John Carro a well-known New York slip and fall lawyer and senior trial partner at Carro, Carro & Mitchell has reported that a jury has awarded his client $2,452,333 for injuries suffered in a fall on an icy Brooklyn sidewalk.
An Avoidable Accident
Three days after a snowfall, Paul Lamar*, an employee of the New York City Transit Authority slipped and fell, severely injuring his ankle. In New York City, the law requires that property owners make a reasonable effort to remove snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of their property following a snowfall. A critical piece of evidence was a photograph showing that at the time of the accident the sidewalk up-and-down the rest of the block had been shoveled clear, but there was still snow and ice in front of the defendant’s property where Paul fell.
John S. Carro brought the slip and fall case to trial and won a $2.44+ million settlement for his client
Surgery, Pain and Job-Loss
As a result of the fall Paul suffered a serious ankle fracture, which required insertion of a metal plate. Following the surgery, Mr. Lamar’s recovery was very slow and he never regained full function of the ankle. As a result he was limited in his movements and at times needed a cane to walk. He also had constant pain and swelling and developed traumatic arthritis in his ankle. Because of his injuries and physical limitations, Mr. Lamar could not continue his job with the Transit Authority.
The lawyers for the defendant landowner disputed nearly every aspect of the case, including whether he was at fault, and the severity of Paul’s injuries. Following their aggressive defense strategy, they made no offer to settle and the case proceeded to trial.
An Effective Trial Strategy
During the trial, John Carro called expert witnesses to the stand. An orthopedic surgeon testified regarding the severity and permanent effects of Paul’s injuries. An economist testified about the financial cost of lost salary, pension, and other benefits. After closing statements by John Carro and the defendant’s attorney, the jury unanimously awarded $2,442,333.00 to Mr. Lamar, which included substantial awards for past pain and suffering, past and future lost wages and future lost pension benefits.
Get an Expert New York Slip and Fall Lawyer on Your Side
If you have been injured as the result of a fall, call the experienced trial lawyers at Carro, Carro & Mitchell today at (212) 213-5005 to find out if you have a case.
*Name changed to protect client’s privacy.
