Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer in New York

New York Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys With 50 Years of Experience

For more than 50 years, Spar & Bernstein has represented injured individuals throughout New York. Our personal injury attorneys understand that a serious slip and fall accident can affect every part of a person’s life, including their health, employment, finances, independence, and ability to care for their family.

Slip and fall cases are often more complicated than they initially appear. The person or company that owns a property may not be the same party responsible for inspecting, cleaning, repairing, or maintaining it. A landlord, commercial tenant, building manager, cleaning contractor, maintenance company, construction contractor, or government agency may each have separate or overlapping responsibilities.

Our attorneys investigate those relationships and determine who controlled the property, who was responsible for correcting the dangerous condition, and whether the responsible parties had an opportunity to discover and address the hazard.

We also examine whether building codes, safety regulations, inspection requirements, maintenance standards, or municipal claim procedures apply. When an accident causes a traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, a serious fracture, surgery, or permanent limitations, we work to document not only the immediate injury but also its anticipated long-term financial and personal impact.

How We Help After a Slip and Fall Accident

1. Immediate Assessment and Clear Direction

Our attorneys begin by reviewing exactly how the accident happened. We determine where you fell, what hazardous condition caused the accident, how long the condition may have existed, whether warning signs were present, and whether the incident was reported.

We then identify potentially responsible parties and explain the practical next steps for protecting your claim. This early assessment is particularly important when surveillance footage, cleaning records, inspection logs, or physical evidence may quickly be deleted, repaired, lost, or destroyed.

2. Taking Over Communication and Paperwork

Insurance adjusters and property representatives may contact an injured person shortly after an accident. Their questions may appear routine, but recorded statements and incomplete descriptions can later be used to dispute liability or minimize an injury.

Spar & Bernstein handles communications with insurance companies, property owners, landlords, tenants, building managers, contractors, maintenance companies, investigators, and municipal agencies. We also prepare and submit the legal documents required to pursue the claim.

This allows you to focus on your medical treatment while our legal team protects the integrity of your case.

3. Investigating the Dangerous Property Condition

A successful slip and fall claim requires evidence showing what caused the fall and why another party should be held responsible.

Depending on the circumstances, our investigation may include:

• Photographing and documenting the accident location
• Preserving surveillance and security-camera footage
• Obtaining incident and accident reports
• Interviewing witnesses
• Reviewing cleaning schedules and maintenance records
• Requesting inspection logs and repair histories
• Examining leases, management agreements, and contractor responsibilities
• Identifying prior complaints or accidents at the location
• Reviewing building-code and property-maintenance violations
• Investigating weather and snow-removal records
• Working with engineers, property-safety professionals, biomechanics experts, and medical experts

The goal is to build a clear record of how the dangerous condition developed, who was responsible for the area, and what should have been done to prevent the accident.

4. Identifying Every Potentially Liable Party

More than one person or company may be responsible for a slip and fall accident.

For example, a building owner may have hired a management company to inspect the property, while a separate contractor was responsible for cleaning the floor or removing snow and ice. A commercial tenant may also have agreed to maintain the area where the accident occurred.

We review contracts, property records, leases, maintenance agreements, and insurance policies to identify every party that may have contributed to the unsafe condition. Identifying all available defendants and insurance coverage can be critical when an accident causes severe injuries or permanent disability.

5. Calculating the Full Value of Your Injuries

The value of a slip and fall claim is not limited to the medical bills you have already received.

Our attorneys evaluate the complete impact of the accident, including:

• Emergency treatment and hospitalization
• Surgery and follow-up care
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Prescription medication and medical equipment
• Future medical treatment
• Time missed from work
• Reduced ability to earn income
• Permanent physical restrictions
• Household assistance and support needs
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Loss of independence and enjoyment of life

For serious injuries, we may consult medical, vocational, economic, and life-care-planning experts to evaluate anticipated future expenses and losses.

6. Negotiating With Insurers and Preparing for Litigation

Insurance companies may argue that the property owner did not know about the hazard, that the condition was visible, that someone else was responsible, or that the injured person should have avoided the danger.

We respond with evidence, medical documentation, witness testimony, maintenance records, expert analysis, and a detailed calculation of damages.

Our attorneys negotiate for a settlement that reflects the full value of the claim. When the responsible parties refuse to make an appropriate offer, we are prepared to pursue the case through litigation and trial.

Injuries Commonly Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents can cause serious or life-altering injuries, particularly when a person lands on concrete, falls down a staircase, strikes their head, or cannot protect themselves during the fall.

These accidents frequently occur because of wet surfaces, snow and ice, uneven pavement, damaged flooring, poor lighting, missing handrails, cluttered walkways, defective stairs, or inadequate warning signs.

Common slip and fall injuries include:

• Broken bones and fractures: Hip, wrist, arm, ankle, and leg fractures frequently occur when someone lands on a hard surface or attempts to brace their fall.
• Head and traumatic brain injuries: A person may suffer a concussion, skull fracture, brain bleed, or other traumatic brain injury after striking the ground, a stair, a wall, or another nearby object.
• Back and spinal injuries: Falls can cause herniated discs, compression fractures, nerve damage, spinal cord injuries, chronic pain, and limited mobility.
• Knee injuries: Twisting during a fall may result in torn ligaments, meniscus injuries, dislocations, or injuries requiring surgical repair.
• Shoulder injuries: Reaching out to stop a fall can cause a dislocated shoulder, torn rotator cuff, labral tear, or fracture.
• Soft-tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, torn muscles, and damaged tendons may cause persistent pain even when the injury is not immediately visible on an X-ray.
• Cuts and lacerations: Broken glass, exposed metal, damaged flooring, and debris can cause deep cuts, scarring, or nerve damage.
• Hip injuries: Hip fractures can require surgery, extensive rehabilitation, and long-term assistance, particularly for older adults.
• Facial and dental injuries: Falling forward can cause facial fractures, damaged teeth, scarring, or injuries to the eyes and jaw.

