WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SLIP AND FALL ON SOMEONE’S DRIVEWAY? SOMETHING PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD KNOW
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SLIP AND FALL ON SOMEONE’S DRIVEWAY? SOMETHING PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD KNOW
According to premises liability laws, property owners are liable to ensure that their properties are a safe space for visitors. If property owners are negligent in maintaining their properties and someone gets hurt, that property owner may have to pay a sizeable sum to compensate the injured person for their medical bills, any lost wages due to days off work as well as personal pain and suffering.
Premises liability is sometimes referred to as slips and falls – mainly because many premises liability cases rest upon accidents where the injured slipped and fell on the property. Slippery surfaces are one of the top reasons why visitors slip and fall on someone else’s property. It can be due to a spilled beverage on a restaurant floor or due to wet floors without a warning sign. Or it can be as simple as a driveway that wasn’t adequately cleared of snow.
If you slipped and fell on someone else’s driveway, the first question that you need to answer is whether the owner could have reasonably prevented the accident in any way, in other words, was the accident caused by the owner’s negligence? The second question is whether the property owner could have reasonably expected you to be in his driveway. And the final question is whether you could’ve done something to prevent the accident – perhaps you were texting while walking and wasn’t paying attention to the surrounding conditions. A good personal injury lawyer can help you to answer all these questions and evaluate whether you have a case against the property owner or not.
Linden Law has represented a woman from Westchester County who fell on a driveway and fractured her wrist to such an extent that it required surgery. She was awarded $250 000 in a settlement to compensate her for her medical bills and other damages suffered. If you have been the victim of a slip and fall accident, call us at (212) 804-8440 for a free consultation.
