NYC Slip And Fall Lawyer

Injured In A Slip And Fall Accident In New York City?

A slip or trip and fall can cause serious injuries in seconds. A person may slip on water, ice, grease, or cleaning solution. Someone may trip over a broken sidewalk, raised threshold, torn carpet, uneven step, loose mat, pothole, debris, or another dangerous condition.

These accidents may happen in:

Apartment buildings
NYCHA developments
Stores and supermarkets
Restaurants and bars
Hotels
Office buildings
Hospitals
Schools
Sidewalks
Parking garages
Parking lots
Stairways
Lobbies
Building entrances
Elevators and escalators
Public buildings
Transit facilities
Construction sites
Private homes

A property owner, landlord, management company, commercial tenant, contractor, maintenance company, public authority, or another party may be responsible depending on who created, controlled, inspected, or maintained the dangerous condition.

A successful claim requires more than proof that someone fell. The investigation must identify what caused the accident, how long the condition existed, who was responsible for the area, and what evidence supports the claim.

Learn more about dangerous-property claims on our New York City Premises Liability Lawyer page.

Important Filing Deadlines

The filing deadline depends on who owned, occupied, controlled, maintained, or repaired the property.

Under New York CPLR § 214, a personal-injury action against a private property owner, business, or contractor generally must be commenced within three years.

That does not mean an injured person should wait. The dangerous condition may be repaired immediately, surveillance footage may be erased, cleaning records may be discarded, and witnesses may become unavailable long before the three-year period expires.

Claims involving the City or another covered municipal entity may require a Notice of Claim within 90 days under General Municipal Law § 50-e.

An action covered by General Municipal Law § 50-i may also need to be commenced within one year and 90 days.

NYCHA claims are generally subject to Public Housing Law § 157, including a 90-day Notice of Claim requirement and a one-year-and-90-day period for commencing a personal-injury action.

A public entity may also demand sworn testimony at an examination commonly called a 50-h hearing.

Different deadlines and procedures may apply to:

Public transportation authorities
Public schools
Public hospitals
State agencies
Wrongful death claims
Injured children
Late Notices of Claim
Claims involving several defendants
Workplace and construction accidents

Review our guide to the New York City Notice Of Claim Deadline and speak with a lawyer before filing whenever possible.

Slip And Fall Evidence Can Disappear Quickly

Property conditions often change shortly after an accident.

An owner, employee, tenant, or contractor may:

Mop or dry a wet floor
Remove debris
Replace a mat
Repair broken flooring
Patch a sidewalk
Replace a damaged step
Remove snow or ice
Add salt or sand
Install a warning sign
Replace a lightbulb
Repair a leaking pipe
Move merchandise
Adjust a door
Close the accident area

Surveillance footage may be erased or overwritten after a limited retention period. Some businesses retain footage for only a short time unless they receive a preservation request.

Photographs and video taken immediately after the accident may become some of the most important evidence in the case. Images should show both the precise condition and enough of the surrounding area to identify the exact location.

The Difference Between A Slip And A Trip

The terms are often used together, but they generally describe different accident mechanisms.

A slip usually happens when a person’s foot loses traction because of:

Water
Ice
Snow
Grease
Oil
Cleaning solution
Food
Spilled drinks
Mud
Smooth or polished flooring

A trip usually happens when a person’s foot encounters an obstruction or unexpected elevation change, such as:

Broken pavement
A raised sidewalk flag
Uneven flooring
A pothole
Debris
A loose mat
Torn carpeting
A raised threshold
A broken step
Merchandise in an aisle
A cord or cable

The distinction can affect how the accident is investigated. A liquid may disappear within minutes, while a sidewalk defect may remain but later be repaired. Medical records, photographs, witness statements, and incident reports should accurately describe whether the person slipped, tripped, stumbled, or lost balance.

Common Causes Of Slip And Fall Accidents

Water, Spills, And Wet Floors

Water and other liquids may accumulate because of:

Plumbing leaks
Roof leaks
Refrigerator or freezer leaks
Spilled drinks
Cleaning activities
Rainwater tracked through an entrance
Snow melting from footwear
Condensation
Defective drains
Overflowing sinks or toilets
Missing entrance mats

Photograph the substance, its size, color, shape, and exact location.

Also photograph:

Footprints or cart tracks
Cleaning equipment
Warning signs
Containers
Wet ceiling tiles
Nearby plumbing
Entrance doors
Mats
The apparent source of the liquid

Footprints, dirt, drying edges, cart tracks, or other features may help show that the condition existed before the accident.

