Slip and Fall Lawyer NYC

A hazard alone is not enough in New York. You must show the owner created it, knew about it, or should have known because it existed long enough to be discovered. That single element decides almost every case, and it is proved with records — prior complaints, 311 reports, inspection logs, repair tickets and camera footage — not with your account of falling.

• Sidewalks: under NYC Administrative Code 7-210, the abutting property owner is generally responsible for maintenance and repair, with exceptions for one to three family owner-occupied homes.
• Snow and ice: the storm-in-progress rule gives owners a reasonable time after snowfall ends; timing evidence and weather data matter enormously.
• Interior stairs: Building Code requirements for handrails, riser height and lighting turn defects into code violations.
• Wet floors in stores: mopping schedules, warning cone placement and employee statements decide these.
• Public property and NYCHA: a notice of claim within 90 days, and often a prior written notice requirement.

Photograph and measure the defect before it is repaired, obtain the incident report, demand camera footage before it cycles, pull 311 and DOB violation history for the address, and identify the owner, managing agent and any maintenance contractor — each usually carries separate insurance.

Hip and wrist fractures, knee and shoulder tears, disc herniations and head injuries from stair falls. Value depends on the diagnosis and whether surgery is recommended — see how cases are valued.

Manhattan · Brooklyn · Queens · The Bronx · Staten Island

To ask about your situation, use the free enquiry form on this page or book a call. Personal Injury NYC is not a law firm, and an enquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship. Many New York injury attorneys work on a contingency fee, but the percentage and case costs vary, so ask for the terms in writing before you sign.

I slipped on ice outside a building in Manhattan.

New York's "storm in progress" rule gives owners reasonable time after snowfall ends to clear walks, so timing matters. Weather records, 311 complaints, and photos of re-frozen runoff often decide these cases.

I fell on a wet supermarket floor with no warning sign.

You must show the store created the condition or had notice of it. Incident reports, cleaning logs, and store video are the proof — lawyers typically demand them before they cycle out.

I fell on a broken stair in my apartment building.

Prior complaints to the landlord or HPD violations establish notice. Building code violations on riser height or handrails strengthen liability.

I fell on a city sidewalk.

Most sidewalk liability shifted to the adjoining property owner, but claims involving the City require a Notice of Claim within 90 days. Do not wait.

These are general explanations of how New York rules usually apply, not advice about your claim. The outcome of any real case depends on its facts and evidence; a New York-licensed attorney can advise on your situation.