New York Slip and Fall Lawyers
Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable
New York slip, trip, and fall accidents aren’t “minor mishaps”. One moment you’re walking to work, picking up groceries, or heading down subway stairs, and the next, you’re in the ER with a serious injury. Why? Because of a broken sidewalk, dangerous staircase, pothole, or other hazard that a property owner, landlord, or the city failed to fix.
At the Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph, we don’t make excuses for careless property owners, landlords, and businesses.
When they ignore their legal duty to keep New Yorkers safe, our slip and fall lawyers uncover the truth, protect your rights, and hold them accountable.
Are You Entitled to Compensation After a Slip and Fall in New York?
Yes. If your trip and fall was caused by unsafe property conditions that a landlord, business, or municipality failed to fix or warn about, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
New York’s premises liability laws require property owners, managers, and tenants in control of property to keep their premises reasonably safe. If dangerous conditions exist and cause injury, the responsible party may be held liable.
Dangerous Property Conditions
Slip and fall accidents in New York often happen because of unsafe conditions that could have been fixed or prevented. These include things like wet floors, broken or dangerous staircases, cracked or uneven sidewalks, or poor lighting in hallways and stairwells.
Commercial Property Hazards
Stores, restaurants, supermarkets, and apartment buildings have a duty to keep their premises safe for tenants, customers, and visitors. When managers ignore spills, debris, or icy walkways, they may be liable for resulting injuries. Additionally, under New York City Administrative Code § 7-210, commercial property owners, including stores, apartment buildings, and office buildings, must maintain the sidewalks alongside their property. When they don’t, and you get hurt, you have the right to sue. You don’t even need to file a notice of claim.
Municipal Liability
If your fall happened on a city sidewalk, subway station, or other public property, the municipality may be responsible. Strict notice rules and shorter deadlines apply, so it’s crucial to contact a lawyer immediately.
What New York Premises Liability Law Means for Your Recovery
New York premises liability law gives injured victims the right to recover compensation after a fall if they can prove that a property owner, landlord, business, or municipality knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to correct it. Our Manhattan slip and fall attorneys build these cases with:
- Google Maps & Street View to show long-standing defects
- Maintenance records proving neglect
- Witness testimony & photos confirming unsafe conditions
When you slip, trip, or fall in Queens, the Bronx, NYC, or anywhere in Westchester County:
You Can Recover Full Personal Injury Damages
New York has no caps on personal injury damages. Unlike many other states, New York law allows juries to award full compensation for both economic losses and non-economic harm, including pain and suffering.
Your Injury Settlement Should Cover Medical Costs, Lost Wages, and Future Earnings
Slip and fall victims may recover compensation for surgery, physical therapy, and lifelong treatment. If your injuries prevent you from returning to work, you can also recover damages for lost wages and diminished earning potential.
Owners, Landlords, and Businesses May Be Liable
Even if they didn’t create the hazard, New York law requires property owners and businesses to correct unsafe conditions or warn visitors in a timely way. Failure to do so creates legal responsibility for injuries that occur.
You Can Sue the City for Injuries Caused by Broken Sidewalks
Whether your trip and fall accident happens in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn, you can sue the city if the accident did not occur in front of a commercial property. While the City of New York and every other municipality in New York State passed laws that make it harder to bring lawsuits for personal injuries caused by broken sidewalks, recovering compensation is still possible. You’ll need to file a notice of claim within 90 days of your accident.
To win against the City, you need to prove either that the City had actual written notice or that they caused and created the dangerous condition. Our experienced New York City pothole accident lawyers will investigate your accident and work with experts to determine if negligent construction, such as improperly closed pavement openings or tree roots rising the sidewalk slabs, broke the sidewalk. Our attorneys will also search the prior written notice indexes to prove prior written notice. At the Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph, we go the extra mile to win your case.
How Do Our Lawyers Win Injury Lawsuits Against the City?
We access records and reports that uncover negligence cities often try to hide. For instance:
- We obtain 311 records to prove people called and reported broken sidewalks or potholes.
- We get access to survey records that often include photos of sidewalks that are broken, uneven, or cracked.
- We use tools like Google Street View to show how long a sidewalk was broken.
- If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in New York, call us today at (212) 858-0503
“A single fall can turn life upside down. Our job is to make sure injured New Yorkers have the resources to recover and move forward.”