Snow And Ice

Snow and ice accidents may involve:

Uncleared sidewalks
Refrozen meltwater
Ice beneath fresh snow
Runoff from a roof or gutter
Defective drainage
Snow piled near an entrance
Inadequate salting or sanding
Water leaking onto an outdoor walkway
Snow tracked inside a building
Icy stairs or ramps

New York City requires owners and other persons responsible for buildings or lots to clear snow and ice from adjoining sidewalks within specified periods.

Photograph the condition before it is removed. Capture:

The ice or snow
Footprints
Salt or sand
Shoveling activity
Gutters and downspouts
Drainage patterns
Nearby snow piles
Building entrances
Weather conditions

Weather records, snow-removal contracts, employee schedules, and maintenance logs may become important.

Visit our New York City Snow And Ice Injury Lawyer page for more information.

Broken And Uneven Sidewalks

Sidewalk hazards may include:

Cracked concrete
Raised sidewalk flags
Sunken pavement
Potholes
Missing pavement
Broken curbs
Tree-root damage
Cellar doors
Utility covers
Improper patches
Construction damage
Debris
Abrupt elevation changes

New York City generally relies on abutting property owners to install, repair, and maintain adjoining sidewalks. Responsibility for a particular defect can still depend on the property type, ownership, the cause of the defect, and whether a public entity or contractor was involved.

Photograph the defect from the direction you approached. Take close and wide photographs showing:

Height or depth of the defect
Nearby address
Storefront or building
Sidewalk flags
Curb
Tree pit
Utility cover
Construction activity
Surrounding walking route

Visit our New York City Defective Sidewalk Lawyer page.

Broken Curbs And Tree Pits

A person may trip while stepping between the street and sidewalk because of:

Broken curbs
Missing curb material
Uneven curb cuts
Cracked pedestrian ramps
Debris
Poor drainage
Tree roots
Unprotected tree pits
Missing guards
Uneven soil
Improper paving around a tree

Photograph the street, curb, sidewalk, tree, crosswalk, and direction of travel.

Related information is available on our Broken Curb Injury Lawyer and Tree Pit Accident Lawyer pages.

Broken Or Uneven Stairs

A staircase may become dangerous because of:

Broken steps
Uneven risers
Worn tread surfaces
Loose carpeting
Missing handrails
Loose handrails
Wet steps
Poor lighting
Debris
Damaged landings
Abrupt elevation changes

Identify the exact step, landing, floor, side of the staircase, and direction of travel.

Visit our New York City Stairway Fall Lawyer page for stair-specific evidence guidance.

Loose Mats And Torn Carpeting

Mats and carpeting may cause a fall when they are:

Loose
Folded
Curled
Torn
Frayed
Bunched
Worn through
Improperly secured
Too thick for a doorway
Placed over an uneven surface
Saturated with water

Preserve photographs before the material is removed, repositioned, or replaced.

Poor Lighting

Inadequate lighting can conceal:

Broken steps
Water
Debris
Uneven flooring
Raised thresholds
Potholes
Curbs
Changes in elevation
Snow and ice
The final step in a staircase

Photograph or record the lighting as close to the accident time as possible. A camera flash may reveal the defect but may not accurately show what the injured person could see.

Learn more on our New York City Poor Lighting Injury Lawyer page.

Defective Doors And Thresholds

An accident may happen when a person encounters:

A raised threshold
A broken door saddle
A loose entrance mat
A door that opens into a walkway
A door that closes too quickly
A defective automatic door
A damaged track
An unexpected step beyond a doorway
Water near an entrance
Poor lighting

Photograph both the door and the surrounding walking surface.

Visit our New York City Defective Door Injury Lawyer page.

Debris And Obstructions

A walkway may be obstructed by:

Boxes
Merchandise
Cords
Cables
Garbage
Cleaning equipment
Construction materials
Delivery carts
Tools
Furniture
Bicycles
Displays
Fallen signs

Photograph the object, its location, the remaining walking space, and the surrounding area.

Record whether an employee, contractor, delivery company, tenant, or another person placed it there.

Elevator And Escalator Areas

A fall near an elevator may involve:

Elevator misleveling
A damaged threshold
Debris
Water
A gap between the car and landing
A defective door
Poor lighting

An escalator accident may involve:

Sudden stopping
Sudden acceleration
Damaged steps
A defective comb plate
Loose material
Missing warnings
Poor maintenance

Visit our New York City Elevator Accident Lawyer page when the elevator itself contributed to the accident.

