Those who have suffered an injury in a public place or a private residence may be unsure about whether they have a reason to file a personal injury claim. In some cases, the injury may lead to lost wages or even a complete inability to work. Here are four common scenarios in which individuals should seek legal help after a personal injury.
1) Slipping on a wet patch at the mall that was not marked by a hazard sign.
“Slip and fall” injuries are frequently pursued as personal injury cases, provided the incident occurred at a public place and not at the individual’s place of business, which would constitute a workers’ compensation claim. Those who suffer from an injury of this kind should obtain an accident report from the store at the time of the incident. This should include a thorough description of the circumstances of the fall, including whether there were hazard signs present or the presence of any debris that precipitated the fall. Also, make note of any other witnesses to the fall and the response that was taken by store representatives.
2. Tripping and falling because of a broken step in someone’s home.
In general, homeowners are responsible for hazardous conditions in their home and may be liable to pay damages such as lost wages in this instance. If the damage is long-standing and the homeowner was aware of its existence, the injured individual may have a personal injury claim.
3. Falling on ice on the sidewalk in front of a residence.
In contrast to a permanent hazardous condition, environmental hazards like ice are typically considered temporary hazardous conditions. In this scenario, a personal injury lawsuit may be successful if the homeowner had a reasonable opportunity to become aware of the icy conditions, and if they did have this opportunity, whether they took steps to make the property as safe as possible for passers-by.
4. Bitten by a neighbor’s dog.
In New York, dog owners are responsible only for the victim’s medical costs in the case of a bite injury caused by their pet. However, a personal injury lawsuit may be valid if the victim can prove the dog had bitten others before and that the dog owner knew the pet was dangerous and failed to take steps to protect others from injury.
Those who have been injured in one of these or a similar scenario should seek the guidance of a personal injury lawyer Bronx specializing in personal injury.
Special thanks to SanDiego PersonalInjuryAttorney for the image.