Imagine walking down a sidewalk in New York City one day, minding your own business, when suddenly — crash! — you’re lying flat on your back in the basement of a building, looking up at all the people gathering around the hole you fell through. This can serve as a huge hit to your pride and ego. It can also cause serious injuries and make you consider speaking with a sidewalk injury attorney in NYC about taking legal action against the liable party in your accident.
But who is ultimately liable for an accident like this? Before you consider filing a personal injury lawsuit, ensure you know the answer to this question.
How Do Sidewalk Falls Involving Basement Doors Happen in NYC?
On any given day, almost 400,000 people spend time walking around New York City. The sidewalks throughout the city are often crowded with people making their way to work, sightseeing, and exercising.
At the same time, the roughly 200,000 businesses scattered throughout the city are often right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. Some inevitably use their cellar doors to gain access to supplies, accept deliveries, and tackle other tasks.
Unfortunately, this can lead to people walking on NYC’s sidewalks either falling through the holes in the ground that form when basement doors are opened or falling through old basement doors that aren’t strong enough to withstand all the weight passing over them each day.
What Are Common Injuries Stemming From Sidewalk Falls Caused by Basement Doors?
Whether you fall into a hole that open sidewalk basement doors in NYC create or fall through old doors, you could sustain serious injuries. Since there is no way to predict a fall like this, you won’t have much time to react and brace yourself.
Here are several common injuries that stem from sidewalk falls caused by basement doors:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Torn ligaments
Why Doesn’t NYC Do Anything To Prevent Sidewalk Falls Caused by Basement Doors?
Because sidewalk falls involving basement doors have become so prevalent in New York City, you might wonder why the city doesn’t do more to prevent them. However, NYC has taken steps to try to force property owners to be more careful when it comes to preventing people from sustaining injuries.
The New York Administrative Code lays out guidelines for how property owners must maintain their sidewalk basement doors. They’re required, for example, to ensure basement doors sit flush with the sidewalk to prevent slip-and-fall accidents from occurring.
Property owners must also keep these sidewalk basement doors closed when they aren’t being used to reduce the risks of leaving them open. The city has taken steps to minimize the chances of these accidents happening, yet they persist because of negligence on the part of property owners.
Who Is Liable for NYC Sidewalk Falls Caused by Basement Doors?
Many sidewalk falls caused by basement doors in NYC are classified as premises liability cases. Property owners are responsible for providing a reasonable amount of safety to those walking on the sidewalks outside their buildings. If they don’t, they can be found liable for falls caused by their basement doors.
The majority of property owners perform the necessary maintenance to prevent pedestrians from falling through their open basement doors or right through the doors themselves. But not every property owner is as cautious as they should be. This can lead to accidents and serious injuries if people aren’t careful when walking near these doors.
How Can an NYC Sidewalk Injury Lawyer Help You Following a Fall Through a Basement Door?
If you’re injured following a fall involving a sidewalk basement door in NYC, one of your first calls should be to a sidewalk injury attorney. They can assist you in many ways as you seek to recover from the injuries you sustained and potentially even help you collect compensation in your case.
An NYC sidewalk injury lawyer can:
- Analyze your sidewalk basement door accident
- Determine who was liable for your accident
- File the proper paperwork pertaining to your sidewalk accident injury
- Attempt to negotiate a settlement in your case
- Take your sidewalk accident injury lawsuit to trial, if necessary
This attorney can also assist those injured during other accidents involving trips, slips, and falls.
Reach Out to a Sidewalk Injury Attorney in Mineola, NY
Falling through a sidewalk basement door can do more than just embarrass you. It can also cause serious injuries that lead to mountains of medical bills and rehabilitation costs in the future. It might even keep you out of work and force you to deal with lost wages.
The Law Office of Frank J. Cassisi, P.C. can provide a trusted sidewalk injury attorney to help with proving slip and fall liability. Contact us at (516) 294-5050 to begin building your case with a sidewalk injury attorney in Mineola, NY.
FAQs
If you have more questions about accidents involving sidewalk basement doors in NYC, search for the answers below.
Is It Safe To Walk Over New York City’s Sidewalk Basement Doors?
In most cases, walking over New York City’s sidewalk basement doors is safe, but that doesn’t mean you should risk it. It’s usually a good idea to stay away from these doors when you consider how many injuries they cause each year.
What Should You Do If You’re Injured After Falling Through Sidewalk Basement Doors in NYC?
If you’re injured after falling through sidewalk basement doors in NYC, seek medical attention right away and collect evidence from the scene. Touch base with a sidewalk injury attorney to discuss your legal options once everything calms down.
Are You Entitled To Collect Compensation After Being Injured During a Sidewalk Fall Through Basement Doors?
You might be entitled to collect compensation after being injured during a sidewalk fall through basement doors. It all depends on whether or not you can prove negligence on the part of a property owner with help from a sidewalk injury attorney.
