip-and-fall Accidents: Slippery floor or weather conditions causes a person to lose their balance and fall. It is closely related to, and often used interchangeably, with trip & fall accidents.
- Inadequate Maintenance: Landowner or possessor does not use reasonable care in maintaining the property. An example would be failing to trim trees, which causes branches to fall.
- Defective Conditions: Landowner or possessor not fixing dangerous conditions, or not even warning the public that they exist.
- Inadequate Security: Landowner or possessor failing to provide sufficient security. An example would be not having adequate lighting in a parking lot or security guards when they are required.
- School Negligence: If your child experiences sexual assault or harassment by faculty or staff, or is injured by a bully, improper supervision, or school bus accident you may have rights to compensation through a premises liability claim.
Slip and Fall Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What Constitutes a Slip and Fall Claim?
A: If someone is injured on someone else’s property, they will have to satisfy the burden of proof.
Q: What You Need to Know About Premises Liability Claims in New York City?
A: You must demonstrate that the other party knew or should have known about the unsafe property condition.
Q: Filing Slip and Fall Claims on Behalf of Children.
A: If your child is injured in an accident, you can sue for financial compensation on his or her behalf.
Q: What Should I Know About Sidewalk Accidents?
A: Sidewalk accidents can occur for many different reasons, though they are typically the result of negligence on the part of the property owner.
Q: What Should I Do if I am Hurt on My Friend’s Property?
A: If you are injured on your friend’s property, you should do everything you can to document the incident.
Q: Do I Have a Claim if I am Injured in an Elevator Accident?
A: Elevator accidents happen because property owners know, or should know, about the unsafe conditions and fail to fix them.
Q: Who is Responsible if I am Injured in My Apartment?
A: Apartment accidents can happen for a wide variety of reasons, though unfortunately, they are most frequently a result of negligence on one party’s side, meaning that the accident could have been prevented.
Q: What Not to Say to Insurance Adjusters After a Slip and Fall Accident.
A: In many cases, insurance companies will offer you a lowball settlement to start.
Q: Should I Avoid Posting on Social Media After a Slip and Fall?
A: One of the most important things you can do is refrain from posting on social media until your claim is resolved.
Circumstances that can lead to premises liability:
- Slippery or wet floors
- Uneven floors or holes in the ground
- Poorly built or damaged stairs
- Electrical hazards
- Exposure to dangerous chemicals
- Dangerous/uncontrolled animals
- Lack of security or insufficient security.
Sample of premises liability cases we have handled:
- $3M for a man who tripped and fell in a parking lot
- $975K for a woman who slipped and fell on ice
- $775K for an individual who tripped and fell on broken pavement
Contact A New York Premises Liability Lawyer Today
At the Law Office of Richard M. Kenny, our family is dedicated to fighting for yours. You can trust that you will receive the help that you deserve from our firm.
Having secured more than $100 million recovered in verdicts and settlements, the Law Office of Richard M. Kenny has proven itself as aggressive advocates for the injured. We have more than 100 years of combined experience, been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers® list, and have earned membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®. For more information, view our case results or contact us for a free consultation with a skilled Manhattan, NY premises liability lawyer today.