Where Slip And Fall Accidents Happen

Apartment Buildings

Apartment-building accidents may occur in:

Stairways
Hallways
Lobbies
Laundry rooms
Basements
Courtyards
Roof areas
Entrances
Garbage areas
Parking areas
Sidewalks
Elevators

Landlords, management companies, superintendents, contractors, and commercial tenants may control different portions of the property.

Stores And Supermarkets

Retail accidents may involve:

Spilled products
Leaking refrigerators
Produce
Wet entrance floors
Recently mopped aisles
Merchandise
Damaged flooring
Shopping carts
Mats
Poorly placed displays

Store surveillance footage, cleaning inspections, employee schedules, incident reports, and sweep logs may become important.

Restaurants And Bars

Potential restaurant hazards include:

Spilled drinks
Grease
Food
Wet restroom floors
Loose mats
Dim lighting
Crowded walkways
Broken steps
Uneven outdoor dining areas

Records may show when employees last inspected or cleaned the area.

Hotels And Office Buildings

Falls may occur in:

Lobbies
Elevators
Stairways
Conference rooms
Hallways
Restrooms
Restaurants
Garages
Entrances
Outdoor walkways

Building owners, hotel operators, office tenants, cleaning companies, and maintenance contractors may share responsibilities.

Parking Lots And Garages

Parking areas may contain:

Potholes
Broken pavement
Oil
Water
Snow
Ice
Debris
Speed bumps
Wheel stops
Poor lighting
Damaged stairs
Uneven ramps

Photograph parking-space numbers, floor numbers, entrances, signs, and nearby vehicles or structural features.

Private Homes

A homeowner may be responsible for conditions such as:

Broken stairs
Loose railings
Snow or ice
Wet floors
Defective porches
Uneven walkways
Poor lighting
Loose carpeting
Dangerous pets
Construction debris

Responsibility depends on the condition, the homeowner’s knowledge, the visitor’s status, and other circumstances.

Who May Be Responsible?

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

Property Owners And Landlords

An owner or landlord may be responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing areas under the owner’s control.

Relevant records may include:

Leases
Maintenance schedules
Inspection logs
Complaints
Work orders
Repair invoices
Building violations
Employee communications
Prior accident reports
Insurance information

Management Companies And Superintendents

A managing agent or superintendent may:

Receive complaints
Inspect common areas
Schedule repairs
Replace lighting
Clean spills
Arrange snow removal
Communicate with contractors
Prepare incident reports

These records may establish when the condition was reported and what was done in response.

Commercial Tenants And Businesses

A store, restaurant, office, hotel, or other commercial tenant may control the accident area under its lease.

The lease may divide responsibility for:

Interior flooring
Entrances
Sidewalks
Common areas
Snow removal
Repairs
Cleaning
Lighting
Security

Cleaning And Maintenance Companies

A contractor may share responsibility when it:

Created a wet condition
Failed to place warnings
Performed an inadequate inspection
Failed to clean an area
Made a defective repair
Left equipment in a walkway
Failed to remove snow or ice
Returned an unsafe area to service

Construction And Repair Contractors

A contractor may create a trip or slip hazard by:

Leaving debris
Removing floor material
Creating an elevation difference
Blocking a walkway
Failing to place barriers
Performing an improper repair
Allowing water to accumulate
Disconnecting lighting
Leaving tools or cords in a walking path

Public Entities

A fall may involve:

The City of New York
NYCHA
A public school
A public hospital
A transit authority
Another government agency or public authority

Identifying the correct entity is critical because special filing deadlines may apply.

How Notice May Be Proven

A slip and fall claim often depends on whether a responsible party created the condition, knew about it, or should have discovered it.

The Responsible Party Created The Condition

A business or contractor may have created the hazard by:

Mopping a floor
Leaving merchandise in an aisle
Performing a defective repair
Allowing equipment to leak
Creating a sidewalk defect
Leaving construction debris
Moving a mat into an unsafe position
Piling snow where it later melted and refroze

Actual Notice

Actual notice may be shown through:

Customer complaints
Tenant complaints
Emails
Text messages
311 records
NYCHA repair tickets
Work orders
Maintenance logs
Employee statements
Inspection reports
Building violations
Prior accident reports
Photographs sent to management

Constructive Notice

Constructive notice may be argued when a visible and apparent condition existed long enough that a reasonable inspection should have discovered it.

