Syracuse Slip & Fall Attorney

Claims Against Negligent Property Owners

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common reasons for premises liability claims, but that does not mean that these cases are going to be simple. Oftentimes, success in a slip and fall claim depends on proving that the proprietor did not take “reasonable” steps to protect you from a slip or trip hazard. The concept of “reasonable” is subjective, so you need to be ready to back your claim with a strong argument and convincing evidence of negligence, which usually means working with an experienced attorney from the very start of your case.

At Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC in Syracuse, we offer comprehensive legal counsel for clients who were injured in slip and fall accidents on someone else’s property. We can manage all aspects of your case, including initial investigations, damage calculations, settlement negotiations, and more.

Tell us what happened during a free initial consultation by dialing (315) 544-3332 today.

Click on any topic below to jump to that section on the page:

• Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents
• Slip & Fall Accidents Caused by Snow & Ice
• Can Trespassers Sue for Slip & Falls?
• Experienced Attorneys Getting Real Results

Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents

The root of most slip and fall accidents is a slip hazard that should not have been left unaddressed. Property owners need to keep their properties in reasonably safe conditions to ensure that no visitors are injured there. When they fail to take the steps needed to keep the area safe, and someone gets hurt, the injured party could have the opportunity to sue them for various damages related to their medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and so on.

When we are working on your slip and fall case, one of our goals will be to prove exactly what caused your accident and injuries. Not only do we want to know the source, but we will also want to know who is responsible for it.

Slip and fall accidents are often caused by or involve:

• Loose or uplifted carpeting
• Wet tile floors
• Stray cables or wires
• Dimly lit walkways
• Missing handrails near steps
• Unsafe conditions at construction sites

Slip & Fall Accidents Caused by Snow & Ice

In Syracuse and the surrounding area, snow and ice accumulation can be a real problem during the winter months. If you slip and fall on ice while visiting a friend’s house or a business, can you sue them for your injuries? It depends on how long the snow or ice had been there and if it would have been reasonable for the owner to have done something about it.

Typically, a property owner in New York is expected to salt or clear a snow or ice hazard if it is present in an area that a visitor will likely use soon. For example, a store owner should make sure no ice is building at the entryway of their store because they can expect that someone will try to enter the store.

On the other hand, if a snowstorm is in progress, then property owners generally do not have any obligation to clear snow or ice around their properties. While snow and ice are actively forming on the ground, it would be unreasonable and probably unsafe to require the proprietor to go outside and try t remove it. Visitors should be aware of the storm, understand that there could be snow or ice in the area, and take precautions as needed to ensure their own safety.

Can Trespassers Sue for Slip & Falls?

Did you slip and fall while you were on someone’s property without their permission? You might have a more difficult time bringing a claim against that proprietor because of their minimal duty of care owed to you as a trespasser.

Property owners owe different duties of care to visitors based on their type, which includes:

• Invitees: An invitee is a visitor who is there for the benefit of the proprietor, like a customer in a store or an electrician inside a client’s home. A proprietor should inspect their property for hazards and address those hazards immediately before allowing invitees onto the property or into the area.
• Licensees: A licensee is a visitor who is there for their own benefit, like a person visiting a friend’s house for dinner. A proprietor should warn a licensee about any property hazards that they know about, but they are not legally obligated to inspect their premises for new hazards before an invitee arrives.
• Trespassers: A trespasser is a “visitor” who is there unlawfully or without permission. A proprietor owes practically no duty of care to a trespasser, other than to warn them about potentially dangerous security measures on the premises, like an aggressive dog or an electrified fence. Proprietors are also not allowed to place dangerous traps around their property to catch or hurt trespassers.

Call Experienced Attorneys Getting Real Results

We can figure out the details of your case together. Start by calling (315) 544-3332 and connecting with our Syracuse slip and fall accident attorneys. We would be happy to review the details of your case to determine if you do have a valid injury claim against a homeowner or business owner and, if you do, what should be done next to pursue fair compensation in your name.

Request your FREE initial consultation with our firm today.