A 2-year-old boy was seriously injured in a terrifying apartment accident in Manhattan earlier this month. The boy was at home with family on July 24th when tragedy struck. Somehow the child was able to squeeze out of an open window in the apartment. He fell one story to the ground below. While the fall was only around 12 feet, such a fall could have been deadly for such a young child. However, the boy survived the fall and was rushed to nearby New York Presbyterian Hospital to be treated. Eyewitnesses say the victim was “alert and awake” after the fall—which is an extremely good indicator of a positive outcome.
The accident happened at around 2 in the afternoon on a busy day. Witnesses credit the amount of foot traffic in the area at the time with the boy’s survival. Had he fallen at night when he couldn’t be seen or when nobody was around, he may have lain undiscovered for hours—complicating any injuries he had sustained.
Under New York City’s administrative code, most apartment windows must be equipped with safety devices to prevent such falls. However, in this case, proving liability may be a bit difficult because it appears as if the boy fell from a window that opens onto a fire escape. Though no one actually saw him fall, the window leading to the fire escape in the apartment in which he lived was open at the time.
In such a case, an experienced New York City apartment accident lawyer would know what sort of evidence to collect and what sort of argument to make in order to secure the maximum compensation for the young victim and his family.
If you or a loved one has been injured because of a landlord’s negligence, you too could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, unpaid medical expenses and lost time from work. Speak with an attorney today to discuss the details of your case. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 right now.