Heavy rain can quickly overwhelm drainage systems, allowing water to accumulate inside apartment buildings, commercial properties and public spaces. As such, recent flooding in New York City and across the Northeast has created dangerous conditions for residents, commuters and visitors alike.
One particularly hazardous location during and in the immediate aftermath of such storms is stairwells, where standing water can create an unexpected slipping hazard. As these recent storms have demonstrated, property owners should remain vigilant when weather conditions increase the risk of indoor flooding.
When accidents happen
If you slip in a flooded stairwell in the Bronx, determining who is responsible will turn on the specific circumstances at issue. Property owners, landlords and building managers generally have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for tenants and lawful visitors. That responsibility may include inspecting common areas, addressing known hazards within a reasonable time and warning people about dangerous conditions when immediate repairs are not possible.
Not every accident automatically results in liability. Flooding caused by an ongoing storm may not give a property owner sufficient time to discover and address the hazard. However, responsibility may arise if water was allowed to remain on stairs long after the storm passed, if drainage systems were poorly maintained, if recurring leaks were ignored or if broken gutters, roofs or plumbing contributed to the unsafe condition.
If you have been injured after slipping in a flooded stairwell in the Bronx, it is important to have your circumstances carefully evaluated, as every case is unique. An experienced legal team can investigate what caused the hazardous condition, identify potentially responsible parties and pursue compensation for the losses resulting from your injuries if your harm could – and should – have been prevented.