Though summer has arrived in New York City, as all residents know, winter is only a few months away. While it can be lovely and some area residents enjoy the season, it brings with it certain dangers including cold and snow. When snow isn’t properly removed from sidewalks, parking lots and roads, the outcome can be disastrous.
Earlier this month a 59-year-old woman who was injured when she fell at her condominium located in nearby Staten Island, was awarded damages in her slip-and-fall lawsuit. The fall reportedly occurred as she navigated a flight of steps connecting the complex walkway to her patio. As a result of the fall the woman indicated that she had to have surgery to address fractures in her spine. In addition to suffering chronic pain, she is also now unable to do things she once easily did such as standing, walking distances and lifting heavy objects.
In her lawsuit, against both the development’s contractor as well as its managing agent, she alleged that snow and freezing rain caused her to fall in January 2009 when it froze, creating what was essentially a sheet of ice, on the patio. Both were responsible for addressing snow and ice that accumulated, among other places, at the entrances to resident’s homes. A jury agreed, awarding her more than $4 million. Of that amount, $2.6 million is allotted for rehabilitation and future pain and suffering.
Accidents resulting in a permanent disability such as this one are life changing. In addition to not being able to undertake the endeavors the injured party once did, he or she may find, as in this case, that pain is constant. Few would say that this is a good way to live. Accordingly, to help to ease the financial burden that often accompanies such a case, some find it beneficial to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Source: Staten Island Advance, “Staten Island woman awarded $4M in slip-and-fall lawsuit,” Frank Donnelly, June 10, 2013