Staten Island Premises Liability

Property owners have a duty to make sure that their property is free from known hazards. For example, this means that property owners must comply with local building codes, make sure that snow is cleared from walkways, and repair broken stairs. When property owners fail to keep their property in good condition, unsuspecting people can suffer devastating injuries such as broken bones, injured necks, burns, and head injuries. If you suffered a serious injury because someone failed to keep their property safe, you may have the right to compensation that will cover your medical expenses and other losses. It is imperative that you immediately speak with an experienced Staten Island premises liability lawyer who will review your case and ensure that your legal rights are protected.

Property owners must take reasonable steps to make sure that their property is safe and free from hazards. Incidents that frequently lead to premises liability lawsuits are:

• Attacks by dogs and other pets. Dogs can cause significant injuries such as puncture wounds, broken bones, and even infections. However, other types of pets can be dangerous as well as such as cats, horses, and snakes.
• Swimming pools. Pools as quite dangerous as people can slip and fall around the pool, drown, or have diving accidents.
• Failure to adequately maintain premises. Owners have a duty to keep their property in good repair so that visitors will not suffer injuries. This means that broken rails, loose stairs, and torn carpet should be repaired to ensure that victims do not fall and suffer serious injuries to the head, back and neck.
• Wet or slick floors. If there is a spill or if a floor is wet from mopping, property owners must clean up the spill or post signs warning that the floor is wet or slick.
• Negligent or inadequate security. If property has inadequate security, then customers or visitors may be at a higher risk of becoming victims of criminal activity.

Victims of premises liability accidents that were caused because the property owner or manager was negligent have the right to demand payment from that person for losses suffered such as medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.

• Medical expenses: All past and future medical expenses related to treating the injury you suffered in the accident. For example, back and spinal injuries are common in premises liability accidents. Back injuries typically require a trip to the emergency room, hospitalization, and pain medication. They sometimes require surgery and regular visits to the chiropractor or physical therapist. All of these expenses are compensable.
• Lost wages: If you suffer a serious injury such as a back or head injury because of a hazard on another person's property, you may be forced to miss work while you receive treatment and recover. This means that your financial situation may become tenuous because you will not be able to collect your regular paychecks and you may lose benefits and other types of compensation. Lost income is a compensable loss and you can demand that the negligent person pay you damages for it.
• Pain and suffering. This includes compensation for long-term or permanent injuries or symptoms such as chronic pain, disfigurement, or scarring. Such permanent reminders of your injury can lead to psychological struggles such as depression and sleeplessness.

In order to pursue a premises liability claim it is critical that you contact an attorney who has the experience and resources to represent you in your lawsuit. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates has years of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from slip and fall accidents, trip and fall accidents, and other accidents that result from unsafe premises. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.