Understanding Slip and Fall Accidents in New York
According to the New York State Department of Health, falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalizations among children ages 0-14 and adults ages 25 and older. Among New York City’s older adults (age 65+), falls result in approximately 16,600 hospital admissions and 300 deaths each year.
These injuries aren’t just numbers. They change lives, impacting independence, mobility, and financial stability.
Common Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
- Fractured hips, wrists, and ankles
- Spinal cord injuries and herniated discs
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Knee injuries and torn ligaments
- Severe cuts, bruises, and soft tissue injuries
- Wet or slippery floors without warning signs
- Broken or uneven sidewalks
- Loose floorboards, torn carpeting, or cracked tiles
- Poor lighting in stairwells and hallways
- Stairs that don’t meet certain standards regarding step height and depth, railing, etc
- Snow and ice that hasn’t been cleared within a reasonable time
- Spilled food or liquids in grocery stores or restaurants
- Missing handrails or unsafe staircases
- Broken Playground Equipment
Victims of slip and fall accidents often face hospital stays, rehabilitation, lost work time, and mounting medical bills. That’s why it’s critical to contact a skilled New York slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible.
If you suffered injuries in a fall on unsafe property, call (212) 858-0503 to speak with a New York slip and fall attorney today.
Types of Slip, Trip & Fall Accidents We Handle
Broken Sidewalk Accidents
New York City sidewalks are notorious for cracks, uneven slabs, and potholes. In New York City, all sidewalks are city-owned, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the city is liable for injuries. Under NYC Administrative Code § 7-210, commercial property owners and landlords are responsible for maintaining the sidewalks alongside their property. If you tripped on a broken sidewalk outside a store, apartment building, or office, you may take legal action against the property owner. For a case against a property owner, you do not need to file a notice of claim.
If you were injured on a sidewalk that is not in front of an apartment building or commercial property, the City of New York is responsible. You will have to file a notice of claim within 90 days and prove that the City of New York had actual written notice of the defect or that the City caused and created the defect. Our NYC sidewalk accident lawyers often use Google Street View history to prove that a defect existed for months or years, showing “constructive notice.”
The suburban counties outside of New York, such as Westchester, Rockland, and Nassau, do not make property owners responsible to maintain the sidewalk (except to remove snow and ice). For sidewalk defects, a notice of claim is required, and you still have to prove that the municipality caused the defect or had prior written notice.
Can I sue for a broken sidewalk accident in NYC?
Yes. If you fell on a broken sidewalk in front of a commercial or multifamily (4+ unit) building in New York City, the property owner is liable for your injuries. You don’t need a Notice of Claim. You can sue NYC if you fell on a sidewalk maintained by the City, like in front of a 1–3 family residence or a city-owned property. You must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days and prove the municipality had notice of the defect.
Pothole & Street Defect Accidents
Potholes and surface defects cause countless trip and fall injuries in New York City each year. Whether they are in crosswalks, building entrances, or parking areas, property owners and municipalities can be held liable if they fail to repair these hazards.
Can I sue if I tripped in a pothole?
Yes. If the pothole was on the sidewalk in front of a multifamily house, apartment building or commercial property, you can bring a claim against the owner. If the pothole was on a sidewalk that the City of New York was responsible to maintain, you may still have a case, but you’ll need to file a Notice of Claim within 90 days.
Dangerous Staircase Accidents
New York’s Multiple Dwelling Law, Multiple Residence Law, and Building Code all set strict standards for stair safety. Stairways must have:
- Uniform riser heights — steps can’t vary in height or be too steep
- Proper tread depth and nosings — the step surface and its front edge must provide safe, consistent footing
- Sturdy handrails — rails must be high enough and strong enough to grasp securely
When landlords or businesses ignore these rules, visitors can fall and suffer severe injuries. Our NYC staircase accident lawyers regularly sue landlords and companies who let their stairwells become unsafe.
Can I sue for a staircase fall in New York?
Yes. If your fall was caused by uneven steps, missing handrails, poor lighting, or other stairwell hazards, the property owner may be liable under New York Multiple Dwelling Law or New York Multiple Residence Law. This is commonly referred to as “premises liability”.
Snow & Ice Slip and Falls
Property owners and businesses in New York City and most Westchester cities and towns such as White Plains, Yonkers and New Rochelle must clear snow and ice within a reasonable time after storms. When they fail to salt, shovel, or sand, unsuspecting pedestrians can suffer broken bones, back injuries, and concussions.