Severe falls may result in a catastrophic injury that permanently affects a person’s mobility, employment, communication, cognition, or ability to live independently.

Proving Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident

To pursue a slip and fall claim, it is necessary to determine who controlled or maintained the location and whether that party failed to act reasonably under the circumstances.

Evidence may show that a responsible party:

• Created the hazardous condition
• Knew about the condition but failed to correct it
• Should have discovered the condition through reasonable inspections
• Failed to provide adequate warnings
• Violated a building code or property-safety requirement
• Failed to follow appropriate cleaning or maintenance procedures
• Allowed a recurring dangerous condition to continue
• Failed to keep inspection, repair, or maintenance records

New York slip and fall cases frequently focus on whether the defendant created the hazard or had actual or constructive notice of it for enough time to discover and remedy the condition.

Potentially liable parties may include:

• Property owners
• Landlords
• Homeowners
• Commercial tenants
• Retail stores
• Restaurants
• Building management companies
• Maintenance and cleaning companies
• Snow- and ice-removal contractors
• Construction contractors
• Municipal agencies
• Government entities
• Other companies responsible for property safety

Responsibility may be disputed when several parties share maintenance obligations. Contracts and lease agreements can therefore become important evidence in determining who was required to inspect, repair, clean, or warn visitors about the area.

New York also applies comparative-negligence principles. An injured person’s alleged share of fault does not necessarily prevent recovery, but compensation may be reduced according to the percentage of responsibility assigned to that person.

Claims involving New York City require immediate attention because a notice of claim generally must be properly served within 90 days of the incident.

Compensation You May Be Entitled to After a Slip and Fall

Compensation depends on the severity of the injury, the available evidence, the conduct of the responsible parties, the applicable insurance coverage, and the accident’s long-term impact.

A slip and fall claim may seek compensation for:

• Emergency-room and ambulance expenses
• Hospitalization
• Doctor and specialist appointments
• Diagnostic testing
• Surgery
• Prescription medication
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Medical devices and mobility equipment
• Current and future medical treatment
• Lost wages during recovery
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Household and personal-care assistance
• Other accident-related out-of-pocket expenses

In cases involving a traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, a hip fracture, multiple surgeries, or permanent disability, the future consequences of the injury can be substantial.

Insurance companies may attempt to resolve these claims before the full medical prognosis is known. Spar & Bernstein evaluates the complete impact of the accident before recommending whether a settlement offer should be accepted.

No attorney can guarantee the amount that will be recovered. Every claim depends on its individual facts, evidence, injuries, insurance coverage, and legal issues.

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident

1. Seek Medical Attention

Obtain medical care as soon as possible, even when an injury initially appears minor. Symptoms of concussions, spinal injuries, internal injuries, and soft-tissue damage may become more noticeable after the accident.

Tell the medical provider exactly how and where the fall occurred, and follow all treatment recommendations.

2. Report the Accident

Notify the property owner, store employee, landlord, building manager, security officer, or appropriate authority.

Ask for an incident report to be completed and request a copy. When a copy is not immediately available, obtain the name and contact information of the person who received the report.

3. Document the Hazardous Condition

Take photographs and video of the exact condition that caused the fall before it is cleaned, repaired, removed, or covered.

Document the surrounding area as well, including:

• Missing or inadequate warning signs
• Poor lighting
• Wet or slippery flooring
• Snow and ice
• Cracked or uneven pavement
• Broken stairs
• Defective handrails
• Debris or obstructions
• Nearby surveillance cameras

4. Photograph Your Injuries

Take photographs of bruising, swelling, cuts, casts, stitches, medical devices, and other visible injuries. Continue documenting how the injuries change during the recovery process.

5. Record Important Details

Write down:

• The date and exact time of the fall
• The precise location
• The condition that caused the accident
• Weather conditions, when relevant
• What you were wearing
• Whether warning signs were present
• Statements made by employees or witnesses
• The names of anyone who responded to the accident

Memories can fade quickly, so preserving these details early can be important.

6. Identify Witnesses

Ask witnesses for their names, telephone numbers, and email addresses. Witnesses may help establish what the condition looked like, how long it existed, whether anyone complained about it, and whether warning signs were present.

7. Preserve Clothing and Footwear

Keep the shoes and clothing worn during the accident. Do not throw them away, alter them, or continue wearing them if doing so could change their condition.

8. Avoid Recorded Insurance Statements Without Legal Guidance

You may be contacted by an insurance representative seeking a statement or authorization. Do not speculate, minimize your injuries, accept blame, or sign documents you do not fully understand.

Speak with a lawyer before providing a recorded statement or broad authorization.

9. Avoid Posting About the Accident on Social Media

Photographs, videos, comments, location information, and posts about your activities may be reviewed by insurance companies and defense attorneys. Even unrelated content can be taken out of context and used to challenge your injuries.

10. Contact a Slip and Fall Lawyer Promptly

Evidence can disappear quickly. Surveillance footage may be overwritten, floors may be cleaned, ice may melt, damaged pavement may be repaired, and witnesses may become difficult to locate.

An attorney can send preservation notices, investigate the scene, identify responsible parties, review applicable deadlines, and protect you from insurance-company tactics.

Speak With a New York Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

A dangerous property condition can leave you facing medical bills, missed work, physical pain, and uncertainty about your future. You do not have to handle the legal and insurance process alone.

Spar & Bernstein has more than 50 years of personal injury experience and handles slip and fall claims on a contingency-fee basis. Your consultation is free, and you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.