Are you looking for a slip and fall lawyer in Yonkers, NY?
At Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C., we are trusted slip and fall lawyers with over 30 years of experience.
If you slipped and fell at work in Yonkers, an attorney can help you secure workers’ comp benefits. Our Yonkers, NY slip and fall lawyer represents injured workers, not insurance companies. We have handled New York workers' compensation claims and hearings for more than three decades. We file your claim, gather the evidence, and press the insurance carrier for the benefits you are owed. Your first consultation is free.
Slip and Fall Lawyer in Yonkers, NY
A slip and fall lawyer helps people who were hurt in a fall at work pursue benefits through New York's workers' compensation system. A fall on a wet floor, an icy walkway, or a cluttered aisle can cause a serious back, hip, or head injury. These injuries often lead to surgery, weeks of physical therapy, and time away from a paycheck.
Workers' compensation does not ask you to prove that your employer was careless. Under New York law, benefits are paid without regard to fault. The system pays for your medical care and replaces part of your lost wages when the fall happened during your job. Our role is to keep the insurance carrier honest and make sure you receive every benefit the law provides.
Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in Yonkers
Workers slip and fall in almost every kind of workplace, from hospitals and warehouses to offices and store floors. The cause is usually a hazard that could have been fixed. These are the slip and fall accident cases our attorneys handle for injured workers in Yonkers.
- Wet and slippery floors. Spills, freshly mopped surfaces, and water tracked in from outside make floors dangerous. A worker who steps on a wet surface can fall hard and injure a back, wrist, or hip. Many of these common hazards are simple to prevent with a warning sign or prompt cleanup.
- Ice and snow. Outdoor workers, delivery drivers, and anyone crossing a parking lot face icy walkways in the New York winter. Delivery routes and parking lots are especially risky before dawn. A fall on untreated ice can fracture a bone or tear a ligament.
- Uneven or damaged flooring. Torn carpet, loose floor mats, cracked tile, and raised thresholds catch a foot without warning. These trip hazards are common in older buildings and busy work areas.
- Cluttered walkways. Boxes, cords, tools, and stray materials block the aisles in warehouses and offices. A worker focused on a task can trip over an object left in the path. We look closely at how the slip and fall injuries happened and who allowed the hazard to remain.
- Stairways. Wet steps, missing handrails, and poor lighting turn a staircase into a fall risk. A fall on stairs often causes more serious injuries than a fall on level ground.
- Poor lighting. A dim stairwell, hallway, or storage room hides the hazards on the floor. Workers cannot avoid what they cannot see.
- Loading docks and warehouses. Elevated docks, ramps, and forklift traffic create fall hazards throughout a warehouse. A misstep at the edge of a dock can lead to a serious drop and a lasting injury.
- Weather tracked indoors. Rain and melting snow collect at entrances and create slick spots just inside the door. Workers hurry in and lose their footing on the wet surface.
Why Choose Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. as My Slip and Fall Lawyer in Yonkers, NY?
More Than Three Decades on the Worker's Side
Mark Polsky has represented injured workers since 1987 and leads the workers' compensation committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. Donald Shouldice has practiced workers' compensation law since 1992 and serves on the board of a statewide workers' compensation organization. Adam Rosen has spent his career handling workers' compensation claims and has held a leadership role on a Nassau County Bar committee. Together, these attorneys bring decades of hearing and trial experience to slip and fall claims.
No Cost to Start Your Claim
Our workers compensation lawyer in Yonkers, NY represents workers only, never employers or insurance carriers. They belong to the Injured Workers' Bar Association, a group limited to lawyers who spend most of their practice on the worker's side. You do not pay out of pocket for a workers' compensation attorney in New York. The fee is set by law, approved by the Workers' Compensation Board, and taken from the benefits you are awarded rather than your savings. We are paid only if we recover benefits for you, and your first consultation costs nothing.
