Staten Island Slip and Fall Attorney

Did you slip and fall while shopping at the Staten Island Mall or Woodrow Shopping Plaza? Maybe you slipped on flooring or carpeting while staying at the Navy Lodge in New York or the Hampton Inn & Suites on Staten Island? Perhaps your slip and fall accident occurred while boarding the Staten Island ferry or while grabbing groceries at the Costco on Richmond Avenue. When you suffer an injury on another person’s property, you may be able to file a claim to seek compensation for your injuries and damages. A Staten Island slip and fall accident lawyer can meet with you to determine if you are able to file a claim under New York’s premises liability laws.

Slipping or tripping and falling poses dangers in almost every place people walk, whether it’s the Staten Island Mall or the stairs of a rental apartment. Slip and fall victims suffer injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) nearly every day.

If you have fallen due to someone else’s negligence in Staten Island, call the experienced Staten Island slip and fall attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP. The law that governs slip and fall accidents is often complicated. We can help you determine whether you have a case in a completely free initial consultation.

Staten Island Slip and Fall Attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP

Why Choose Us?

Staten Island Slip and Fall Law

For nearly 50 years, our law firm has been here to help the injured residents of Staten Island. Our Staten Island personal injury lawyers know the ins and outs of premises liability laws in New York and we use this knowledge to fight effectively for our clients from the start. With a local knowledge and presence, we know the courts, the insurance companies, and the businesses that may be a part of your case. If we mutually decide to work together, we can investigate the circumstances and work to see that justice is done and help you seek just compensation for your injuries.

While no past case can guarantee future results, our experience shows in two recent slip and fall cases our firm handled. In the first, a man slipped and fell down the steps at a correctional facility. He received $750,000 in damage compensation. In the second, a worker fell and broke a hip. The worker received $1.11 million in damage compensation. Damage compensation varies depending on several factors, including the severity of the injury.

You shouldn’t have to head into Brooklyn or Queens just to get help after a slip and fall accident. As a resident of Staten Island, you deserve representation and guidance where you live. That is why we have an office located directly in the heart of Staten Island at 26 Watchogue Rd Suite 1. Our office is in Meiers Corners just off of Victory Boulevard and a few blocks from Fairview Cemetery. We offer FREE consultations and evaluations for all our injured slip and fall accident clients. If your injury prevents you from coming to us – we can come to you! Our lawyers routinely meet clients in their homes, hospital rooms, and even virtually to help them through this ordeal. Our law firm prides itself on being accessible and where you need us – when you need us most.

To set up your FREE initial consultation, call us at (718) 980-9600 or fill out our confidential contact form.

How Much Is My Staten Island Slip and Fall Case Worth?

Getting the Compensation You Need

After a slip and fall accident in Staten Island, many injured accident survivors want to know, “How much is my slip and fall case worth?” It’s only natural to wonder how much damage compensation you’ll receive if you’re in a slip and fall accident. You may end up under a mountain of medical bills and unable to work, after all.

We can explain how damage compensation is determined, but we can’t provide a specific amount you can expect to receive. Why? Because damage compensation depends on how much harm and injury you suffered. It depends on any long-term effects on your life. Someone who broke a leg might receive very different damage compensation from someone who suffered a serious TBI.

Victims injured in a slip and fall accident have the right to seek monetary compensation from the negligent party for certain types of injuries or harm. This type of monetary compensation is known as damages.

New York State allows victims of slip and fall accidents to seek damage compensation in the following categories:

  • Medical bills, both already incurred and expected in the future—for doctor’s visits, surgery, diagnostic tests, prescription medication, assistive devices, physical therapy, and more.
  • Income lost from work, both already incurred and expected in the future, if the accident itself, the injuries, or treatment caused you to lose wages from your job.
  • Pain and suffering or physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering.

Victims may seek these damages either from the owner’s property insurance company or by taking the negligent parties to civil court in a premises liability lawsuit. If you don’t receive a just amount from an insurance claim, you can take the insurance company to court, as well.

