Premises Liability & Slip and Fall Lawyers in New York

When you walk into a store, an apartment building, or across a sidewalk, you have a right to expect the place is reasonably safe. New York law backs that up. Property owners must maintain their premises and address dangers they know about. When they don’t, and you’re injured, they can be held liable for what follows.

Slip and fall cases sound simple. They aren’t. The owner’s insurer will argue the hazard was obvious, that you weren’t watching, or that they never knew about it. Winning turns on proof, and proof turns on moving quickly.

What you have to show

A New York premises liability claim generally requires three things: a dangerous condition, that the owner caused it or had notice of it, and that the condition caused your injury. The notice piece is where most cases are won or lost. You typically must show the owner either created the hazard or knew — or should have known — about it and had a reasonable chance to fix it.

That’s why evidence matters so much. Surveillance video, maintenance logs, incident reports, and prior complaints can establish how long a hazard existed. Much of it gets overwritten or discarded within days, which is one reason to involve a lawyer early.

The New York City sidewalk rule

Fall on a broken or icy sidewalk and the question of who’s responsible has a specific answer in the city. Under NYC Administrative Code §7-210, the owner of the property that abuts the sidewalk — not the city, in most cases — is responsible for keeping it in reasonably safe condition. That shifts liability for many sidewalk falls onto the adjoining building or business owner. There are exceptions, including certain one- to three-family owner-occupied homes, and the notice requirement still applies.

Common premises cases we handle

• Slip and falls on wet floors, spills, and unmarked hazards
• Snow and ice on walkways, entrances, and sidewalks
• Stairway falls from broken steps, loose handrails, or poor lighting
• Trip hazards like torn carpeting, uneven flooring, and debris
• Dog bites and other injuries tied to a property owner’s negligence

Snow and ice

New York gives owners some breathing room during an active storm — the “storm in progress” rule means they generally aren’t expected to clear snow while it’s still falling. But once a reasonable time passes after the storm ends, the duty to clear or treat the hazard kicks in. Timing evidence, including weather records, often decides these cases.

Real results

We’ve recovered $600,000 and $430,000 in separate slip-and-fall cases. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is different, and value depends on the injury, the strength of the notice proof, and the specific hazard. What those outcomes reflect is preparation — locking down evidence and building the liability record before it disappears.

What your claim can recover

• Medical bills, surgery, and rehabilitation
• Lost income and future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
• Future care for lasting injuries

Because New York follows pure comparative negligence for premises liability claims, being partly at fault doesn’t end your claim. If a jury finds you 25% responsible, you still recover 75% of your damages. (The stricter modified rule New York adopted in May 2026 applies only to motor vehicle cases.)

Deadlines

You generally have three years to file a premises injury lawsuit in New York. If you fell on public property or a government-owned building, the deadline is far shorter — a Notice of Claim within 90 days, then suit within one year and 90 days. Don’t wait to find out which rule applies to you.

A firm that treats your case as its own

Sullivan & Brill is partner-led with eight offices across New York and more than 20 years of injury experience. We pledge to represent you as one of our own. Consultations are free, we work on contingency, and we’re available 24/7. See our case results, learn about construction accidents, or contact us today.