After a relatively mild start, winter is finally here again along the East Coast. Ice and snow covered sidewalk accident in New York are something all of us should be thinking about. Every year there are hundreds of slip and fall accidents around the City which send people to emergency rooms. Injuries can range from bumps and bruises to head injuries and compound bone fractures. These individuals may require surgeries combined with extensive time lost from work for rehabilitation.
Who is Responsible for Your Sidewalk Accident in New York?
There are more than 12,700 miles of public sidewalk across the Five Boroughs. However, the City of New York is only responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks that abut multiple dwellings less than four families that are owner occupied and used for residential purposes. The City is also responsible to clear snow and ice from sidewalks next to:
•· Parks
• Playgrounds
• City Office Buildings
• Public School Buildings, Play Areas and Fields
• Empty lots owned by the City
• Public Works and Public Safety Buildings
• Any Other Property Owned by the City of New York
Just like private property owners, the City of New York must clear ice and snow from these sidewalks and make them passable within a reasonable time after the snow stops falling. Failure to do so represents a violation of their legal obligation and could make the City liable for any injury caused by an uncleared sidewalk accident anywhere in the Five Boroughs. The injured party may be able to recover monetary compensation for pain and suffering for the injuries sustained, unpaid or unreimbursed medical expenses and lost time from work even into the future.
If you or a loved one has been injured during a sidewalk accident in New York, contact an expert New York City sidewalk accident attorney without any further delay to get the compensation you deserve. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn and protect your rights.