The Cost of a Staten Island Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer?

Our Staten Island premises liability lawyers work on contingency. Their contingency fee is taken as a percentage from any eventual claim or legal settlement you receive.

In other words, you don’t approach premises liability lawyers with a credit card or a checkbook. You do not pay them out of pocket—a successful claim or legal settlement pays them.

It’s only natural to wonder how much damage compensation you’ll receive if you’re in a slip and fall accident. You may end up under a mountain of medical bills and unable to work, after all.

We can explain how damage compensation is determined, but we can’t provide a specific amount you can expect to receive. Why? Because damage compensation depends on how much harm and injury you suffered. It depends on any long-term effects on your life. Someone who broke a leg might receive very different damage compensation from someone who suffered a serious TBI.

Slip and Fall Accidents on Staten Island

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur in Staten Island?

Staten Island is one of New York City’s main five boroughs. While it is the least populated of all the boroughs, Staten Island is home to nearly a half a million residents. Residents here must take the Staten Island Ferry to get into Manhattan or the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to get to Brooklyn.

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere on Staten Island. From the Staten Island Ferry station to restaurants in St. George, these accidents occur at all hours of the day and night. Yet, some locations in Staten Island are more common places for slip and fall accidents.

Places where slip and fall accidents most commonly occur in Staten Island include:

  • Stores. This includes department stores, grocery stores, shopping malls, and craft boutique shops, such as Empire Outlets, the Pergament Enterprises Mall, Staten Island Mall, SuperFresh, and Met Foods.
  • Restaurants and bars. This includes places like incredible restaurants along Richmond Road or along the waterfront. From Pier 76 to Reggiano’s Brick Oven Pizza, slip and fall accidents in restaurants are common.
  • Movie theaters. This includes Regal UA Staten Island on Forest Avenue, AMC Dine-In in the Mall, and even Regal Bricktown cinemas in Charleston.
  • Sports arenas or stadiums. This includes Wagner College Stadium, Metlife Stadium, Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, and Staten Island Skating Pavilion.
  • Playgrounds or parks. This includes the Freshkills Park, Blue Heron Park, and Seaside Wildlife Park.
  • Businesses and workplaces. This includes businesses in Great Kills, West Brighton, Todt Hill, and Port Richmond.
  • Rental properties, apartment complexes, and homes. This includes properties in Great Kills, West Brighton, Arden Heights, Richmond, and Silver Lake.
  • Hotels and motels. A slip and fall accident can occur at virtually any hotel or motel in Queens, including Holiday Inn Express Staten Island West, Hilton Garden Inn New York, and Comfort Inn on Staten Island.

Who Can You Hold Liable for a Staten Island Slip and Fall Accident?

When it comes to a slip and fall accident, you can hold numerous parties responsible for the incident and resulting injuries.

As a result, if a Staten Island slip and fall accident harmed you, you may hold these parties liable:

  • Homeowners and property owners
  • Grocery store owners or managers
  • Hotel managers
  • Restaurant owners or managers
  • Bars and clubs
  • Retail operators
  • Government entities

However, to figure out whom you can hold personally liable for your slip and fall accident, it is recommended you first speak with an experienced Staten Island slip and fall attorney. These lawyers can determine not only who was responsible for the accident, but they can also help you hold everyone liable for your harm and losses accountable.

Staten Island Slip and Fall Accident Injuries

Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries in Staten Island

To many people, slipping may not sound that serious—a matter of some bruises, perhaps. But in fact, slip and fall accident injuries range from minor to very serious, and sometimes even life-threatening. Staten Island slip and fall survivors suffer everything from minor lacerations to severe spinal cord injuries or comas.

As a result, slip and falls can result in the following:

  • Soft tissue injuries.
  • Sprains.
  • Broken bones.
  • Lacerations.
  • Contusions (bruises).
  • Internal injuries.
  • TBIs.
  • Spinal cord injuries.
  • Amputated or severed limbs.
  • Coma.
  • Disfigurement.
  • Death.

