Premises Liability and Slip & Fall

Property owners and occupants can be liable for injuries caused by a variety of hazardous conditions, including open excavations, uneven pavement, standing water, crumbling curbs, wet floors, uncleared snow, icy walks, falling objects, inadequate security, insufficient lighting, concealed holes, improperly secured mats, or defects in chairs or benches. They also are liable for injuries caused by dogs, cats and other animals. Many people have suffered abuse and even death due to faulty conditions in public places, including local businesses and apartment buildings.  

If you have been injured in a home, apartment, school, construction site, store, hospital, or nursing home, the slip-and-fall premises liability attorneys at Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein can provide expert representation.

• Open excavations often go unmarked throughout various construction sites. Any person or company who owns, maintains, or uses property on which an open excavation is present will be liable to persons if a fence is not provided to prevent falling into the excavation area or being injured due to construction.
• Uneven pavement is one of the most common causes of automotive accidents; the higher the pavement, the more serious the injury. Accidents caused by uneven pavement are often due to a missing indication, sign or warning. It is often difficult to see uneven pavement prior to falling.
• Standing water can be the cause of some serious problems. Standing water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which carry disease, and the animal life that thrives in standing water can be dangerous to humans. Stagnation can also cause water damage to the interior of private and public property.
• Curbs rapidly degenerate after harsh winters or construction. The life expectancy of a city street amounts to less than a decade. Cities are often reluctant to spend money on deteriorating streets despite the harm they can cause, and personal injury related to slips, trips and falls are not uncommon on poorly maintained sidewalks or curbs.
• Wet floors often go unmarked in public places, causing passersby to slip and fall. A person or company which owns, maintains, or uses property where an unmarked wet floor is present can become liable for damages if an injury occurs.
• Uncleared snow and icy walks could lead to serious pedestrian injuries. The owner or occupant of a property that borders a sidewalk is liable for clearing their space: it’s the law. Building owners or occupants must remove all ice, cover it with salt, or use another source within a reasonable time frame to prevent passersby from injuring themselves.
• Falling objects at construction sites can cause many serious injuries, often resulting in work-related injuries. These injuries can become as severe as paralysis and sometimes result in wrongful death. These accidents are difficult to predict, but those responsible for these accidents should and must pay the price.
• Inadequate security or negligent security occurs when a property owner, agent, or manager fails to provide their clients, customers, or inhabitants a safe environment. Many dangerous situations arise from this negligence.
• Insufficient lighting is extremely dangerous. Failing to properly maintain street lights is a common cause of automotive and pedestrian accidents. Electric companies often remain liable for these kinds of collisions.
• Unmarked, concealed holes on construction sites are extremely dangerous and can cause a number of worker’s, pedestrian and automotive accidents. Work-related injuries and construction accidents often result from this negligence.
• Manufacturers are responsible for distributing safe and sanitary products to their consumers. If an injury occurs due to a faulty  defective product, the manufacturer is responsible for compensating the consumer for any injuries.

If you have been injured in a home, apartment, school, construction site, store, hospital, or nursing home, the New York City premises liability attorneys at Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein will provide a prompt and thorough legal representation.