When we think of personal injury law, most of us think of cases involving what’s called “premises liability.” Premises liability cases are those in which someone is injured as the result of an accident on someone else’s property. In cities, though, almost everyone lives on someone else’s property. If you’re injured at home in your apartment, is your landlord liable? “It’s not that simple,” says Peter Briskin of Fishbeyn & Briskin, P.C. in New York and New Jersey. “Whether your landlord is responsible for your accident depends, with a few exceptions, on whether you were injured in your apartment or in a common area of your building.”

Injuries in Your Apartment

According to Briskin, in an apartment situation, the tenant is responsible for his own space. That is, in a broad sense, he is most likely liable for any accident that occurs within his own apartment. However, Briskin says, there are certainly exceptions.

Dog bites happen in the blink of an eye and often without much warning. What should you do if you’re bitten by someone else’s dog? Peter Briskin, personal injury attorney at Fishbeyn & Briskin, P.C., located in New York and New Jersey, is an expert in dog bite cases. Here’s what he says should happen immediately after you’re bitten by someone’s dog.

1. Call 911

“The first thing to do any time you’re bitten by a dog is to call 911,” says Briskin. “It’s important to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.”

Briskin says that most dog bites occur on the hands, limbs or face. When children are bitten, it’s almost always in the facial area. The damage from a dog bite can be significant. Many dog bite victims need to undergo plastic surgery – sometimes more than once.

Slipping on ice, tripping on the sidewalk. In a crowded city, it would seem that the potential for accidents is endless. If you sustain an injury in New York City, do you have any legal recourse? According to Peter Briskin, a personal injury attorney at New York-based Fishbeyn & Briskin, P.C., you might. But, says Briskin, you’ll need an attorney to help you sort that out. “My personal injury practice involves representing individuals who’ve been injured in a variety of accident types,” he says. “Many of those cases involve what’s called ‘premises liability.’”

What is Premises Liability?

“Premises liability” is a term used to describe a home- or land-owner’s responsibility for accidents that take place on  his property. Examples of injuries that may involve premises liability include accidents that occur on sidewalks, in places of business, inside a residential building or even in a public park.

When you’re injured in an accident that occurs on someone else’s property, it’s important that you contact an attorney right away.

As a personal injury attorney at Fishbeyn & Briskin, P.C., serving both New York and New Jersey, Peter Briskin has seen more than his fair share of serious injuries. In a big, crowded city like New York, the potential to trip, fall, slip or otherwise injure yourself seems to be everywhere. What kinds of personal injury claims are most common in New York City? Here are a few examples of frequently-encountered personal injury cases and some advice from Briskin on what to do should you find yourself the victim in one of these unfortunate situations.

Dog Bites

Dog bites are common everywhere, not just in New York, but Briskin says he sees a fair number of them in his practice. “Too many people don’t adequately train their dogs,” he says, “and, unfortunately, their friends or children sometimes pay the price.”