Can I sue for slipping on ice outside a business?
Yes. If a property owner or business failed to clear snow and ice in a timely manner, and you were injured, you may have a valid premises liability claim.
Indoor Hazards in Stores & Apartment Buildings
Spilled liquids, torn carpeting, loose tiles, and dim lighting often lead to trip and fall accidents inside supermarkets, restaurants, and residential buildings. Tenants and customers alike have the right to expect safe walkways and stairwells. If businesses and landlords fail to clean up spills, allow unsafe conditions in walkways, or ignore hazards, they can be held accountable for resulting injuries. To prove a case involving transient conditions such as spills, you have to show that the store’s employees knew or should have known of the transient condition and failed to clean it up. Our NYC slip and fall lawyers will send preservation letters and demand that surveillance videos be preserved to win your case.
Can I sue if I slipped inside a store or apartment building?
Yes. New York law requires businesses and landlords to maintain the safety of their premises. They must fix or warn about dangerous indoor conditions. If they ignore hazards, and you get hurt, you can sue them to recover compensation for your injuries.
Who Is Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident in New York?
Liability depends on where the fall occurred and who controlled the property at the time.
Negligent Property Owners and Landlords
Owners who fail to maintain safe conditions in apartment buildings, offices, and stores can be held liable for injuries that occur on their premises.
Businesses and Commercial Tenants
Retail stores, restaurants, supermarkets, and other businesses have a duty to keep their spaces safe for customers. Spilled liquids or tripping hazards that aren’t promptly addressed can create liability.
Municipalities and Public Property Owners
If your fall happened on a public sidewalk, subway station, or city-owned building, the municipality may be responsible. However, these claims have strict notice requirements and shorter deadlines.
Third Parties
In some cases, third-party contractors such as snow removal companies or building maintenance crews may also share responsibility if their negligence caused the unsafe condition.
Compensation Available in a New York Slip and Fall Case
When you pursue a premises liability claim, you may be entitled to significant compensation.
Medical Expenses
Compensation covers emergency care, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and future treatment.
Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity
If your injuries prevent you from working or limit your ability to earn in the future, you can recover lost wages and diminished earning potential.
Pain and Suffering
New York law allows recovery for the physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by a slip and fall.
Wrongful Death
If a fall leads to fatal injuries, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim for funeral expenses and loss of financial support.
How Our New York Slip and Fall Lawyers Can Help
Slip and fall cases often involve aggressive defense strategies by landlords, businesses, and insurers. Our attorneys are prepared to fight back with evidence, expert testimony, and trial-ready representation.
- Investigate your accident by reviewing surveillance video, maintenance records, and witness statements
- Identify all liable parties including property owners, managers, and contractors
- Negotiate with insurance companies to pursue full settlements
- Take your case to court if defendants refuse to accept responsibility
With offices in Manhattan and White Plains, we are positioned to represent victims across New York City and Westchester County.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph?
- Decades of Experience: Over 20 years representing New Yorkers injured in slip and fall accidents.
- Proven Results: Millions recovered in verdicts and settlements.
- Local Advantage: Deep knowledge of New York City and White Plains property laws and court systems.
- Client-Centered Representation: We put our clients first, providing personal attention and aggressive advocacy.
Mike Joseph is by far the most detailed, hardworking, no surrender and tenacious attorney I have ever met and worked with. I have been involved with many attorneys in business and personal matters. Nobody, nobody even comes close.
I was treated professionally and extremely happy with the ability Michael had and getting me the money I was owed. He is smart and efficient! I would use him again in a heartbeat. If he takes your case, you will be lucky!
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accidents in New York
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in New York?
The statute of limitations for slip and fall personal injury cases in New York is generally three years from the date of the accident. Claims against municipalities have shorter deadlines, sometimes as little as 90 days to file a notice of claim.
Do I need to prove the property owner knew about the hazard?
Yes. To win a slip and fall case in New York, you must show that the property owner or business knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn visitors.
What if I was partly at fault for my fall?
New York follows a comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. However, your recovery will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
The Clock Is Ticking. Take Legal Action Now
If you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall accident in New York City or White Plains, don’t wait. Evidence disappears quickly, and deadlines can be strict.
Call the Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph, PLLC, at (212) 858-0503