NYC Personal Injury Lawyer » New York City Pothole Accident Lawyer

New York City Pothole Accident Lawyer

Driving, walking, and biking safely depend on a stable, even surface on roads, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and parking lots. Unfortunately, the continual expansion and contraction of the ground surface caused by precipitation and other weather conditions means that no layer of tar, cement, or asphalt remains smooth indefinitely. Eventually, cracks and potholes appear, requiring prompt repairs for safety. City road maintenance agencies and property owners in NYC have legal obligations to safely maintain paved surfaces to prevent injuries, including dangerous pothole accidents.

If you sustained injuries from a pothole, contact a premises liability lawyer in New York City today to pursue compensation.

Call our law firm at (212) 564-2800 today.

What Types of Accidents are Caused by Potholes In New York City?

New York City residents are busy, productive people who spend a significant portion of their days navigating the city’s streets and sidewalks. Unfortunately, an unrepaired pothole can cause serious accidents such as the following:

• Car accidents are often caused by one driver swerving into another vehicle while trying to avoid a pothole in their lane
• Pedestrian accidents caused by accidentally stepping into a pothole
• Bicycle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• E-scooter accidents

According to a New York City Comptroller report, the city’s persistent pothole problem ranks New York City seventh in the nation for cities with the worst pothole problems, resulting in both car accident claims for property damage and personal injury, and personal injury claims from pedestrian trip-and-fall accidents.

Pothole Accident Injuries In New York City

Potholes are more than just unsightly; they are also a significant safety hazard. Common injuries in pothole accident claims include the following:

• Soft-tissue injuries to knees, ankles, wrists, and shoulders, including sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and tendon damage
• Contusions and abrasions
• Fractures
• Back injuries
• Neck Injuries
• Concussions and more serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Facial and dental trauma
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding or internal organ injuries

When a person suffers a serious injury from a pothole, they don’t have to be left responsible for the economic consequences as well as the physical ones. Instead, they can file a compensation claim against the responsible party with help from a slip and fall attorney in NYC. Responsibility—legal liability—in pothole injury claims in NYC depends on where the injury occurred.

Liability In Pothole Injury Claims

Potholes can cause injuries in many places where New York City residents walk, ride, or drive daily. Depending on where the injury occurred, the following parties could be liable for injury-related damages:

• A negligent city road maintenance agency for failing to repair a known pothole or for failing to block off the damaged section of roadway until repairs were completed
• A private property owner for failing to repair a pothole in the sidewalk abutting their property
• A commercial property owner for failing to repair a dangerous pothole in a parking lot

Proving liability requires first demonstrating through evidence that the property owner or government agency had a legal duty of care to the victim, they breached this duty of care through negligence, the breach of duty caused the injury, and the injury victim suffered damages from the injury. Damages in pothole injury claims in NYC often include medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.

How Can a New York City Pothole Accident Lawyer Help?

Proving liability for pothole injuries can be complex and requires compelling evidence. Additionally, compensation claims against government agencies, such as road maintenance agencies, have unique requirements and timelines compared to claims against property owners.

Call or contact The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel online to learn more about your legal right to compensation and how a New York City pothole accident attorney can help.