Don’t Settle For Less

Don’t Settle For Less

Young Woman Dies After Rooftop Fall

by | Jun 9, 2021 | Slip and Fall

 A Young woman was killed in a tragic apartment accident in Manhattan late last month. The 24-year-old was attending a rooftop party in Manhattan’s East Village on May 24th when tragedy struck. Sometime around 3 in the morning, she fell and tumbled to the sidewalk below. She was taken to nearby Bellevue Hospital but did not survive her injuries.

Family members were devastated by the loss of this young woman they say was smart, cheerful, and had a bright future ahead of her. Neighbors and city councilpersons are concerned that her death is a tragic side effect of a growing danger—overcrowding on NYC rooftops. The victim was attending a party that far exceeded the capacity of the roof on which it was held.

City codes require that apartment buildings file certificates of occupancy if the rooftops are to be used by residents. Use of the rooftop without such a certificate is a violation. With the growing number of overcrowded parties, council members are contemplating regulations that would limit crowds on these rooftop parties.

Regardless of the proposed bills, family members still have a case against the party host and the building owner. Apartment accidents in New York City such as this one fall under the rubric of negligent operation and management or even negligent security of the building. Building owners have a legal duty to protect residents and guests on their property to a reasonable extent. This includes adequate lighting in stairwells, removing slip/trip hazards such as debris, and limiting access to areas of the building that potentially could cause harm. An experienced apartment accident attorney in New York City would argue that it was negligent not only not to have an unsurpassable barrier at the rooftop’s edge but also not to have a person stationed at or near the roof to insure that the building’s safety rules are followed.

If you or a loved one has been injured at an apartment building, contact the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel today. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.

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