Negligent Cities: Public Property Premises Liability

City/Municipality Liability

Serious injuries can occur when you are out conducting your daily business on New York City streets. When an accident such as a city sidewalk fall occurs on public property in New York, it is important to be aware of your rights, as well as how others may be held liable for their negligence in allowing dangerous conditions to exist.

Premises liability lawsuits result from accidents and injuries that occur on someone else’s property. These types of injuries are one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. If you have been injured on city or municipal property, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages you have suffered through a public premises liability claim.

Common Causes Of Premises Liability Injuries In New York

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), injuries that occur as the result of unintentional hospital accidents send as many as 31 million people to hospital emergency rooms each year throughout the country. They have risen steadily over the years to become the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.

These types of accidents can occur anywhere, both in the home as well as when out in public. When they occur in public places, it is often the result of reckless or negligent property owners who either fail to adequately maintain their property and ensure the proper safety standards are followed or as the result of them failing to warn guests and visitors of dangerous conditions that could exist.

Examples of these types of conditions include:

While accidents resulting from such conditions may be unintentional, the damage that results can be severe. In New York State alone, the Department of Health reports these types of injuries impact roughly 1.3 million people, while causing more than 5,000 deaths each year.

Common Types Of Injuries In Premises Liability Cases

CDC injury statistics indicate that most accidental injuries that occur are the result of slips, trips, and falls, being struck by or against an object, or being cut or pierced by sharp objects. Serious injuries you could suffer as the result of these types of mishaps include the following:

Muscle and tendon strains, sprains, and tears
Dislocated joints and broken bones or fractures
Severe cuts and lacerations

Thermal and chemical burns

Back and neck injuries, such as fractured vertebrae and herniated discs

Head injuries, including concussion and traumatic brain injury

If you are involved in any type of accident or injury, however minor it may appear, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. While it may not seem urgent at the time, many potentially severe conditions have symptoms that take days or even weeks to appear. Even a minor fall or blow could result in injuries that require ongoing medical care and treatment, while preventing you from working or engaging in activities you enjoy, both now and in the years to come.

Can I Sue The City Of New York?

Yes, only if an accident occurs on a sidewalk or in a city owned building, you may be able to hold city government or municipal departments responsible for the damages you suffer. Under the New York City Administrative Code, the owners of public property must maintain their premises and warn users of that property of dangerous conditions that exist, or risk facing public property premises liability for injuries that result. For New York City streets, bridges, and walkways, the city itself can be held liable if they had been previously warned or were aware of dangerous conditions, and failed to amend the situation. The New York City Housing Authority can also be held responsible for injuries caused by negligence to maintain their rental properties.

To protect your rights to a premises liability settlement, it is important to notify a security guard or local law enforcement officer immediately of your accident. Make a note of exactly where and when it occurred, as well as any witnesses at the scene, and get medical care as soon as possible, reporting all symptoms and following your doctor’s instructions.

Compensation you may be entitled to in a public property premises liability claim may include the following:

In previous premises liability lawsuits our firm has handled, we have been able to assist clients in obtaining thousands of dollars’ worth of compensation as the result of public premises liability, including:

Our New York City Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help After An Injury Due To City Negligence

If you have suffered an injury as the result of a premises liability accident that occurred on public property, contact the law firm of David Resnick & Associates, P.C. today. Our experienced New York City premises liability attorneys provide the aggressive legal representation you need to hold responsible parties accountable, so that you can get the compensation you need to recover.

We act as a strong legal advocate on your behalf, protecting your rights and interests, and can advise you on the best course of action to get the most successful results in your case. We have offices conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, serving all five boroughs. Call or contact us online today to request a free and confidential review of your case.