Do I Need an Attorney After a Slip and Fall Accident on Apartment Stairs in NYC?

Accidents can happen anywhere. When you are walking on a staircase in a New York City apartment complex, you should not have to worry about obstacles and hazards.
 
Unfortunately, many thousands of people experience slip and fall accidents on stairs each year in the United States. When you have sustained an injury from a falling accident, it is important to secure competent legal representation.
 
You may be wondering whether you need a lawyer after a falling accident on NYC apartment stairs. It is vital to secure a legal representative after any type of accident or injury.
 
When an accident was the result of an apartment building owner’s negligence, a victim may be owed significant financial compensation. The financial recovery from a personal injury lawsuit can help to cover the costs of medical bills, lost wages, and more.
 
The skilled NYC apartment stairs slip and fall attorneys at Morgan & Morgan will fight for you. Our legal team has decades of experience recovering financial compensation for NYC slip and fall injury victims. 

Contact the NYC apartment stairs slip and fall attorneys at Morgan & Morgan to pursue maximum financial recovery. To arrange a no-cost consultation, fill out the contact form on our website.

Understanding Apartment Stairs Slip and Fall Accidents

Nearly 40% of people who rent in the United States live in apartment complexes. In many cases, apartment residents reap significant benefits from their living arrangements.

Many complexes feature amenities including:

• Community lounges
• Swimming pools
• Outdoor green spaces
• Workout equipment
• And more

Many apartment complexes have multiple stories, necessitating stairways. When a management company or building owner does not properly maintain the apartment stairs, residents and visitors face the possibility of injuries.

Stairs can present many potential hazards. For example, loose objects or debris on stairs may cause residents to trip and lose their balance.

Every apartment staircase slip and fall incident involves a unique set of factors. However, there are some common causes for falling accidents, such as:

• Loose carpeting on stairs
• Wires and cables in walkways
• Uneven stairs
• Cracks or fractures in staircases
• Loose or broken handrails
• Poorly lit stairwells 
• Objects or other debris on stairs
• Puddles or condensation
• And more

Slip and fall accidents often result in serious injuries for victims. When the above types of hazards are left unattended, those who use the stairway are at an increased risk of accidents.

When another person’s negligence has caused you harm, contact NYC apartment stairs slip and fall attorneys. A legal professional will examine the facts of your case and help you to pursue financial compensation for the costs of your accident.

Common Examples of Damages in NYC Slip and Fall Cases

The term “damages” refers to the monetary payments from liable parties to the victims of accidents. In most NYC apartment stair slip and fall cases, there are two types of relevant damages.

These are known as “economic” and “non-economic” damages.

Economic Damages

This type of financial compensation is intended to make up for the victim’s financial losses. Those who are  injured in slip and falls do not only experience physical and emotional difficulties. Victims also experience significant financial losses. 

Economic damages are awarded to compensate for these monetary costs. Common examples include repayments for:

• Current medical bills and expenses
• Anticipated future medical costs
• Decreased long-term earning capacity
• Property damage
• Any other direct monetary losses

When you hire NYC apartment stairs slip and fall attorneys, they will review your case to calculate economic damages. A knowledgeable lawyer will use bills, invoices, and receipts to determine the value of your claim

Non-Economic Damages

Not every type of harm from an injury results in monetary costs. Many injury victims sustain long-lasting emotional and physical damage.

The payments intended to compensate for these intangible losses are called “non-economic damages.” 

Some of the most common examples of non-economic damages include payments for:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental distress, anxiety, and depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Disfigurement and disability
• Loss of ability to enjoy life
• Inability to engage in hobbies and recreational activities
• Embarrassment

In some cases, slip and fall accidents can be fatal. This is especially true when a victim falls down an apartment staircase. 

If you have lost someone you love as the result of a falling accident, make sure to contact knowledgeable NYC apartment stairs slip and fall attorneys. You and your family may be able to recover significant compensation through a wrongful death claim.

A wrongful death lawsuit is very similar to other types of personal injury claims. The decedent’s family can often recover compensation for funeral expenses, burial costs, and loss of companionship.

The trusted attorneys at Morgan & Morgan have helped many families secure the money that they need following the death of a loved one.

No matter the circumstances of your slip and fall accident, the legal team at Morgan & Morgan can help. Contact our firm today to schedule a free legal consultation.

Understanding Legal Liability

Like most personal injury claims, apartment liability cases revolve around the legal concept of “liability.” If you are unable to prove that someone’s negligence was the cause of your falling accident, you may be unable to recover financial damages.

In the case of apartment slip and fall cases, claimants must prove that the property owner or landlord is liable for the resulting damages. The occurrence of a falling accident is not enough to prove that someone’s negligence was to blame.

Some accidents are simply unfortunate and unavoidable. Others are preventable with a reasonable amount of care.

To prove that the landlord has legal liability for the damages from the accident, the claimant must show at least one of the following:

• The property owner caused the obstacle or hazard
• The owner knew about the hazard and did nothing
• The owner had a reasonable duty to repair the danger

The third option is the most common in premises liability claims. If a reasonable landlord or property owner would have spotted and fixed the problem, the opposing party may be held liable for the resulting harm and damages.

Securing the services of NYC apartment stairs slip and fall attorneys is incredibly important. A legal representative will examine the circumstances of your accident to determine whether you can prove that your landlord or apartment management company was negligent.

However, it can be very difficult to prove that a “reasonable” landlord would have known about hazards on their stairways. An accomplished lawyer will investigate the landlord’s maintenance and repair practices to build a strong case for you.

If the apartment has not had regular maintenance, your attorney may be able to prove liability in your slip and fall case.

How Will NYC Apartment Stairs Slip and Fall Attorneys Help Me?

If you have been hurt in a falling accident, you probably know that you need legal representation. However, you may not understand what a skilled personal injury attorney will do for you. 
 
The compassionate legal experts at Morgan & Morgan believe that accident victims should be able to focus completely on their health and recovery. That is why we handle every element of our clients’ slip and fall claims.
 
When you hire one of our NYC apartment stairs slip and fall attorneys, we will oversee the following important parts of your legal claim:

• Drafting and filing necessary legal paperwork
• Negotiating with insurance providers on your behalf
• Accurately calculating the value of your slip and fall claim
• Determining which parties are liable for your injuries
• Speaking with experts, if needed
• Reviewing relevant laws and statutes
• Filing a negligence lawsuit if negotiations fail

Most apartment slip and fall accident cases require the claimant to negotiate with the opposing party’s insurance provider. Victims should understand that insurance companies do not have claimants’ best interests in mind. 
 
Insurance providers bolster their bottom lines by denying and devaluing victims’ claims. That is why it is critical to hire a skilled attorney to negotiate with adjusters on your behalf.
 
Insurance company representatives are trained to negotiate in ways that will minimize payouts to victims. The experienced legal professionals at Morgan & Morgan are familiar with adjusters’ negotiation tactics and we know how to effectively counter them. 
 
You should never speak with an insurance company representative without your attorney present.