Winning Your Staten Island Slip and Fall Case

Filing a Staten Island Slip and Fall Claim or Lawsuit

To receive damages in a slip and fall case, you need to show the following.

  1. Your injuries stemmed from the slip and fall, and not from some other cause.
  2. You were legally on the premises. Businesses such as stores, hotels, malls, airports, etc. are open to the public. If the accident happened on private property, being legally on the premises means that you were an invited guest or on the property to do work of some kind. See an attorney to discuss whether trespassers can bring a slip and fall case, especially if it involves young children.
  3. You need proof that an unsafe condition existed.
  4. You must provide proof that the premises owner either knew or should have known about the unsafe condition.
  5. You must prove that the owner either didn’t fix the condition or fixed it in a shoddy manner so that it still wasn’t safe or became unsafe again.
  6. You will need to show that the public didn’t receive warnings about the unsafe condition and still retained access, but access proved unsafe.

If you slip and fall due to someone else’s negligence, keep the need for evidence in mind. The more you can do, the better your chances of winning your case. If you are unable to gather evidence, contact an attorney immediately so they may begin gathering evidence before it is lost.

Gather Evidence

First, take pictures of the area if you have a smartphone with you. Make sure to capture the hazard, such as water on the floor or dark stairs.

Second, get contact information from eyewitnesses and/or other people who witnessed the same conditions. Other store patrons, for instance, can attest to unsafe conditions and lack of warning to the public. Other renters can attest to the length of time burned-out bulbs remained unfixed.

Notify Property Owner

Let the premises owner (or a representative, such as an on-duty manager) know about your injury. The reason? A jury might find it odd that you suffered injuries in a store but left without saying anything to management. It may seem as if you may have suffered the injuries at another time, or your injuries were less serious than you claim. In addition, of course, telling the manager ensures that they know about the dangerous condition so that they can fix it and prevent more accidents from occurring.

Follow Doctor’s Orders

Seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you are seriously injured, such as bleeding profusely, move seeking medical attention to first priority. All the other actions can occur after you are medically treated for your injury. Only a doctor can determine whether or not you are injured, and the extent of your injuries. Keep all records of doctor’s office visits and other medical appointments and treatments. Follow your doctor’s recommendations.

If you fail to follow your doctor’s orders, you may signal to the insurance companies that your injuries are not as severe as you say they are. This can significantly damage your case and your ability to collect the compensation you need.

You’ll need an official record of the injuries stemming from the slip and fall and their severity if you intend to make a claim. Insurance companies often try to pay less than a claim is worth by alleging that the injuries aren’t as serious as the injured person says. Proof of your injuries is therefore important. A healed injury may not look as serious as it initially did to a jury—that’s the reason you want pictures taken as soon as possible after the accident.

Staten Island Slip and Fall FAQ

Slip and fall accidents happen every day. Thankfully, most of these accidents will only result in minor bumps, bruises, and scrapes. However, what happens when these accidents lead to something more—such as debilitating injuries, extensive pain, and astronomical medical expenses that can completely turn a person’s life upside down. In these situations, you likely will have numerous questions and concerns about your legal options, the remedies you can pursue, and your future.

That is why below, we have prepared answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that our clients often have after a Staten Island slip and fall accident. With these responses, we hope you have a better understanding of what these claims entail, the legal steps you should take next, and how an experienced Staten Island slip and fall attorney can help you go after the damages and justice you deserve.

Staten Island Slip and Fall FAQs

Contact a premises liability attorney.

Before taking any legal action after an incident, our lawyers must examine numerous questions to determine whether you have a viable legal claim.

For instance:

  • What was the severity of your injuries following a Staten Island slip and fall accident?
  • Did the slip and fall accident result from another person’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions?
  • Is there any insurance money available following the slip and fall accident?
  • Do you still have enough time to file a legal claim on Staten Island?

For these reasons, if you believe you have a slip and fall case, you should reach out to a knowledgeable Staten Island slip and fall accident attorney. These lawyers can thoroughly investigate your accident and determine if you have a valid legal case and the legal options you can pursue.

