Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf HomeInjuries or Deaths Resulting From Faulty Cellar Grates and Cellar Doors in New York
A common sight throughout the cities and towns of New York are cellar grates and cellar doors on the sidewalks. Millions of people walk over cellar grates and cellar doors each day and hardly pay attention to them. However, when someone has the misfortune of walking on a cellar grate or cellar door that has not been maintained by the building owner, serious injuries or death can result.
Faulty Cellar Grates and Defective Cellar Door in NycThe Administrative Code of the City of New York requires that cellar grates and cellar doors be flush with the surrounding sidewalk area, that cellar doors should not depress more than one inch and that cellar grates and cellar doors are not kept in an otherwise dangerous and defective condition. Unfortunately, despite these requirements, many properly owners allow cellar grates and cellar doors to fall into disrepair, leading to serious injuries and death.
Cellar Grates and Cellar Door Accidents CausesWhen landowners fail to maintain their cellar grates and cellar doors, several dangerous conditions can emerge. As relating to cellar grates, the grates can become unlevel with the sidewalk area around the grate, creating a tripping hazard. In addition, if the area around the grate is allowed to deteriorate over time, the weight of a person walking on the grate can cause it to collapse.
Cellar doors can be equally hazardous. If a cellar door is not properly maintained, it can begin to bend, causing a height differential in between the two cellar doors which creates a tripping hazard. Cellar doors have also been known to collapse without proper maintenance and can be excessively slippery if they are not properly fitted with anti-skid material. Finally, cellar doors that are left open create a serious hazard, particularly when they are left open at night when pedestrians cannot see the opening created by the open door.
The Importance of Hiring a Qualified New York Cellar Grates Accident LawyerIn order to bring a claim against a landowner for a negligently maintained cellar grate or cellar door, an injured person must prove that the owner was aware or should have been aware of the dangerous condition of the cellar grate or cellar door. In addition, the injured person will have to prove that the dangerous cellar grate or cellar door was a substantial factor in causing their injury. In order to obtain the evidence necessary to bring a claim for a negligently maintained grate or cellar door it is critical to have the subject cellar door inspected by a professional engineer, who can assist in determining why the accident happened and whom is responsible. The New York cellar door accident attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf work with some of the leading engineering experts to ensure that their clients’ cases are properly litigated.
It is critical to hire a highly qualified attorney if you have been injured as a result of a faulty cellar grate or cellar door. The NYC cellar door accident lawyers at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf have over 100 years of experience in representing plaintiffs injured by cellar grates and cellar doors. Please contact us today to discuss your case.
