NYC Slip and Fall Attorney

A NYC slip and fall attorney helps injured victims recover compensation when unsafe property conditions cause accidents. MJR Law holds property owners accountable for icy sidewalks, wet floors, broken stairs, and more. If you were hurt on someone else’s property, you may have a valid premises liability claim, and our team is ready to fight for you.

Call us now for a free consultation or fill out our case evaluation form. We’re available 24/7.

What Counts as a Slip-and-Fall (Premises Liability) Case?

A slip-and-fall case falls under New York premises liability law. This area of law holds property owners responsible for maintaining safe conditions on their property. When they fail to do that and someone gets hurt, the injured person has the right to seek compensation.

To have a valid case, three things generally need to be true: a hazardous condition existed on the property, the owner knew or should have known about it, and that condition caused your injury. Property owners in New York have a legal duty of care to anyone who enters their property, whether it is a customer, a tenant, or a visitor.

Common hazards that give rise to premises liability claims in NYC include:

• Slippery or icy sidewalks
• Wet or slick floors inside stores and restaurants
• Broken or uneven stairs
• Cracked or raised sidewalk pavement
• Defective flooring or loose floor mats
• Poor lighting in hallways, stairwells, or parking areas

These cases can involve private property owners, landlords, retail businesses, government entities, or public transit authorities. The rules vary depending on who owns the property, which is why working with an experienced NYC slip and fall attorney matters from the start.

Common NYC Slip-and-Fall Scenarios

New York City presents unique hazards that lead to slip-and-fall accidents every day. Here are the most common scenarios our clients come to us with:

• Icy sidewalks — Property owners in NYC are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their buildings within a reasonable time after a storm ends. When they fail to act, injuries follow. NYC landlords are legally responsible for ice and snow, and when they ignore that duty, you have the right to pursue a claim.
• Wet store floors — Retail stores, supermarkets, and restaurants have a duty to clean up spills promptly and warn customers of wet surfaces. A missing wet floor sign is not enough if the hazard is left unaddressed.
• Broken stairs — Damaged, loose, or poorly maintained stairways in commercial buildings and apartment complexes are a leading cause of serious fall injuries in the city.
• Poor lighting — Dim or broken lighting in parking lots, hallways, and stairwells conceals hazards and makes falls far more likely. Owners are required to maintain adequate lighting in all common areas.
• NYCHA and apartment hazards — Tenants in city housing and private apartments are frequently injured by loose flooring, missing handrails, and other landlord-neglected conditions.
• Subway and MTA falls — Falls on MTA property involve city-owned infrastructure. These cases require filing a Notice of Claim within 90 days before you can sue. Missing that deadline can end your case before it begins.

Proving Liability in New York

To win a slip-and-fall case in New York, you need to prove that the property owner was negligent. That comes down to three key elements:

1. Duty of Care

Every property owner in New York has a legal obligation to keep their premises reasonably safe for anyone who enters. This applies to landlords, retailers, businesses, and government entities alike. If you were lawfully on the property, the owner owed you a duty of care.

2. Notice of the Hazard

This is where most slip-and-fall cases are won or lost. You must show that the owner either knew about the dangerous condition (actual notice) or should have known about it through reasonable inspection (constructive notice). A wet floor that sat unaddressed for hours, a broken stair reported months earlier, or a recurring ice patch that was never salted are all examples of conditions an owner had notice of and failed to fix.

3. Reasonable Time to Fix

Even if an owner had notice of a hazard, liability depends on whether they had enough time to correct it. New York courts look at how long the condition existed and whether a reasonable property owner would have addressed it within that timeframe.

When all three elements are present, you have the foundation of a strong premises liability claim. MJR Law builds that foundation by gathering the evidence that proves it: photographs, maintenance records, inspection logs, surveillance footage, and witness statements, so your case is as strong as possible before we ever approach an insurance company.

NYC Snow and Ice Rules

Winter conditions are one of the leading causes of slip-and-fall injuries in New York City, and the rules around snow and ice liability are specific. Under NYC Administrative Code §16-123, property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their buildings within a reasonable time after a storm ends. That responsibility falls on the owner, not the city, in most cases.

What counts as a reasonable time depends on the circumstances, but courts look at how long the snow or ice was present, whether the owner took any steps to address it, and whether the condition was foreseeable. A landlord who clears a path but fails to salt a refreezing surface can still be held liable if someone falls on the ice that formed afterward.

Common snow and ice liability situations we handle include:

• Unsalted or uncleared sidewalks after a storm
• Refreezing ice after partial clearing
• Snow tracked into building entryways, stairwells, and elevators
• Icy parking lots on commercial or residential properties
• Bus stop and transit area sidewalks with heavy foot traffic and buildup

Understanding exactly when and how NYC landlords are responsible for ice and snow can make or break your case. MJR Law has recovered compensation for clients injured on icy sidewalks across all five boroughs, and we know how to build the evidence trail that establishes owner liability even when insurers push back.

Comparative Negligence in NYC Slip-and-Fall Cases

One of the most common concerns injured victims have is this: what if I was partly at fault for my fall? Maybe you were looking at your phone, wearing the wrong shoes, or took a route you knew was risky. In New York, partial fault does not automatically bar you from recovering compensation.

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not completely barred from recovery. If a court finds you were 20% at fault for your fall, you recover 80% of your total damages. Even if you were found 50% at fault, you can still recover the remaining 50%.