Slip and fall accidents usually happen because a property or a home was inadequately maintained.

However, in Staten Island, these accidents also occur because of:

  • Obstructions
  • Poor lighting
  • Uneven pavement
  • Cracked sidewalks
  • Ripped carpet
  • Wet floors
  • Broken stairs or handrails
  • Icy conditions, especially from December through March, when Staten Island experiences the coldest temperatures, which often result in snowy and icy conditions

The statute of limitations is a law that dictates how much time an individual has to file a legal claim following an alleged offense. If these individuals do not file their claim within that deadline, they cannot recover compensation for their harm and losses.

In New York, an action to recover damages for a slip and fall accident in Staten Island must commence within three years. However, exceptions may affect this filing period.

For these reasons, following a Staten Island slip and fall accident, reach out to our knowledgeable slip and fall accident lawyers as soon as possible. Our slip and fall lawyers can not only verify the deadline to file your case, they can also correctly prepare and submit all of your legal motions and documents to the appropriate court before time runs out. Give us a call today.

Although not every injury following a slip and fall accident will appear to be severe, you should still get yourself checked out by a medical professional after this accident. This is because many serious injuries such as brain trauma,internal bleeding, or spinal cord damage can take days, if not weeks, to show up. Yet, the longer you wait to get treatment for these injuries, the more debilitating and deadly they can become. That is why, after a slip and fall, get to a doctor as soon as possible, regardless of how minor your injuries may appear.

Besides, getting to a doctor after this type of accident can also help your legal claim. Typically, if an accident injures you, the insurance company will look for anything it can use against you so it can justify denying your claim or paying you less than you deserve. If you do not get prompt medical treatment after your slip and fall, the insurance company may use this to argue that your injuries are not that severe or they resulted from a subsequent event.

Thankfully, when you get to a doctor immediately after your accident, these medical professionals can jot down information regarding your injuries and the accident in their medical report, which can serve as evidence of a direct link between your slip and fall accident and your injuries.

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident on Staten Island due to another person’s wrongful actions, you might be entitled to certain types of compensation.

In New York, this compensation tends to include both economic and non-economic damages, related to:

  • Past and current medical bills (doctor visits, surgeries, prescription medications, hospital stay, emergency services, ambulance rides, and assistive medical devices)
  • Future ongoing medical care
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Personal property damages
  • Rehabilitative therapy (physical and occupational therapy)
  • Pain
  • Suffering
  • Emotional anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of compassion
  • Loss of consortium
  • Inconvenience
  • Reputation loss
  • Disfigurement and scarring

Even though the last thing you want to worry about following a Staten Island slip and fall accident is your next steps, the things you do after these incidents can not only keep you safe but protect your legal rights.

For these reasons, after a Staten Island slip and fall accident:

  • Call 911: If your injuries are severe, you need to call 911 immediately and alert the police and medical personnel of the incident. Once the police arrive, they can investigate the accident and write down their findings in their police report. If you decide to pursue legal action after the slip and fall, this report can provide you with valuable evidence.
  • Alert the Property Owners and Managers: You should alert the property owner or manager of the incident as soon as possible. Depending on the location of your fall, you may also be required to fill out a report. In these situations, you want to make sure you include as many details about the incident as you can, primarily since it can serve as valuable evidence down the road when trying to prove fault and damages.
  • Take Pictures: If possible, try to take as many photos and videos of the dangerous condition that caused your fall, the location of your accident, your visible injuries, and the surrounding area.
  • Speak to Witnesses: If people saw the accident, get their contact information and names. These individuals can often provide your lawyer with helpful details about the incident and testimony that can help validate your claim.

According to New York Law, commercial property owners must maintain the sidewalk outside their business to provide a reasonable level of safety to all visitors to that property. That may ensure that the sidewalk remains free of potential hazards, including ice during the winter months.

If you slip and fall outside a Staten Island business because of a poorly maintained sidewalk and you can show that the property owner should reasonably have repaired that sidewalk, you may file a claim against the property owner.

