When winter comes, snow and ice envelop New York City, making it an urban winter wonderland for its millions of residents. Even with subzero temperatures, New Yorkers continue to go out, pick up food, run errands, or maybe even enjoy the fresh powder settling over the city. However, if they aren’t careful, they can wound up in a snow and ice accident, resulting in serious injury.
Falling and slipping on ice is a common occurrence, but it can be dangerous. For instance, it can result in a brain injury, and you’ll need an accident lawyer to help file your personal injury claim after seeking medical attention. Other things surround the accident, making it vital for you to know your options if you fall into this accident.
Who is Liable for Snow and Ice Accidents?
During the winter, building and property owners in New York are responsible for maintaining their sidewalks, ensuring they’re free of any ice hazards that can cause accidents. This condition applies to all kinds of properties: residential, commercial, and municipal. There’s a window of time in which property owners are expected to clean up their properties after a snow or rainfall event, ensuring it’s safe for pedestrians to cross.
If you slip and fall due to snow and ice outside of these hours, you can hold the property owner responsible for your injury. However, you’ll have to clarify the window of time, which you can do with the assistance of an accident lawyer.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
The first thing you must do after getting into an accident is to seek medical attention right away, especially if you injured your head. Doing this will ensure that you receive treatment right away while obtaining medical documentation, which will describe the extent of your injuries.
Once you’ve been tended to, make sure to document your injuries, as you will need proof that someone else’s negligence caused your injury. You can do this by taking photos and videos of the area in which you had your accident, focusing on the hazardous conditions that led you to slip and fall. After that, work with a brain injury lawyer in New York to file your personal injury claim right away.
How Can an Accident Lawyer Help Me?
When you’ve recovered from soft tissue injuries like small cuts, bruises, and minor sprains, you can likely reach a decent settlement without legal assistance. You can do this by gathering your medical bills, medical expenses, and lost income from your accident and total that. You can also multiply this by the amount of pain and suffering you experienced.
If the property owner refuses to give you their insurance information, you had your accident on government property, or other aspects complicate your claim, an accident lawyer can help you get the compensation to deserve. Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or those that involve permanent disability or disfigurement are complex. They typically involve a high-dollar claim that will require you to seek legal assistance, so it’s best to entrust your case to a professional.
When Can I File a Claim?
If you decide to pursue legal action, then you must file your claim on time. The statute of limitations in New York City is usually three years, so filing after this period will make you lose your chance to get your compensation.
Conclusion
Snow and ice accidents are unfortunate but common, so it’s important to know what you can do in this situation. Sustaining minor cuts is simpler to rectify than head injuries, in which you’ll want an accident lawyer. If you find yourself in this situation, make sure to contact our firm right away!
Ronemus & Vilensky are the best brain injury attorneys in New York City that can give you the legal help you need. We have helped victims of injury, medical malpractice, and civil rights violations for years with our expert legal guidance. Contact us today to find out how we can help you!