New York slip, trip and fall lawyer.

What the owner must answer for.

New York property owners and managers must keep their premises reasonably safe. Liability attaches when they created a dangerous condition or had actual or constructive notice of it: the broken stair that was reported for months, the spill that sat long enough that staff should have found it, the stairwell light that was never replaced. Building the notice proof is the core of the case: inspection logs, maintenance records, prior complaints, and surveillance video, demanded before it is destroyed.

Common cases we handle.

• Defective stairs, handrails, and inadequate lighting
• Snow and ice on walkways and building entrances
• Supermarket, restaurant, and store falls
• Defective New York City sidewalks
• Falls in apartment buildings and rental housing
• Elevator and escalator incidents

Sidewalk falls: who is responsible.

NYC ADMIN. CODE § 7-210

In New York City, the owner of the property abutting the sidewalk, not the City, is generally responsible for sidewalk defects, with an exception for certain small owner-occupied residential properties where the City may remain liable. Identifying the right defendant at the start matters, because suing the wrong one can cost you the 90-day notice of claim window against the City.

Snow and ice cases.

Owners get a reasonable time after a storm ends to clear snow and ice; while the storm is in progress, liability is limited. These cases turn on weather records, timing, and photographs. If you fell on ice, photograph the spot the same day if you can, from several angles, before it melts or is salted.

Deadlines and first moves.

Most New York fall claims must be filed within three years, but falls on City, Housing Authority, Transit, or other public property require a notice of claim within 90 days. Just as urgent: most commercial surveillance systems overwrite footage in days or weeks. A preservation letter should go out immediately, before the video of your fall is gone.