A sudden slip and fall accident can change your life in a matter of seconds. What might seem like a minor event at the time can prove to involve severe injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and mounting medical bills.
If you were injured on someone else’s property due to their negligence, you shouldn’t have to shoulder the financial burden alone. As an experienced slip and fall attorney in Saratoga Springs, the legal team at Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC is dedicated to holding negligent property owners accountable and helping victims secure the compensation they deserve.
Understanding Premises Liability in New York
Slip and fall cases involve a specialized area of personal injury law known as Premises Liability. In New York, property owners—whether they own a private residence or a commercial premises—have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition.
To win a slip and fall claim, we must prove that the property owner or manager was negligent. Generally, this means establishing at least one of the following:
- They caused the dangerous condition (e.g., spilling a liquid and failing to clean it up).
- They knew about the dangerous condition but did nothing to fix it.
- They should have known about the hazard because a “reasonable” person taking care of the property would have discovered and remedied it.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is a bustling community, whether during the summer racing season or as a destination for travelers during the winter and spring. Hazardous conditions can exist anywhere, from Broadway boutiques to local parking lots. Common causes include:
- Snow and Ice Accumulation: Failure to properly plow parking lots, or salt or shovel sidewalks and entryways.
- Wet Floors: Tracked-in rain or snow, or spills in restaurants and grocery stores without proper warning signs.
- Uneven Walkways: Broken pavement, potholes, or cracked sidewalks.
- Poor Lighting: Dimly lit stairwells or parking garages that obscure trip hazards.
- Defective Stairs: Broken handrails or uneven steps in older buildings.
Do’s and Don’ts After a Slip and Fall
If you are injured in a fall, the steps you take immediately afterward can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation.
| DO This | DON’T Do This |
| Seek Medical Attention: See a doctor immediately, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline can mask severe injuries. | Don’t Minimize Your Injuries: Never tell the property owner or insurance adjuster “I’m fine” before seeing a doctor. |
| Report the Accident: Notify the property owner, manager, or landlord immediately and ask for a written report. | Don’t Give a Recorded Statement: Do not provide a formal statement to the property owner’s insurance company without your lawyer present. |
| Document the Scene: Take photos or videos of the exact hazard (ice, spill, broken step) before it gets cleaned up or repaired. | Don’t Post on Social Media: Avoid posting about your accident, injuries, or daily activities, as this can later be used against you. |
| Get Witness Info: Ask any witness who saw you fall or observed the condition for his/her name and phone number. | Don’t Accept the First Settlement: Initial offers are often far below what your case is actually worth. |
Why Choose Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC?
Insurance companies often fight slip and fall claims aggressively, frequently arguing that you were clumsy or not paying attention. Equally as important, they know what fair compensation is, but will never simply offer to pay that amount to you without an attorney. You need a dedicated advocate to fight back.
At Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC, our attorneys possess over 100 years of combined legal experience. We have a proven track record of securing record-setting verdicts and settlements for injury victims throughout the Capital District and Saratoga County.
No Upfront Fees: We handle all slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing out of pocket, and we only collect a fee if we settle your case or win at trial.
If you have been injured, don’t wait for evidence to disappear or for the statute of limitations to run out. Arrange for a fee consultation at our local office at 6 Butler Place, Saratoga Springs, NY by calling us at 518-785-4900 or visit us online: amtinjurylaw.com.