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For many New Yorkers, summer means escaping the city and heading to the beach, so make sure you’re in the know when it comes to beach injuries and liability. Whether it’s a day trip to the Jersey Shore, a family weekend on Long Island, or an afternoon at Rockaway Beach, the coast offers a much-needed break from record-high heat waves. But beneath the sun, real risks exist. Despite the state health department conducting regular inspections of the local beaches, accidents are bound to happen. When injuries happen at the beach, determining who is legally responsible can be more complicated than you think. If you’ve been injured at a public or private beach, Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson, L.L.P. is here to help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Beach Injuries

Beach-related injuries come in many forms, and they’re not always due to personal carelessness. Poorly maintained walkways, missing warning signs, broken glass, negligent lifeguards, or unsafe conditions in the water can all lead to serious accidents. Common incidents include:

• Slip and falls on wet or uneven surfaces
• Wounds from debris or hidden objects in the sand
• Drowning or near-drowning due to a lack of lifeguard supervision
• Injuries from jet skis, boats, or other watercraft
• Burns from hot sand, grills, or fire pits
• Illness from contaminated water or beach facilities
  

Public beaches are often maintained by municipalities or state governments, while private beaches may be managed by homeowners’ associations, clubs, or hotels. Regardless of the location, the party responsible for maintaining the beach may be held liable if its negligence contributed to the injury.

Premises Liability at the Beach

Beach injury claims often fall under premises liability law. This means that property owners or the entities responsible for public beaches have a legal duty to keep their property reasonably safe for visitors. That includes providing adequate signage, repairing dangerous conditions, ensuring lifeguards are properly trained, and preventing overcrowding or unsafe water access.

When that duty is breached, and someone is injured as a result, the injured person may be entitled to damages. However, beach injury cases can be particularly complex due to overlapping jurisdictions, immunity laws for public entities, and unclear chains of responsibility. That’s why it’s essential to consult with a skilled personal injury attorney like the team at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson, L.L.P.

Why You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

Insurance companies often try to minimize claims or deny them entirely, especially when it comes to injuries on public property. Victims are frequently told they assumed the risk simply by going to the beach. But the law doesn’t allow property owners to ignore dangerous conditions or fail to warn of known hazards.

At Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson, L.L.P., we have decades of experience handling complex premises liability and personal injury claims across New York. We understand how to investigate beach injury cases, identify liable parties, bring in experts, and push back against insurance tactics. Our goal is to make sure you get full compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Injured at the Beach? We’re Here to Help

If you or a loved one has suffered a beach-related injury this summer, don’t navigate the aftermath alone. Call Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson, L.L.P., today to speak with a personal injury attorney who understands your rights and knows how to protect them.