Legal Question in Personal Injury in New York

slip fall in front of house

someone fell on the street in front of my house becuase of ice buildup-claims broken arm. The house is in nyc and is a one family private residence in which I live. Who is responsible and can the person sue?


Asked on 12/25/08, 9:43 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Re: slip fall in front of house

Mixed bag here. NYC Administrative Code Section 16-123 obligates the property owner to remove snow/ice within 4 hours after a snowfall. Yet case law still obligates City to remove snow/ice from public sidewalk. There is also an issue of whether any snow removal effort by property owner made the condition more hazardous than it would have been if left untouched. Best thing to do is alert your homeowner's insurance carrier/broker immediately to notice of the accident. It is likely the injured person will bring suit against you and the City. Best, M. E. Zuller

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Answered on 12/26/08, 9:20 am
Marshall Isaacs Marshall R. Isaacs, Attorney At Law

Re: slip fall in front of house

Just a quick follow up: I thought you had written "sidewalk" and not "street." The City is responsible for maintaining the roadway but I would contact your carrier just to be on the safe side. There are less-than-honorable people who will claim the accident occurred on the sidewalk in order to obtain money from you or your insurance company.

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Answered on 12/25/08, 9:55 am


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