What Are My Legal Options If I Get Injured at the Canalside in Buffalo, NY?

The Canalside in Buffalo, New York, located at the western terminus of the Erie Canal, is an exhilarating, revitalized waterfront district. It features events and recreational activities for people of all ages. An estimated 1.5 million people visit the Canalside each year. Attractions include the canal system, kayaks, paddle boats, and various concerts and festivals, among other activities.

With so many people engaging in recreational activities, injuries are, unfortunately, inevitable. While Canalside itself isn’t inherently dangerous, the sheer volume of visitors each year means accidents do happen. If you find yourself injured—particularly due to someone else’s negligence—you likely have legal options available to you. Contact a personal injury lawyer for help.

Steps to Take if You Suffer an Injury

If you’re injured at Canalside, your top priority should be seeking immediate medical attention, which may include first aid from Park Rangers or security staff or even calling an ambulance if necessary. Promptly addressing your medical needs is essential for both health and legal reasons. Request that park staff prepare a written accident report, ask for a copy if possible, and gather contact information from witnesses, preferably other visitors, as their accounts are less likely to be influenced by any conflicts of interest. 

After Your Medical Condition Stabilizes, Talk to a Lawyer

You or your loved one might have suffered a catastrophic accident–a slip and fall accident, a bicycle accident, or even an accidental death. If you believe the accident was caused by someone else, it’s time for you to contact a personal injury lawyer to demand fair compensation. Some of the ways that someone else could bear responsibility for your injuries (or the death of a loved one) include:

• A slip and fall accident caused by uneven or slippery surfaces
• A bicycle accident caused by poorly maintained trails or bicycle paths
• Drowning caused by negligent maintenance of a water attraction

Many other conditions could cause injuries or deaths. Your lawyer can investigate to determine the cause of the accident and the responsible party or parties.

Chris O’Brien

Chris O’Brien is a nationally recognized personal injury attorney with over 30 years of experience fighting for accident victims in Western New York. A founding partner at O’Brien & Ford, he has helped recover millions for clients and built a reputation as a top trial lawyer and educator. Chris is a Diplomate of the National College of Advocacy, a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and was named one of Western New York’s Top Ten Lawyers by Buffalo Business First. He lives in Amherst with his family and their Bernedoodle, Moose.

Years of experience: 33 years
Practice areas: Personal Injury Law, Car Accidents
Location: Buffalo, New York

Possible Defendants

The Canalside is not the name of a company or any other organization. It is the name of a district with many merchants, operators, and businesses. Possible defendants include:

• The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC): ECHDC is the primary developer and manager of Canalside. ECHDC could bear liability for failing to provide a safe environment or adequate security at the Canalside. They are responsible for repairing or warning of known hazards, and for conducting inspections to reveal latent hazards.
• The City of Buffalo: The City of Buffalo has broader responsibilities than ECHDC because it is responsible for the entire city, not only the Canalside. Nevertheless, just like ECHDC, it is responsible for maintaining generally safe conditions, inspecting the entire venue, repairing dangerous conditions, and providing adequate security, among other responsibilities.
• Individual businesses such as kayak rental companies.
• Third-party maintenance or security contractors.

There are dozens more entities that might be liable for an injury at Canalside. Even an individual might bear liability–if they deliberately injured you during a robbery, for example. Determining the identity of the defendant(s) is where a lawyer could really come in handy.

Beware The Statute of Limitations Deadline

Throughout the state of New York, you usually have three years after an injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the applicable deadline, your claim dies immediately. Many exceptions to the three-year rule exist, however. In a wrongful death lawsuit, you have two years after the date of death (not necessarily the date of the accident.) 

If you are suing a city government (such as the City of Buffalo), you have a year and 90 days to file a claim. There is also a second deadline–a 90-day deadline (after the accident) to file a Notice of Claim with the city government you are suing. If you miss the statute of limitations deadline, you won’t even be able to negotiate a private settlement.

Contact a Buffalo, New York, Personal Injury Lawyer to Protect Your Legal Rights 

If you believe you might have a personal injury claim (you don’t have to be sure), set up a free initial consultation with a Buffalo personal injury lawyer. An experienced New York personal injury lawyer can fight for your rights and potentially multiply the amount of your compensation. Contact O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation and let us help you evaluate your legal options.

Contact The Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyers At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers For Help Today

For more information, please contact the Buffalo personal injury lawyers at O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with an accident lawyer. We have a convenient office location in Buffalo, NY.

We proudly serve all throughout Erie County and the state of New York.

O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
4549 Main St, Suite 201
Buffalo, New York, 14226
(716) 222-2222