Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents
New York City Slip and Fall Lawyers Serving All Five Boroughs
Manhattan • Brooklyn • Queens • The Bronx • Staten Island
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of serious injuries in New York City. A wet supermarket aisle, a broken step in your apartment building, an icy sidewalk outside a Bronx bodega, or a dark stairwell in a Harlem walk-up can turn an ordinary day into an emergency room visit in seconds.
At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, our New York City slip and fall attorneys know these accidents are usually not clumsiness or bad luck. They are often the result of a property owner, landlord, business, or government agency that failed to fix a dangerous condition or warn you about it.
If you were hurt in a fall anywhere in NYC, you deserve clear answers, medical and financial protection, and an experienced legal team on your side.
Call Greenstein & Pittari, LLP now at 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) for a free consultation with a NYC slip-and-fall lawyer.
There is no fee unless we are successful.
NYC Slip and Fall Accidents and Premises Liability
This page is designed to help you understand:
- The most common causes of slip and fall accidents in New York City
- How NYC premises liability law applies to your case
- Who may be legally responsible for your injuries
- What to do after a fall in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island
- How a New York City slip and fall attorney can help you recover compensation
If you searched for “NYC slip and fall lawyer,” “New York City slip and fall attorney,” or “premises liability lawyer in New York,” you are in the right place.
Why Do Slip & Fall Accidents Happen in New York City?
Slip and fall accidents usually happen for one core reason:
A dangerous property condition that should have been prevented or fixed.
In a busy city like New York, property owners, management companies, and businesses must conduct regular inspections, remove hazards, repair defects, and warn visitors about dangers. When they cut corners, tenants, customers, workers, and visitors pay the price.
Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents in NYC
1. Wet, Slippery, or Contaminated Floors
Wet or slick surfaces are the number one cause of slip-and-fall accidents in New York City. These hazards are prevalent in:
- Supermarkets and grocery stores in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx
- Restaurants, bars, and cafés in Manhattan and across the city
- Retail stores and shopping centers
- Office building lobbies and corridors
- Subway stations and transit hubs
- Apartment building entrances and laundry rooms
Typical conditions include:
- Spilled drinks, food, oil, grease, or cleaning chemicals
- Recently mopped or waxed floors without warning signs
- Plumbing leaks and flooding
- Rain, slush, or snow tracked into entrances and elevator lobbies
- Standing water near refrigeration units or coolers
- Icy outdoor steps, ramps, and walkways
Legal duty: Property owners and businesses must promptly clean up spills, use mats and floor runners where needed, and place clear “wet floor” signs. If they fail to do this and you are injured, an NYC slip and fall attorney may be able to prove negligence.
2. Uneven, Broken, or Poorly Maintained Sidewalks and Flooring
Broken or uneven walking surfaces are a significant cause of slip, trip, and fall accidents in New York City, including:
- Cracked or heaving sidewalks in front of buildings
- Potholes in parking lots and driveways
- Loose or unstable floorboards
- Torn, worn, or bulging carpets and runners
- Missing, broken, or loose tiles
- Sudden height changes between flooring materials without visual warnings
These conditions are even more dangerous when hidden by water, snow, trash, or poor lighting.
Legal duty: In many cases, NYC law requires adjacent property owners to maintain sidewalks and keep them reasonably safe. Inside buildings, landlords, management companies, and commercial tenants must repair defective floors or clearly warn of their presence until they are fixed.
3. Cluttered Walkways and Hidden Trip Hazards
Poor housekeeping is one of the most preventable causes of slip-and-fall accidents, yet it remains a persistent problem across New York City. Common hazards include:
- Boxes, stock, or merchandise left in store aisles
- Trash bags or cleaning carts blocking hallways
- Construction debris left where people walk
- Open drawers or cabinets in narrow spaces
- Low displays, floor stands, or objects in unexpected locations
Electrical cords, hoses, and loose rugs are another major category of trip hazards:
- Extension cords stretched across a walkway
- Phone or power cables running along the floor
- Loose mats and runners with curled edges
- Bunched or poorly placed entry mats
- Loose carpeting on stairs
Legal duty: Businesses and landlords must keep common areas and walkways clear. Allowing clutter and unsecured rugs where people are expected to walk can create strong premises liability claims.
4. Poor or Inadequate Lighting
In many New York City slip and fall cases, the victim does not see the hazard because there is not enough light to detect it. Poor lighting contributes to falls in:
- Apartment building stairwells and hallways
- Parking garages and outdoor lots
- Side entrances, rear exits, and service corridors
- Basements, boiler rooms, and storage spaces
- Outdoor steps, ramps, and walkways
Other visibility problems include:
- Glare from overly bright lights on glossy floors
- Deep shadows that hide steps, cords, or cracked surfaces
Legal duty: Property owners must provide adequate lighting in areas where people are expected to walk. Ignoring burnt-out bulbs or failing to install appropriate lighting can constitute negligence under New York premises liability law.
