New York Falling Debris Lawyer

The NYC falling debris injury attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf spare no expense in litigating on their premises liability clients behalf, obtaining all necessary evidence and using highly qualified engineering experts.

In New York, owners of commercial and residential buildings have a duty to maintain their buildings and property in a reasonably safe manner. The duty to maintain applies to areas inside a building, such as stairways, lobbies, apartments, and ceilings. It also applies to the property surrounding the exterior of a building, such as sidewalks, walkways, courtyards and driveways.

Unfortunately, many owners fail to maintain their buildings and property, allowing them to fall into disrepair and become dangerous.

In a recent case, our falling debris attorneys played a pivotal role in transforming a longstanding legal doctrine known as the "zone of danger." Through their diligent efforts, they successfully challenged and expanded the traditional boundaries of this doctrine, enabling a grandmother who witnessed the tragic death of her granddaughter to obtain compensation for psychological injury. This case centered around Susan Frierson, who experienced profound trauma and emotional distress after seeing her 2-year-old granddaughter, Greta Devere Green, fatally injured by falling debris on a Manhattan sidewalk in 2015.

Historically, the "zone of danger" doctrine limited recovery for emotional distress to those who were in immediate physical danger from an incident and sustained a physical injury as a result. However, our attorneys argued that the deep emotional bonds and the psychological impact on family members who witness such tragedies should also be recognized and compensated under the law, even if they were not physically injured themselves.

The New York high court's unanimous decision in favor of Frierson marked a significant departure from conventional interpretations, acknowledging that the concepts of family and emotional distress extend beyond rigid legal definitions. The court's ruling emphasized the need to adapt legal doctrines to reflect the complexities of modern familial relationships and the reality of psychological trauma resulting from witnessing a loved one's injury or death.

This landmark case not only provided justice for Susan Frierson and her family but also set a precedent that could benefit many others in similar situations. It underscores the importance of evolving legal standards to accommodate the changing dynamics of family structures and the recognition of psychological harm as a legitimate and compensable injury. Our attorneys' work in this case has contributed to a broader understanding of the "zone of danger" doctrine, ensuring that the law more accurately reflects contemporary societal norms and the genuine experiences of individuals facing such devastating circumstances.

In another significant case, our legal team secured a substantial, albeit confidential, settlement on behalf of a young professional who endured a catastrophic injury when a piece of roof fencing tragically fell on his head. Despite the severity of his injuries, our client miraculously survived this accident. Our attorneys meticulously navigated the complexities of this case, not only providing the victim with the financial means to support his long-term recovery and rehabilitation but also underscoring our firm's commitment to holding responsible parties accountable and advocating for the rights and well-being of those who suffer due to others' negligence. Through relentless dedication and expert legal strategy, our team was able to achieve a resolution that recognizes the profound impact of the accident on our client's life, ensuring he has the necessary resources to face the challenges ahead.

In order to bring a claim against an owner for inadequate and defective maintenance of a building and/or property, an injured person must prove that the owner was aware or should have been aware of the dangerous condition that caused the accident. In addition, the injured person will have to prove that the dangerous condition was a substantial factor in causing the accident.

In order to obtain the necessary evidence to prove your case, it is important to building collapse attorneys who have extensive experience in uncovering records, witnesses, surveillances videos and other evidentiary materials that will help prove your case. In addition to finding evidence, it is also important to find a legal representative that will hire expert engineers who can assist in determining why an accident happened, and help determine which parties are at fault for an accident.

Building owners will often hire other companies or individuals to help them maintain their buildings, such as management companies, elevator maintenance companies, snow removal contractors and many other types of companies. Depending on the type of accident, one or more of these companies may be responsible for an accident that occurred due to inadequate and defective maintenance. These companies can be responsible for several reasons, such as having caused or created a dangerous condition or based on a contractual obligation. Determining exactly which parties are responsible for the inadequate and defective maintenance of a building and property requires the help of a legal professional.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by falling debris or by a falling object in NY, please contact the attorneys of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf at (212) 943-1090 to discuss a potential falling debris lawsuit. We have over 100 years of experience in representing plaintiffs who suffered injury due to inadequate and defective maintenance of buildings and property.