Understanding Slip and Fall Cases in New York
When a slip and fall keeps you off the job, workers' compensation is meant to cover your medical bills and part of your lost pay. A hard fall can injure the spine, break a hip or wrist, or cause a concussion. Slips, trips, and falls are among the leading causes of nonfatal workplace injuries in the United States, according to federal data. Federal safety rules require employers to keep floors, stairs, and walkways reasonably safe and free of spills, snow, and ice.
Benefits and Compensation Available in Slip and Fall Cases
A workers' compensation claim usually provides several kinds of benefits.
- Medical treatment. The claim covers medical treatment for your injury, including doctor visits, surgery, and physical therapy, at no cost to you. You may see any provider authorized by the Workers' Compensation Board.
- Lost wage benefits. You may receive weekly cash benefits equal to about two-thirds of your average weekly wage, adjusted for how much the injury limits your work, up to a maximum set by the state.
- Permanency awards. When a fall causes permanent damage, such as a lasting hip or back condition, New York provides a scheduled loss of use award, which is a fixed sum based on the affected body part.
- Death benefits. When a workplace fall proves fatal, the worker's spouse and children may receive cash benefits and funeral costs.
What Are Important Aspects of a Slip and Fall Case?
A few details often decide whether a slip and fall claim succeeds, and the choices you make in the first days matter most.
- Reporting the fall. New York requires written notice to your employer within thirty days, and reporting it promptly protects your right to benefits.
- Proving the hazard. A photo of the wet floor or broken step helps establish what caused the fall. Even when no witnesses saw you fall, the right evidence can support your claim.
- Getting prompt care. Tell every doctor that the injury happened at work. A gap between the fall and your first doctor visit gives the carrier a reason to question the claim.
- Denied claims. A denial does not end the case. You can request a hearing before a workers' compensation law judge, and many denied claims are approved after review.
What Is the Slip and Fall Case Timeline?
Each claim moves at its own pace, but most follow the same general steps.
- You report the fall to your employer and get medical care.
- You file the employee claim form with the Workers' Compensation Board. New York enforces strict filing deadlines, and a missed deadline can end the claim.
- The insurance carrier accepts or disputes the claim. When it accepts, it must begin paying benefits within eighteen days after your disability starts.
- Hearings and medical evaluations follow if the carrier contests the claim.
- The case ends with ongoing benefits or a settlement.
A straightforward claim may resolve in a few months, while a serious injury can take much longer. Many cases close with a Section 32 settlement, which is an agreement that ends the case for a single lump-sum payment.
What Should You Bring to Your Slip and Fall Consultation?
It is helpful to bring any evidence you have gathered. Our attorney will review it during your first meeting and make recommendations on how to proceed:
- The date, time, and location of the fall and a description of what caused it.
- Any photos of the hazard or the scene.
- The names of your employer and your supervisor.
- Any medical records and bills you already have.
- The names of anyone who saw the fall or the hazard.
Careful notes and photos help, and you can document your injuries with a phone in the days that follow. Your first free consultation is a conversation rather than a commitment, and you will leave knowing where your claim stands.
What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Slip and Fall Cases?
New York's workers' compensation system is defined by state law and managed by a state agency. The resources below can help you understand your rights before we talk.
- The state Workers' Compensation Board explains how claims work and which benefits are available.
- The Board's injured worker's toolkit walks you through filing, deadlines, and finding help.
- New York's statute of limitations generally gives an injured worker two years from the date of the fall to file a claim.
- Written notice to your employer is due within thirty days of the fall, which is a separate and strictly enforced deadline.
These resources describe the process, but they do not address the specific facts of your claim.
Reach Out to Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation
If a fall at work has left you injured in Yonkers, our attorneys are ready to help. Your consultation is free, and you are under no obligation to hire us afterward. We will review how the fall happened, explain the benefits you may receive, and give you an honest read on your claim. Contact us to set up your consultation.
