Homeowner being sued! Please help! Location Bronx, NY

[hsmith490]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Bronx, New York

Homeowner being sued because of side walk slip! Please help?
Here's what happened:
We received a letter from an attorney on behalf of someone claiming that his client, while walking in front of our house slipped and fall because of sidewalks being broken etc. It says that it happened about 15 months ago but the claim was submitted just last month.
We looked at our insurance policy and during that time we didn't have insurance. here's why: at that time, the house had 2 owners and it was being transferred to only one owner: us. So there was a lapse between getting new insurance and previous one being canceled. The house is located in Bronx, NY. Do we have to pay for the damage? If so, how much would that be? Our current insurance won't cover this because this happened before their policy started. Please help! We're really worried! thank you.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[You Are Guilty]

I suspect if you provide proof there is no insurance coverage to the attorney who wrote the letter, they may not be quite as interested in pursing the suit. (Unless you're independently wealthy, that is).

 

[hsmith490]

I suspect if you provide proof there is no insurance coverage to the attorney who wrote the letter, they may not be quite as interested in pursing the suit. (Unless you're independently wealthy, that is).

- we can barely afford to make the mortgage payment now a days. We've been late twice and almost gone bankrupt. So, we are not "independently wealthy".

 

[JustAPal00]

Did you know anything about the slip when it happened? Make them prove it!

 

[ecmst12]

You're probably going to need to hire your own lawyer.

 

[2MD]

some laws i just don't get .. if the side walk was on your property, what business did they have walking on it?!!! can't they be sued for trespassing! uinless it was the delivery guy or mail man, or some one u invited to your house, i just don't get it!

 

[You Are Guilty]

some laws i just don't get .. if the side walk was on your property, what business did they have walking on it?!!! can't they be sued for trespassing! uinless it was the delivery guy or mail man, or some one u invited to your house, i just don't get it!

Because in NYC (of which the Bronx is part), homeowners are deemed responsible for the maintenance of the (otherwise) public sidewalks running in front of their homes. That not only includes cracks/physical defects, but they can even be ticketed for trash being present - trash that some homeless bum who happened to be walking by just dropped 2 minutes before the officer came by.

Welcome to NY!