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Slip and Fall Accident Legal Help Long Island

Winkler Kurtz, LLP has been providing Slip and Fall Accident Legal Help on Long Island  for over 25+ years. Our office can be found in Port Jefferson Station, NY.

Winkler Kurtz Staff

At Winkler Kurtz, LLP, we strive for more than just winning a case. Our clients are considered part of the family, and we treat each one with the utmost level of respect and dedication they deserve.

When our clients come to us for help, they are facing some of the most challenging times in their lives. We never underestimate the level of pain and suffering each situation can bring. Our exceptional team provides quality services that are unique to each individual’s needs to ensure you are educated and supported throughout the entirety of the legal process.

Our attorneys at Winkler Kurtz, LLP are experts in handling cases in the areas of personal injuryfamily lawelder lawwills and trusts, and real estate. These cases cover some of the most emotionally draining and sensitive topics for individuals and families. We know the consequences of an injury or traumatic loss can have global implications on your life, and we take extreme pride in taking on the responsibility of helping you achieve the most favorable outcome possible.

Whether you’ve suffered a work injury, are planning for the loss of a loved one, or looking to buy or sell your home, our team possesses the necessary resources and knowledge to secure a favorable outcome for your case and exceed your expectations around every turn.

Meet Our Outstanding Attorneys

James R. Winkler

James R. Winkler is a Partner at Winkler Kurtz, LLP with over 35 years of concentrated experience in the area of matrimonial and family law. Known for his impressive litigation abilities, Jim has successfully settled numerous family matters and domestic relations over his career to secure favorable results for his clients and their loved ones.

Richard D. Winkler

Richard D. Winkler is a founding partner at Winkler Kurtz, LLP with over 30 years of expertise to offer his clients. Concentrating his entire career in the area of personal injury law, Rich understands that his clients have a choice when they hire an attorney on Long Island, and it’s his goal to make everyone who walks into his office a “client for life.”

Understanding Slip and Fall Injuries

Slips and falls are much more common accidents than most people realize. These accidents occur most frequently when a person is walking on a wet or uneven surface, such as a recently waxed floor, a loose carpet or floorboard, an unshovelled sidewalk, or unsalted steps.

If a third party was responsible for the dangerous conditions that caused the slip or fall, there may be grounds for a personal injury case. An experienced slip and fall injury attorney can help you understand your rights.

Falls Among Older Adults

Falls are serious, costly, and unfortunately, prevalent among Americans 65 and older. The CDC estimates that one-quarter of adults over the age of 65 falls each year. In fact, 3 million older people are treated for fall injuries in emergency rooms every year, with at least 300,000 hospitalized for hip fractures. Nearly all hip fractures are caused by falling.

For the elderly, fall injuries are among the 20 costliest injuries to treat. Treating fall injuries costs more than $50 billion per year, and the average hospital cost for a fall injury is over $30,000.

Among older adults, one in five falls results in a serious injury such as a broken wrist, arm, ankle, or hip, or even a traumatic head injury. Half of all elderly adults who are hospitalized for hip fractures can no longer live independently after the fracture.

Anyone who wishes to reduce a senior’s risk of falling should:

  • Add railings and grab bars in bathrooms and on stairs
  • Ensure the home is well lit
  • Remove tripping hazards like throw rugs or clutter
  • Repair broken or uneven steps

Because older adults are at significant risk of falling, nursing home staff should carefully monitor and assist elderly residents to prevent falls.

Falls in the Workplace

Falls are a primary cause of injury in the workplace, with 85% of workers’ compensation claims attributable to employee falls. Slips and falls also account for the majority of absences from work: 22% of slip and fall workplace injuries result in the worker being absent for more than a month.

Construction workers are most at risk for fatal falls from heights, such as scaffolding and ladders. Sadly, these falls are 100% preventable when following proper safety procedures.

Falls in Public Spaces

From slippery floors in the supermarket to poor lighting in a parking lot, falling hazards are everywhere. The law requires businesses and homes to maintain their premises so that people can travel safely. This responsibility is known as premises liability.

What to do if You Are Injured in a Fall

If you are injured due to a slip or fall, your first priority should be taking care of your health and obtaining the appropriate medical care. Then, it is imperative that you collect evidence to support your case. Follow these steps:

  1. Obtain medical treatment
  2. Report the accident to the owner or manager of the premises where you fell, and ask them for a written statement
  3. Document the circumstances surrounding your fall, and collect contact information of any witnesses
  4. Stay calm and do not discuss your fall with the property management, an insurance company, or on social media
  5. Get legal help from an experienced slip and fall attorney

Hire Us For Slip And Fall Accident Legal Help On Long Island

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident that is due to the negligence of a property owner or manager, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. The knowledgeable and experienced slip-and-fall accident lawyers at Winkler Kurtz, LLP will help you seek justice. Contact us online or call us today at 631-928-8000 for a complimentary consultation.