5. Dangerous Stairs, Ladders, and Missing Handrails
Stairway and ladder falls are severe and can cause catastrophic injuries. Common hazards include:
- Missing, loose, or wobbly handrails
- Broken, crumbling, or uneven steps
- Worn stair treads or torn carpeting
- Slippery wood, tile, or stone steps with no non-slip material
- Poor lighting in stairwells
- Unsecured ladders or ladders placed on unstable surfaces
- Using chairs or makeshift platforms instead of proper ladders
Legal duty: Under NYC building codes and general negligence principles, property owners must maintain stairways and ladders in a reasonably safe condition. Failing to repair defects or warn about unsafe stairs can lead to liability.
6. Weather Related Hazards: Snow, Ice, Rain, and Slush
New York winters and storms create conditions that frequently lead to slip and fall injuries, such as:
- Snow and ice on sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots
- Black ice near curbs, drains, and building entrances
- Wet, slippery lobbies from tracked-in slush and rain
- Puddles in garages and vestibules
Legal duty: Property owners are not required to control the weather, but they must respond reasonably afterward. That often means:
- Shoveling snow promptly
- Salting or sanding icy surfaces
- Placing mats and warning signs in entrances
- Mopping and drying interior floors
- Restricting access to dangerous areas
If a property owner does nothing after a storm and you slip on snow or ice on or near their property, a New York City slip and fall attorney may be able to hold them responsible.
7. Unsafe Workplaces and Construction Sites
Workers throughout NYC face slip, trip, and fall hazards every day, especially in:
- Construction sites
- Warehouses and factories
- Hotels and restaurants
- Hospitals, nursing homes, and office buildings
Common problems include:
- Slippery or unstable work surfaces
- Debris, tools, and materials in walkways
- Open edges and floor holes without proper protection
- Poorly positioned ladders and scaffolding
- Inadequate fall protection
- Poor lighting in work zones
Legal duty: Employers must comply with safety regulations, properly train workers, conduct inspections, and provide fall protection. In many cases, injured workers have both workers’ compensation claims and separate third-party premises-liability claims against negligent property owners, contractors, or equipment companies.
8. Falls in Nursing Homes and Senior Housing
Older adults are especially vulnerable to slip and fall injuries, and those injuries often have serious or permanent consequences. In nursing homes and assisted living facilities, falls often happen because of:
- Wet or cluttered floors
- Lack of grab bars and handrails
- Poor lighting in rooms and bathrooms
- Understaffing or inadequate supervision
- Failure to follow known fall risk care plans
Legal duty: Facilities must comply with state and federal safety standards, conduct fall risk assessments, and take reasonable steps to protect residents. When they fail, families may have grounds for a negligence or elder abuse claim.
Common Slip & Fall Injuries in New York City
Slip, trip, and fall accidents often cause:
- Broken bones in the wrist, arm, ankle, hip, ribs, or face
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage and chronic pain
- Torn ligaments and tendons in the knee or shoulder
- Rotator cuff injuries and dislocations
- Cuts, lacerations, and scarring
- Dental and facial trauma
- Long-term mobility problems and loss of independence
Even if your injury seems minor at first, symptoms can worsen over time. Always get checked by a medical professional and follow their advice.
If you have suffered any of these injuries after a fall in New York City, call Greenstein & Pittari, LLP at 1-800-VICTIM2 for a free case evaluation.
New York City Premises Liability Law: Who Is Responsible?
Slip-and-fall cases in NYC are governed by premises liability law. To win a slip and fall claim, your attorney generally needs to prove:
- A dangerous condition existed
There was a hazard on the property, such as a spill, a broken step, an icy walkway, cluttered aisles, or inadequate lighting. - The property owner knew or should have known about it
- They created the hazard, or
- They actually knew about it and did nothing, or
- It existed long enough that they should have discovered it during regular inspections.
- They failed to fix it or warn about it
The owner, landlord, or business did not repair, clean, block off, or adequately warn visitors about the danger. - You were injured as a result
The hazard directly caused your fall and your resulting injuries and damages.
This can apply to:
- Retail stores and restaurants
- Apartment buildings and rental properties
- Office buildings and commercial spaces
- Hotels and motels
- Public and private parking lots
- Nursing homes, hospitals, and medical facilities
- Sidewalks and areas controlled by owners or the City
Comparative Negligence in New York
New York follows pure comparative negligence. This is important because:
- You can still recover compensation even if you are partly at fault.
- Your percentage of fault may reduce your compensation, but you are not automatically barred from bringing a claim.
Insurance companies love to argue that you:
- Were not watching where you were going
- Wore the wrong shoes
- Walked too fast
- Ignored a condition
Our NYC slip-and-fall lawyers know how to counter these arguments and keep the focus on the property owner’s legal duty to provide a reasonably safe environment.
