New York legislation could impact bowling alley slip and fall accidents

As experienced lawyers in a law firm that began in 1976, we’ve seen our share of interesting legislation with regard to slip and fall accidents.

A new bill that recently caught our eye, however, is a piece of New York state legislation covered by the New York Daily News.

The bill would exempt bowling alley owners from liability lawsuits after a growing number of smokers forced to go outside in smooth bowling shoes have sued.

Many New York lawyers opposed the bill, which would not hold bowling alleys liable for any slip-and-fall lawsuits if any bowler wears his or her shoes outside.

New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan, of Buffalo, said alley owners have been hit with escalating insurance costs in the past decade due to the growing number of slip-and-fall suits involving smokers, banned indoors, who gather outside to smoke.

There is the stipulation, though, that owners must post warning signs.

On the surface, the bill may not seem significant, but the ramifications should not be taken lightly. Should this bill become law, anyone who wears their shoes outside and falls would not be able to file a claim against the bowling alley, even if the establishment is at fault.

There is obviously some incentive to protect bowling alley owners. Since the ban on smoking inside public places in New York, smokers must go outside and often don’t remove their bowling shoes to do so. Nonetheless, bowling alley owners should not be exempt from properly maintaining their property in order to prevent these types of accidents.

If you are ever involved in a slip and fall incident in or outside a California bowling alley due to the negligence of the property owners, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.