Avoiding Slips & Falls on Icy Surfaces

Slips and falls are some of the most common winter weather hazards. This year, choose safety over style. According to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), slips, trips, and falls on icy walkways or sidewalks were associated with more than 17,000 ER visits in 2009. If you’ve suffered a slip and fall injury and require the assistance of a slip and fall lawyer on Long Island, we recommend that you contact Winkler Kurtz LLP for assistance.

Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common causes of injury among adults 65 years old and older living in the community, accounting for 34% of all unintentional injuries treated in emergency departments (EDs). Older adults who suffer a fall, even if they do not fall to the ground, have a much higher risk of being admitted to a nursing home or long-term care facility after the injury.

6 steps for avoiding slips and falls

Selecting appropriate footwear for winter weather conditions is one way to prevent slips and falls. Hikers use buying guides that rank hiking boots based on different criteria. Many of these criteria can be used to select a winter boot for safe walking on ice and snow.

  1. Look for a solid, slip-resistant outsole construction that provides traction on different surfaces such as gravel or wet rocks, especially if you walk to work every day. Pay close attention to the density of the outsole material and both lateral and medial side stability.
  2. Check the upper materials and linings. Boots with a waterproof membrane or coating provide extra insulation to keep your feet dry, which is especially important if you plan to walk in snow for extended periods of time. Added insulation also helps keep feet warm when walking for long periods on cold surfaces. Lining materials such as fleece or faux fur provide thermal insulation, wicking moisture away from your feet.
  3. Sturdy eyelets and lace hooks are best for snow boots, as they hold laces firmly in place to prevent slipping during activity or if you step on the laces by accident. A durable, strong lace is also helpful to achieve a tight fit around your ankles.
  4. Select boots with durable, slip-resistant outsoles and relatively shallow heels (1/2 to 3/4 inch). Avoid boots with multiple layers or cushioning under the insole as these can compress after extended wear, reducing the boot’s slip-resistance. 5. Look for easy on and off designs like pull-on handles or buckles and zippers. This is especially important if you need to remove your boots quickly (for example, at the bus stop).
  5. Look for well-defined insteps that provide support and prevent your foot from sliding forward when walking downhill. Also, avoid boots that are extremely wide around the ankle – these can make it difficult to walk. Also, don’t choose boots with laces that are too long as they can get caught if you trip or slip.

Remember, some manufacturers will have different models specifically designed for winter conditions so check their specifications before making a purchase.

Avoiding slips and falls in the workplace

For workplaces, employers should work with employees on a safe footwear program and provide them with information on different types of winter footwear. This may be especially important for older workers as they face a greater risk of slips and falls due to reduced balance and vision, among other things.

Workplaces should also ensure that employees know the appropriate footwear required for work and how it affects their safety. Employees can benefit from on-site training on proper footwear use. They should also be encouraged to participate in regular “toolbox talks” that provide employees with updates on specific workplace hazards and how to prevent them. If you feel that your employer has led to you suffering an injury, please contact our slip and fall lawyer on Long Island for assistance.

Slips, trips, and falls are not just inconvenient; they can often result in serious injury. Winter is a good time for all of us to be reminded of the importance of using appropriate footwear for different surfaces.

Remember, when in doubt, leave it out!

Contact Us For Slip And Fall Accident Legal Help On Long Island

Winkler Kurtz, LLP can be reached by giving us a call at 631-928-8000 or by scheduling an appointment via our website forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Naturally, if you’re new to a personal injury lawsuit, you likely have several questions about the process, timing, and anything else in between. At Winkler Kurtz LLP, we strive to provide our clients with the clearest transparency regarding any questions you may have regarding your legal case. We understand our clients needs, and we cater to you in regards to any potential questions that may arise throughout the entirety of our legal battle with you.

If you’d like to speak with someone directly, you can give our office a call by dialing 631-928-8000 or you can fill out one of our online forms by visiting our contact page.