Potential evidence may include:

Dirt or footprints through a liquid
Drying edges
Long-standing cracks
Deterioration
Discoloration
Rust
Repeated patches
Worn flooring
Witness testimony
Missing inspection records
Surveillance footage

Recurring Conditions

A recurring problem may be important when an area repeatedly:

Leaked
Became wet
Accumulated snow or ice
Lost lighting
Developed loose carpeting
Required repairs
Produced complaints
Caused earlier accidents

The complete complaint and maintenance history may be more valuable than the final repair ticket created after the accident.

What To Do After A Slip And Fall

Get Medical Care

Seek medical attention promptly.

Tell the medical provider:

Where the accident happened
Whether you slipped or tripped
What caused the fall
How you landed
What parts of your body struck the ground or another object
Every injured body part
Whether symptoms developed afterward

Follow medical instructions and attend recommended appointments.

Identify The Exact Location

Record:

Property address
Building name
Store or business
Floor
Aisle
Stairway
Parking level
Entrance
Sidewalk location
Nearby apartment, room, or storefront
Date and approximate time

Photograph signs, addresses, floor numbers, aisle numbers, and other identifying features.

Photograph The Condition

Take close and wide photographs showing:

The precise hazard
Surrounding walking surface
Nearby fixtures
Warning signs
Lighting
Entrances
Stairs
Doors
Address or location markers

Photograph the condition from the direction you approached.

Report The Accident

Report the accident to the owner, landlord, superintendent, management company, store manager, security desk, employer, contractor, NYCHA, or public agency responsible for the property.

Ask for:

Incident-report number
Complaint number
Work-order number
Repair-ticket number
Name and title of the person receiving the report
A copy of the written report

Keep screenshots, emails, text messages, and letters.

Identify Witnesses

Obtain contact information for anyone who:

Saw the accident
Saw the condition
Helped afterward
Previously complained
Knew how long the condition existed
Saw employees cleaning or repairing the area
Heard an employee discuss the hazard

Preserve Clothing And Footwear

Keep the shoes and clothing worn during the accident.

Do not discard, alter, wash, or repair potentially important physical evidence before speaking with a lawyer.

Do Not Guess

Describe what you actually felt and observed.

Examples include:

My foot slipped in water
My toe caught on the raised concrete
The mat folded under my foot
I could not see the final step
My foot struck a box in the aisle
I stepped into a pothole

Do not adopt another person’s explanation when you did not observe the underlying cause yourself.

Slip And Fall Accidents In NYCHA Developments

A NYCHA case requires attention to both evidence preservation and the 90-day Notice of Claim deadline.

Record the exact:

Development
Building address
Building number
Entrance
Stair hall
Floor
Apartment or common-area location
Sidewalk or outdoor area
Complaint numbers
Repair-ticket numbers
Earlier reports
Names of NYCHA employees or contractors

Keep screenshots and copies of every complaint and repair request.

A private cleaning, construction, snow-removal, security, or maintenance contractor may also possess important records or share responsibility.

Visit our New York City NYCHA Injury Lawyer page and the NYCHA Injury Resource Hub.

Workplace And Construction Falls

A person injured while working may have rights in addition to an ordinary premises-liability claim.

Potential claims may include:

Workers’ compensation
A claim against a property owner
A claim against a general contractor
A claim against a subcontractor
A claim against another tenant or company
A claim under the New York Labor Law

Construction falls should remain distinct from this general premises-liability page. Jobsite cases may involve temporary walkways, debris, stairs, ladders, scaffolds, elevated platforms, openings, or inadequate safety equipment.

Visit our New York City Construction Accident Lawyer page for jobsite-specific information.

Common Slip And Fall Injuries

A slip or trip and fall may cause:

Concussions
Traumatic brain injuries
Facial injuries
Dental injuries
Neck injuries
Back injuries
Herniated discs
Spinal-cord injuries
Shoulder injuries
Arm fractures
Wrist fractures
Hand injuries
Broken ribs
Hip fractures
Pelvic fractures
Knee injuries
Torn ligaments
Ankle injuries
Foot injuries
Nerve damage
Lacerations
Soft-tissue injuries
Psychological trauma
Fatal injuries

Medical records should identify how the accident happened, each injured body part, diagnostic findings, treatment, restrictions, and continuing symptoms.

