Slip and Fall Accidents

Implications Of A Defendant’s Bankruptcy On A Personal Injury Judgment

Published on: July 27, 2021 | By Dietrich Law Firm P.C.

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Victims of serious accidents can be incapacitated at hospitals for weeks or even months. Even with medical insurance, hospital bills, prescription medications, surgeries, and rehabilitation costs can quickly add up. This often makes life extraordinarily burdensome for victims. Unfortunately, winning a large personal injury verdict does not always guarantee that a victim will collect a payout from the liable party. In some cases, a defendant may lack adequate financial resources to pay the judgment and file for protection under bankruptcy.

What Happens If The Defendant Files For Bankruptcy?

Defendants, such as municipalities and large corporations, tend to have deep enough pockets to satisfy large judgments and settlements. However, some defendants who cannot afford to pay millions of dollars may decide to file for bankruptcy. While most personal injury lawsuits are tried under state law, bankruptcy is a federal matter.

Changes To The Uniform Rules And Their Impact On Attorneys’ Practices

Published on: June 29, 2021 | By Dietrich Law Firm P.C.

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Chief Administrative Judge Larry Marks issued Administrative Order 270/2020, which implemented considerable modifications to general civil practice in New York Supreme Court. Overall, there are nearly 30 rules that have been adopted into the Uniform Rules. Many of these new rules or variations were derived from the existing rules and procedures of the Commercial Division.

Highlights of the Recent Changes to the Uniform Rules

Some of the most noteworthy changes to the Uniform Rules include the following:

How Notice of Claim Requirements Can Affect You

Published on: May 25, 2021 | By Dietrich Law Firm P.C.

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Suppose you were unfortunate enough to suffer injuries due to the negligence of a government employee or an unsafe condition on municipal property. In that case, the notice of claim requirements could significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. In New York State, it is possible to pursue a personal injury case against a government agency or municipality. However, you must file a notice of claim against the town, city, county, or state within 90 days of the incident. Additionally, a lawsuit is required to be filed within 15 months.

Information that Should be Included in your Notice of Claim

If you suffered injuries due to negligent public entities, you might be surprised to learn of the written notice requirement. Not only are you required to file a notice of claim before the deadline, but your notice must contain detailed information, including:

Distracted Pedestrians – The Greatest Challenge To Walking Safely

Published on: April 7, 2021 | By Dietrich Law Firm P.C.

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Whether texting, listening to music or scrolling through social media posts, the number of distracted pedestrians has significantly increased in recent years. Almost anyone who travels around in busy sections of town can attest to the alarming number of people not paying attention while walking. Unfortunately, distracted pedestrians can easily place both themselves and others in considerable danger.

What are the Consequences of Distracted Pedestrians?

Since 2004, the number of severe injuries to pedestrians using their smartphones has more than doubled. Recent research reveals that over 60 percent of pedestrians are distracted by other activities while on foot. As a result, more and more people are randomly tripping over curbs, waking into oncoming traffic, and falling down steps. This can be particularly troublesome for motorists when distracted pedestrians attempt to cross streets while looking at their phones instead of oncoming vehicles. Drivers may be forced to swerve out of the way and into other cars. Crossing the street distracted is even more dangerous when motorists fail to pay attention.

New York Court Discusses Negligence in Slip and Fall Cases

Published on: March 3, 2021 | By Dietrich Law Firm P.C.

Slip and fall accidents frequently occur in New York, and in many instances, they cause significant harm. Some people hurt in such incidents can recover damages, but whether they are owed compensation depends on numerous factors, including what caused them to fall and how long the dangerous condition was present. In a recent New York ruling, a court discussed each party’s burden of proof with regard to negligent claims arising out of slip and fall accidents. If you suffered injuries on someone else’s property, you could be owed damages, and it is smart to meet with a dedicated Buffalo personal injury attorney to discuss your harm.

The Plaintiff’s Fall

It is alleged that the plaintiff lived in a building owned by the defendant. As she was leaving the building one day, she slipped on the landing and fell down a flight of stairs that led to the front door. She was injured in the fall and subsequently filed a lawsuit against the defendant, alleging they negligently permitted a dangerous condition to exist on the property, which caused her to suffer injuries. The defendant moved for summary judgment, arguing that the plaintiff could not specify what caused her to fall and, therefore, her claim must fail. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.

Proving Liability in Slip and Fall Cases

Under New York Law, if a plaintiff in a slip and fall case cannot identify the cause of his or her fall, it is fatal to any negligence claim arising out of the incident, as it would require the judge or jury determining liability to make a finding of proximate cause based on pure speculation. In the subject case, the defendant argued that the plaintiff did not know what caused her to fall, and therefore, her negligence claim should be dismissed. Continue reading

New York Court Discusses Property Owner Liability for Dangerous Conditions

Published on: February 25, 2021 | By Dietrich Law Firm P.C.

Winters in New York often result in a significant amount of snowfall, and snow and ice are common causes of slip and fall accidents. People hurt in falls caused by slippery conditions may be able to recover damages from the parties that own or maintain the property where they fell if they can establish liability. Recently, a New York court discussed fault in slip and fall cases in a case in which the plaintiff suffered injuries due to snow and ice on the defendants’ property. If you were hurt after you fell on snow or ice, you might have a valid claim for damages, and it is in your best interest to consult an experienced Buffalo personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

The Plaintiff’s Fall

It is reported that the plaintiff slipped and fell on ice and snow that was piled onto a concrete island in the middle of a parking lot in a shopping center. The plaintiff was attempting to cross the island to get to a restaurant when he fell. He filed a personal injury lawsuit against the defendants, the property owner, management company, and snow removal contractor. The defendant owner and defendant property management company filed motions for summary judgment, in which they requested that the court dismiss the plaintiff’s claims. The court denied the motions, and the defendants appealed.

Liability in Slip and Fall Cases

A defendant moving for summary judgment in a slip and fall case must establish that the evidence, when taken at face value, shows that it did not create the dangerous condition that caused the plaintiff’s fall, nor did it have constructive or actual knowledge that the condition existed. A property owner does not have a duty to protect or warn people about conditions that are not obvious and open and not in and of themselves dangerous. Continue reading