For all other potential questions, our staff has compiled a list below of some of the most frequent personal injury questions that have been asked at our Long Island office:

The word to keep in mind in regards to personal injury is negligence. Were you injured as a result of someone else’s misconduct? Accidents are often the driving key when it comes to a case involving personal injury cases. Examples of accidents such as these can include car accident (most common), slip and fall cases, wrongful death, defective or damaged products, and many others. See below for a list of potential cases, and consider if you’ve been a victim of negligence for any of the following:

  • Aside from cars, other automobile accidents i.e. motorcycle, truck, bicycle, etc. 
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Construction accidents and work related injuries
  • Medical malpractice (one of our specialties)
  • Wrongful death
  • Hospital negligence
  • Surgical errors
  • Struck by an object
  • Machinery or equipment injury
  • Falling off a ladder or scaffolding
  • Misdiagnosis

As specialists in the realm of personal injury, we proudly support our clients and help them gather the compensation they not only require but deserve. For a full listing of all our personal injury specialties, please give us a call today

If you were injured in an accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, in all likelihood, you will have a personal injury case. Review of your situation will be necessary, which is why we ask our prospective clients to schedule their free consultation with us. That way, we don’t waste your time or money and can give you an answer after reviewing the facts regarding your situation. The fact of the matter is that all personal injury cases can vary. But we always try to cater to our clients needs and provide them with the necessary resources. 

Bodily injury is also key when identifying if you have a case. If you have a physical injury that will require medical expenses to recover from, you may be entitled to compensation. Should you also miss time from work, you can also be eligible to receive compensation for any lost wages. 

Unfortunately this is a vague response, but it really does depend on your situation. Should a settlement be reached, your personal injury case may resolve a lot faster than most people’s cases. However, if a settlement is not reached, your case will then need to go to civil court after filing a personal injury lawsuit. This will likely extend the timing of the process and can extend the case to last even longer. If you accept the first settlement offer, then on average, your case could be resolved within 9 months. At maximum, it can take up to a couple years for a resolution to be reached for your case. It also depends on the nature of your case. Typically, car accident cases are resolved sooner as opposed to those involving medical negligence. 

In most cases, your personal injury claim will likely not need to be brought to court. Settlements are the most common resolution when it comes to personal injury cases. These settlements are negotiations that are discussed between your personal injury lawyer on Long Island at Winkler Kurtz and the negligent parties’ insurance company. We work tirelessly for our clients to help you attain the settlement value that you deserve regarding your personal injury case. In the unlikely event that a settlement is not reached, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf and bring your case into civil court. Damages and fault will need to be agreed upon from there, but as always we will provide you with the strongest possible legal representation. 

If you slip and fall on an icy sidewalk, who is responsible?

Did you know that when snow and ice cover the sidewalks creating an unsafe environment for pedestrians, the property owner can be held accountable? The property owners may have to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages due to a slip and fall on their property due to icy conditions. Our Slip and Fall Legal help on Long Island can help you with your case.

The Property Owner’s Duty of Care

Slip and fall accidents are much more common than people think, especially when the temperatures begin to drop, snow begins to fall and ice covers the streets and sidewalks. When it comes to slip and fall cases it is important to understand the concept of duty of care.

Typically, falls related to the snow and ice happen in parking lots and commercial areas however, homeowners need to pay attention to their property as well. When it comes to the harsh winter weather with snow and ice, it is the property owner’s duty of care to periodically remove snow and ice within a reasonable amount of time.

The failure to periodically remove the snow and reduce the risk of injuries caused by slips and falls is referred to as negligence. Our Slip and Fall Legal help on Long Island are expert when it comes to cases regarding negligence and understanding the property rules for your designated area.

What You May Recover

If you slip and fall, you may be able to recover from the pain and suffering the injury caused you, lost wages caused by missed work, and the costs of your medical treatment. This overall assessment factors into your personal damages.  

What to do if You Are Injured in a Fall

If you are injured due to a slip or fall, you should first take care of your health and seek medical treatment. Then you must collect evidence to support your case. This includes reporting the accident to the owner of the premises where you fell.

You should ask them for a written statement. Document and take pictures of the area surrounding your fall and take down the names and contact information of any witnesses. This will give your attorney an idea of what the area looked like at the time of your fall. Your final step is to get legal help from Slip and Fall Legal help on Long Island so we can handle the rest.  

Contact Us For Slip and fall Legal Help on Long Island

The seriousness of negligence can’t be ignored. Injuries of this type may make you entitled to compensation. Our experienced Slip and Fall Legal help on Long Island at Winkler Kurtz, LLP, will do everything they can to help you seek justice. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation and get yourself the help you need!

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