On behalf of Smiley & Smiley, LLP posted in Premises Liability on Friday, May 20, 2016.

With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, New Yorkers are as eager as ever to be active outdoors. However, there are some added precautions people must to take during this time of year to stay safe.

Let's imagine that after work, you decide to go for a run and then you need to swing by the grocery store before heading to your friend's apartment for dinner. At any of these points, there is the potential for a springtime accident if a property owner is negligent in their duties to address and resolve seasonal hazards.

This time of year, we see people walking their dogs and letting them spend long hours outside in their yard enjoying the fresh air. However, it is crucial that pet owners take seriously their obligation to restrain their pets when they are on walks and warn visitors of potentially dangerous animals in a yard or home. If a dog or other pet bites you when you are out on a run, the pet owner can be liable for your injuries.

If it's raining outside and you duck into the grocery store to pick up a snack, you could slip on wet flooring in the entrance way. Storeowners have an obligation to keep walkways clear or put up signs warning visitors of wet, slippery floors. Failure to do either of these things could lead to a serious slip-and-fall accident.

Even though it stays light much later these days, property owners still have an obligation to make sure areas like parking lots and stairwells are well lit. If you are assaulted while at your friend's apartment or suffer an injury after falling down a dark stairwell, the property owner could be negligent in their duty to keep visitors safe.

Of course, not all these things would happen, but if even one of them does, your health and future could be in jeopardy.

If you suffer an injury like those mentioned above, it is critical that you understand your rights to pursue a premises liability claim if you are hurt on someone else's property due to negligence. To discuss your options and what you might expect from a legal claim, you can contact an attorney.

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