Staten Island Premises Liability Lawyer
Every day, people are hurt due to another person’s negligence while innocently going about their daily activities. Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility of property owners to keep their premises safe for visitors, tenants, and employees.
If you’ve been injured while visiting or working at a business or other property, it may be grounds for a lawsuit against that property owner. Contact a Staten Island premises liability lawyer to discuss your options for seeking compensation. The attorneys of Kuharski, Levitz, & Giovinazzo Law Group can help you determine whether there is any legal action available to recover costs related to your injury-related expenses such as medical bills, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering.
Have Dangerous Conditions Caused You Injury?
If you have been injured because a property owner failed to maintain their premises safely, a knowledgeable premises liability lawyer should review your case. Whether the accident was the result of a wet floor, a broken sidewalk, a malfunctioning elevator, or any other unsafe condition, if a property owner knew that a dangerous condition existed and did nothing to fix it, then the owner can be held legally responsible if someone is injured.
The idea that property owners should provide a reasonably safe environment for residents, visitors, employees, and others who use their property is not new. In the state of New York, as in the rest of the US and many parts of the world, this concept has been written into law. As a result, when someone is injured on another’s property, whether it’s a residence, a business, a school, an office, or any other location, the injured party has the right to receive compensation if they can prove negligence on the part of the property owner. Negligence is not always easy to establish, however, so having an experienced Staten Island attorney on your side is important.
The type and degree of injuries varies enormously, so the amount of damages sought will depend on many factors. A twisted ankle will be handled differently from a broken limb, which will not be looked at the same as a concussion or a traumatic brain injury. Financial damages are also not limited to direct compensation for medical expenses, but may extend to lost wages and income, pain and suffering, and other expenses.
Common Types of Premises Liability Claims
There are many ways to be injured when a property owner fails to keep their property safe for visitors. If you’ve suffered any of the following accidents, reach out to a premises liability lawyer in Staten Island for help.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents
These types of injuries may occur when, for example, someone trips over a crack in the pavement or steps into water that’s been left on the floor after a spill. In some cases, the person may even slip because there is something protruding from the ground that they didn’t see until it was too late.
These accidents often involve relatively minor injuries like cuts, bruises, and sprains, but even these minor mishaps can result in piles of expensive medical bills and sometimes missed work days.
Occasionally, a slip-and-fall may cause spinal cord injury, which can be expensive to treat and lead to disability. If you have trouble walking after a fall, a premises liability lawyer in Staten Island may help you receive compensation for all your medical bills, including rehabilitation and physical therapy if you need it, as well as lost income and future lost income due to the fall.
Negligent Security
When you visit a store or restaurant, you expect that it will be safe for you to be there. You expect to be able to buy food and merchandise without being robbed or attacked by another person.
Negligent security occurs when a business fails to provide adequate security for its customers or employees. If the business has inadequate lighting at night or does not have enough security cameras, it could be considered negligent security. Negligent security claims often result from robberies or sexual assault cases.
Dog Bites
Dog bites can result in serious injuries that require extensive medical attention and long-term treatment. The owner of the dog may be liable if they knew their pet had aggressive tendencies but failed to take steps to prevent attacks on others.
Sadly, many dog bite victims are children. Kids trust animals and may approach an animal without realizing it’s unsafe. If the dog is not properly trained or restrained, your Staten Island premises liability lawyer may be able to help you build a case against the owner.
Property Owner Negligence
- Broken or uneven steps
- Loose rugs or flooring
- Inadequate lighting
- Failure to provide security measures against criminal activity
- Malfunctioning elevators
- Cluttered walkways
- Ceiling collapse
- Failure to warn others of dangerous substances or hazardous conditions
Types of Damages in a Staten Island Premises Liability Claim
The types of damages typically awarded in premises liability cases are economic damages. This can include medical expenses, lost income, and other out-of-pocket costs paid as a result of the accident.
Unlike most other states, in addition to economic damages, New York also allows for non-economic damages which may include the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of enjoyment of life or loss of companionship
- Loss of sexual function or intimacy
- Humiliation
- Injury to reputation
This is not a comprehensive list of damages that may be available to you. Each case is unique, so talk to a Staten Island premises liability attorney who can explain any and all compensation that may be available to you.
Non-Economic Damages Limits
Some states cap how much compensation victims may receive in non-economic damages or provide narrow definitions of when non-economic damages can be awarded. This is done because quantifying non-economic losses like pain and suffering is difficult.
However, New York has no such cap on how much money victims can receive, which is great news if you’re injured. It’s still hard to collect for non-economic damages so consult with an experienced premises liability lawyer in Staten Island will help ensure you collect every penny that’s rightfully owed to you.
Reach Out to a Staten Island Premises Liability Attorney
Our attorneys know the defenses that are typically offered by property owners and know how to meet these with persuasive counterarguments. We know the ins and outs of premises liability law and have represented injured people for decades.
Contact a Staten Island premises liability lawyer at Kuharski, Levitz, & Giovinazzo Law Group by calling 1-877-722-7439 or fill out the contact form below so we can learn what happened to you and discuss how we can help.