Insurance companies know this rule well and will often try to shift as much blame onto you as possible to reduce what they have to pay. They may argue you were not paying attention, that the hazard was obvious, or that you were wearing inappropriate footwear. These are negotiating tactics, not facts.

Do not let an insurer’s assessment of your fault stop you from consulting an attorney. MJR Law evaluates the full picture, challenges unfair fault assignments, and fights to make sure your compensation reflects the property owner’s responsibility, not an inflated number the insurance company invented to protect their bottom line.

Suing the City vs. Private Owners

Not all slip-and-fall cases in NYC follow the same rules. Who owns the property where you fell determines the legal process you need to follow, and the differences are significant.

When you fall on private property, a store, an apartment building, or a commercial space, you have three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit under New York’s statute of limitations. That window gives you time to recover, gather evidence, and build your case.

When you fall on city-owned property, including a city sidewalk, an MTA subway station, or a NYCHA building, the rules change immediately. 

You must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of your accident before you can pursue a lawsuit against the city. This is a strict procedural requirement, and missing that deadline can permanently bar your claim regardless of how strong your case is.

If you fell on city property, do not wait. Contact MJR Law as soon as possible so we can file your Notice of Claim on time and protect your right to pursue compensation.

What Your Slip-and-Fall Case May Be Worth

One of the first questions injured victims ask is how much their case is worth. The honest answer is that every case is different, but the factors that determine value are consistent across most premises liability claims.

Factors that affect your settlement or verdict:

• Severity of your injuries — More serious injuries mean higher medical costs, longer recovery, and greater impact on your daily life, all of which increase case value.
• Medical expenses — This includes emergency room visits, surgery, physical therapy, medication, and any future treatment you will need as a result of the accident.
• Lost wages — If your injuries kept you out of work, you can recover the income you lost during recovery. If your ability to earn is permanently affected, that factors in as well.
• Pain and suffering — New York law allows you to recover for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries, not just the out-of-pocket costs.
• Long-term impact — Injuries like spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, and broken bones can affect your quality of life for years. Courts and insurers account for that.

Common injuries in NYC slip-and-fall cases include broken bones, back and spine injuries, head trauma, torn ligaments, and soft tissue damage. Cases involving these injuries can range significantly in value depending on the circumstances.

For a deeper look at timelines and what to expect during the settlement process, read our guide on how long a slip-and-fall case takes in New York.

Ready to find out what your case may be worth? Fill out our case evaluation form or call us now for a free consultation.

How MJR Law Handles Premises-Liability Claims

When you hire MJR Law, you get a team that knows NYC premises liability law and handles every step of your case from start to finish. Here is what that process looks like:

• Free consultation — We review the details of your accident, evaluate your injuries, and give you an honest assessment of your claim at no cost and no obligation.
• Evidence collection — We move quickly to gather the evidence that supports your case: photographs of the hazard, surveillance footage, maintenance and inspection records, and witness statements before they disappear.
• Liability determination — We identify every responsible party, whether that is a private property owner, a landlord, a retailer, the city, the MTA, or a third-party contractor, and build the case against them.
• Insurance negotiation — We handle all communication with the insurance company and fight to maximize your settlement. We know the tactics insurers use to minimize payouts and we counter them.
• Litigation if needed — If the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement, we take your case to court. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial from day one.
• You get paid — Our fee comes from your settlement or verdict. You pay nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket. If we do not win, you do not owe us anything.

Attorney Michael J. Redenburg has spent over 15 years fighting for the rights of injured New Yorkers, personally handling every case from intake to resolution. We are available 24/7 to take your call.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a slip-and-fall claim in NYC?

You generally have 3 years from the date of your accident to file a claim against a private property owner under New York’s statute of limitations. If your fall happened on city property, such as a city sidewalk, an MTA station, or a NYCHA building, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days instead.

What if I fell on a public sidewalk?

Yes, you can still pursue a claim. Liability depends on who is responsible for maintaining that sidewalk. In most cases, the adjacent property owner is responsible for snow, ice, and sidewalk defects, not the city itself.

What if I was partly at fault for my fall?

New York follows a comparative negligence rule. Being partially at fault does not bar you from recovering compensation. Your settlement is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

How much does it cost to hire a slip-and-fall attorney?

MJR Law works on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, and you only pay if we win your case.

What injuries are common in slip-and-fall cases?

Common injuries include broken bones, back and spine injuries, head trauma, torn ligaments, and soft tissue damage.

Will my case go to trial?

Most slip-and-fall cases settle before trial. However, we prepare every case as if it is going to court so you have leverage during negotiations.

How quickly can I get compensation?

Timelines vary depending on the complexity of your case. Some claims settle within a few months, while contested cases involving litigation can take longer. Read our full breakdown of how long a slip-and-fall case takes to settle in New York for more detail.

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Contact Our NYC Slip-and-Fall Attorney Today

You do not have to face the aftermath of a slip-and-fall accident alone. Medical bills, lost wages, and the stress of dealing with an insurance company can feel overwhelming, but you have rights, and MJR Law is ready to fight for you.

Don’t wait. Evidence disappears, deadlines pass, and insurance companies move quickly to protect themselves. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start building your case.

Call us now for a free consultation, or fill out our case evaluation form and a member of our team will reach out right away. We serve clients across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, and we are available 24/7 for injured victims.
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