New York business owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises safe for customers, other visitors and even trespassers in some cases. This is true whether the space is owned or rented by the operator of the business. If an individual suffers injury due to a slip-and-fall accident that happens on another’s property, he or she might have claims for damages. Among the conditions that can give support to a personal injury claim are wet floors, bad lighting, torn carpets and crowded walkways.
People who are injured outside the building might also have claims. In a case where a person slips and falls in the parking lot due to ice or snow, for example, he or she might have claims. To bring a lawsuit based on a theory of premises liability, the injured party must be able to show that the slip and fall was caused by a dangerous condition that the business owner was aware of or should have been aware of.
Generally speaking, the business owner is liable for slip-and-fall injuries if he or she created the hazardous condition that led to the accident or knew about it and negligently failed to correct it. If the dangerous condition had existed long enough to have been discovered and corrected by a reasonable person at the time of the accident, the owner may be liable.
In cases where a person is injured in a slip-and-fall accident in New York, an attorney might be able to help by reviewing the circumstances of the accident and identifying parties who may be liable. If the case is successful, the injured party could recover for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages or other damages. Legal counsel with experience handling premises liability cases might gather evidence and conduct depositions to prepare for trial or negotiate a settlement with at-fault parties and their insurers.