After suffering serious injuries in an accident, many people want to handle their injury claims without pursuing legal support. Hiring a lawyer may feel dauntingly expensive but can offer many advantages to your claim.

A lawyer can help identify all the compensation you deserve for your slip and fall accident injuries

Calculating compensation after a slip and fall accident may prove more complicated than initially expected. You may have difficulty determining just how much financial compensation you should expect, including the compensation you might deserve for pain and suffering related to your accident. A slip and fall accident lawyer can help identify all of those damages.

A lawyer may find it easier to access the evidence you need to establish your right to compensation

To establish that you deserve compensation from the property owner, you will need to show evidence related to your accident: proof of the property owner’s negligence or failure to inform you about potential dangers. Working with a lawyer makes it much easier to locate the evidence you need to establish your slip and fall accident claim.

Do not try to handle your slip and fall claim on your own. Instead, contact an attorney to learn more about what you should expect, including how much compensation the property owner should offer you.

You have the right to file a slip and fall claim any time you suffer injury because of a slip and fall caused by a property owner’s negligence, including a private property owner. Many people worry that filing a claim against a private property owner, usually a friend or family member, will damage the relationship with that individual. However, after an accident on private property, you should carefully consider the loss if you do not file a compensation claim.

Most premises liability claims, including slips and falls, will go through the insurance company. That means the insurance company will pay out compensation for your injuries and the losses you may have faced in your accident rather than a homeowner directly.

Call a Staten Island Slip and Fall Attorney

Premises liability attorneys usually offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case. Bring evidence, such as your medical records about the accident, pictures of the accident scene, and pictures of your injuries. If the injury caused you to miss work time, estimate how much. Explain to the attorney what occurred, as well as how and why. At the end of the initial consultation, the attorney can provide feedback on whether you have a premises liability case.

How Can a Staten Island Slip and Fall Attorney Help You Following a Slip and Fall Accident?

Following a Staten Island slip and fall accident, you should be focusing on your health and recovery, not worrying about preparing legal arguments or finding evidence to prove your claim. Fortunately, when you have an experienced Staten Island slip and fall accident lawyer on your side, you will not have to take on this challenging legal battle alone.

Once you retain our attorneys, we can:

  • Go over your Staten Island slip and fall accident with you in detail, determine if your case is viable, and figure out the legal options you have.
  • Answer all the questions and concerns you have and provide you with the legal support you need after this incident.
  • Investigate your accident and secure the evidence needed to show what happened and who was at fault.
  • Hire experts, such as flooring specialists, doctors, and engineers, to substantiate your claim.
  • Handle all the negotiations and discussions with the other side and go after a fair settlement offer.
  • Take your case to trial if the other side is unwilling to provide you with a just offer, and fight for the successful resolution of your case.

If you or a loved one sustained serious injuries in a slip and fall accident in Staten Island, do not wait to get the legal help you need. Instead, contact an experienced Staten Island slip and fall accident lawyer today for your free case consultation and find out how our legal professionals can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

If You Need a Slip and Fall Attorney in Staten Island, Call Jacoby & Meyers, LLP

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident in Staten Island, Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, can help. We fight for justice. Our first consultation is always free. Contact us today, start a webchat with one of our live representatives, or dial (877) 488-1707 today for your free consultation.

Client Testimonial

“After my accident I contacted a law firm and explained the situation. They told me about cases they’ve had in the past and the most compensation they got for clients. They made me aware that they were not interested at the time but, I could contact them in the future if anything changed. After my surgery 2 years later my wife suggested I contact an attorney. Since it happened in a different state I contacted an attorney in that state and was told the statute of limitations was up. My wife told me not to give up, that’s when I contacted Jacoby & Meyers. They were able to figure out how to proceed with the case and settled it for 15 times the amount that the original law firm had said might be possible. I highly recommend Jacoby & Meyers, they were professional and kept me informed throughout the entire process.” -Charles D.
★★★★★

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Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
26 Watchogue Rd Suite 1
Staten Island, NY 10314
(877) 488-1707