Trip and Fall Cases
Cases involving trip and fall accidents are among the most common type of cases in New York. Under New York State and local laws, owners of private or residential property (houses, apartment buildings) and commercial properties (office buildings, stores, shopping malls) have the responsibility to maintain their properties in a reasonably safe condition. Trip and fall cases and other premises liability cases arise when the responsible party fails to maintain the property or does something to cause a hazard.
If you do fall in a public place such as a store, mall, or restaurant, it is important to notify the owner or management as soon as possible and report the accident. These days, there is almost always video surveillance in such places that may help prove your case. If you are caused to fall because of a substance on the ground or floor, look around for indications as to how long the item may have been present. For example, a brown, squashed piece of fruit on a supermarket floor may have been there for a while.
It is very important to take pictures of the area where you fell and to speak to any witnesses who might have seen the accident. It is always helpful to have someone who can confirm your version of events when it comes to a trip and fall accident, and give the information to the accident attorney in Rockville Centre, Andrew R. Leder, ESQ.