Evidence That May Support A Slip And Fall Claim

Useful evidence may include:

Photographs
Video
Surveillance footage
Incident reports
Customer complaints
Tenant complaints
311 records
NYCHA repair tickets
Work orders
Inspection logs
Cleaning records
Sweep logs
Repair invoices
Building violations
Snow-removal contracts
Weather records
Lease provisions
Maintenance agreements
Prior accident reports
Witness statements
Damaged clothing and footwear
Medical records
Ambulance reports
Employment and wage records
Expert inspections
Measurements and testing

A lawyer may send preservation notices and arrange an inspection before the condition is repaired or altered.

Compensation In A Slip And Fall Case

The available compensation depends on the injuries, medical evidence, lost income, responsible parties, insurance coverage, and effect the accident has on the injured person’s life.

A claim may seek compensation for:

Past medical expenses
Future medical treatment
Lost wages
Reduced earning capacity
Rehabilitation
Future care
Out-of-pocket expenses
Pain and suffering
Emotional harm
Loss of enjoyment of life

A wrongful death claim may also be available when a fall causes a fatal injury. The filing deadline and available damages require a case-specific review.

How A Slip And Fall Lawyer Can Help

A lawyer can:

Inspect the accident location
Identify the precise dangerous condition
Determine who owned and controlled the area
Identify landlords, tenants, contractors, and public entities
Obtain leases and maintenance agreements
Request complaint and repair histories
Seek preservation of surveillance footage
Obtain cleaning and inspection records
Review building and sidewalk violations
Investigate earlier accidents
Interview witnesses
Retain an engineer or safety expert
Prepare a Notice of Claim when required
Investigate NYCHA or another public entity
Document medical expenses and lost income
Identify every potentially responsible party
Negotiate with insurers
File a lawsuit when necessary

The Dearie Law Firm has represented injured New Yorkers for more than three decades. Early investigation gives our attorneys a better opportunity to document the condition, preserve footage, identify witnesses, and determine who was responsible for the property.

Frequently Asked Questions About Slip And Fall Claims

Do I Have A Case Just Because I Fell?

Not necessarily.

A claim generally requires evidence identifying a dangerous condition, showing that it caused the accident, and connecting the condition to a responsible party.

What If The Spill Was Cleaned Immediately?

Immediate cleanup does not prevent a claim, but it can make the investigation more difficult.

Photographs, surveillance footage, witnesses, cleaning records, employee statements, incident reports, and footprints through the liquid may help establish the earlier condition.

What If There Was A Warning Sign?

A warning sign does not automatically defeat a claim.

The investigation may consider where the sign was placed, whether it was visible, what it said, whether it adequately described the hazard, and whether a safe route remained available.

What If I Did Not See What Caused Me To Fall?

Contact a lawyer promptly.

Photographs, surveillance footage, medical records, witness statements, damaged clothing, incident reports, and an inspection may help identify the cause. The evidence must generally do more than establish that a person fell.

What If I Was Looking Somewhere Else?

A property owner or insurer may argue that the injured person failed to pay adequate attention.

That does not automatically eliminate a claim. Responsibility may be divided among the parties depending on the circumstances.

What If The Property Owner Blames A Contractor?

A contractor may share responsibility, but the owner, tenant, management company, and contractor may have different legal duties.

Contracts, work orders, invoices, and testimony may show who controlled the area and performed the relevant work.

What If The Accident Happened In A NYCHA Building?

A Notice of Claim may be due within 90 days.

Preserve the development name, building address, exact location, complaint numbers, repair tickets, photographs, and prior history.

What If I Fell On City Property?

A claim involving the City or another public entity may require a Notice of Claim within 90 days and may have a shorter lawsuit deadline.

Identifying the correct public entity and exact accident location is critical.

What If Nobody Witnessed The Accident?

An eyewitness is not always required.

Surveillance footage, photographs, medical records, incident reports, complaints, physical evidence, and maintenance records may help establish what happened.

What If I Was Injured While Working?

You may have a workers’ compensation claim and a separate claim against a property owner, contractor, tenant, or another party that was not your employer.

What If More Than 90 Days Have Passed?

Contact a lawyer immediately.

A court may permit a late Notice of Claim in some circumstances, but permission is not automatic. Waiting may also result in repairs, deleted footage, lost records, and unavailable witnesses.

Related Slip And Fall Resources

Speak With A New York City Slip And Fall Lawyer

Do not wait for the spill, ice, broken pavement, loose mat, defective stair, or other dangerous condition to be cleaned, repaired, or removed before investigating what happened.

Call (212) 970-6500 or contact The Dearie Law Firm for a free consultation.

New York City Slip And Fall Lawyer