What To Do After a Slip & Fall Accident in New York City
To protect both your health and your legal rights:
- Get medical attention right away
Go to an emergency room, urgent care, or your doctor. Tell them exactly how and where you fell. - Report the accident
- In a store, restaurant, or office: report it to a manager and fill out an incident report.
- In an apartment building: report it to the landlord, super, or management company.
- At work: notify your supervisor and follow workers’ compensation reporting rules.
- Photograph and document the scene
Take photos and videos of the hazard, the surrounding area, the lighting conditions, and any warning signs or the lack of them. - Get names and contact information for witnesses
Eyewitnesses can be extremely important in a New York premises liability case. - Save your shoes and clothing
Please don’t wash or throw them away. They may show what you slipped on or how the fall occurred. - Keep all medical records and receipts
Save hospital bills, prescription receipts, therapy bills, and any documentation related to your injury. - Do not talk to insurance companies alone
Adjusters often try to get you to say things that hurt your claim or accept a low settlement. Please speak with a NYC slip and fall attorney first. - Call a New York City slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible
Contact Greenstein & Pittari, LLP at 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) to protect your rights before critical evidence is lost.
What Compensation Can I Recover in a NYC Slip and Fall Case?
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Emergency room visits and hospital stays
- Surgeries and follow-up medical care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Medications and medical equipment
- Future medical treatment and long-term care needs
- Lost wages and lost overtime
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and anxiety
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of companionship or consortium in severe cases
Our New York City slip and fall attorneys work closely with your doctors and, when necessary, medical and economic experts to calculate the full value of your claim.
FAQ: Slip & Fall Accidents in New York City
1. Do I have a slip and fall case if I was not watching where I was going?
Possibly yes. Many people blame themselves after a fall, but New York law looks at whether a dangerous condition existed and whether the property owner acted reasonably. Even if you were distracted, you may still have a valid claim if the owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn you.
2. How do I prove that the property owner was negligent?
Proving negligence usually involves showing that:
- A dangerous condition existed
- The owner, tenant, or manager knew or reasonably should have known about it
- They had enough time to fix it or warn about it, but did not
- Their failure caused your injuries
Evidence may include:
- Surveillance video
- Photos of the hazard
- Incident reports
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Prior complaints or violations
- Witness statements
- Your medical records
Our NYC premises liability lawyers know how to obtain and preserve this evidence before it disappears.
3. What if my slip and fall happened on a New York City sidewalk or in a public place?
Falls on sidewalks, crosswalks, parks, public housing, and transit-related areas can involve:
- The City of New York
- A public authority
- A private property owner adjacent to the sidewalk
- A contractor responsible for maintenance or construction
Claims involving NYC or other government entities have very short deadlines, often requiring a Notice of Claim within 90 days. If you fell on a city sidewalk or in a public place, you can contact a lawyer right away.
4. I fell in my apartment building. Can I sue my landlord or management company?
In many cases, yes. Landlords and building owners in New York City are responsible for maintaining common areas, including:
- Hallways and stairwells
- Lobbies and entrances
- Laundry rooms and basements
- Sidewalks and driveways under their control
If your fall was caused by poor lighting, broken steps, loose carpeting, water leaks, or other hazards the landlord ignored, you may have a strong slip-and-fall claim.
5. Can I recover damages if I was wearing high heels or shoes with poor traction?
Yes. Footwear is often raised as a defense, but it rarely eliminates liability. Under New York’s comparative negligence rule, you can still recover compensation even if your shoes contributed to the accident. The key issue is whether the property was unreasonably dangerous and whether the owner met their legal duties.
6. How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in New York City?
- For many private property claims, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the accident.
- For claims against the City of New York or other public entities, you may have as little as 90 days to file a Notice of Claim, followed by additional filing deadlines.
Because these time limits are strict and missing them can destroy your case, you should speak with a NYC slip and fall attorney as soon as possible.
7. Are slip and fall cases hard to win?
They can be challenging because property owners often deny that a hazard existed or claim they did not know about it. However, with strong evidence such as photos, surveillance footage, inspection logs, and witness testimony, many slip-and-fall victims obtain significant recoveries. Our firm regularly takes on cases that insurance companies initially tried to dismiss.
8. Will my slip and fall case settle, or will I have to go to court?
Many slip and fall claims settle before trial, especially when liability is clear, and your injuries are well documented. That said, some insurance companies refuse to be fair unless they know you and your lawyer are genuinely prepared to go to court.
At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we prepare every case as if it may go to trial. That preparation often leads to better settlement offers. If a fair settlement is not possible, we will not hesitate to present your case to a jury.
9. How much does it cost to hire Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?
We represent New York City slip-and-fall clients on a contingency-fee basis. That means:
- No upfront fees
- No hourly billing
- No attorneys’ fees unless we win money for you
The consultation and phone call are free, and you only pay if we are successful. That is our Fee Guarantee: No Fee Unless Successful.
10. What should I bring to my free consultation with a NYC slip and fall lawyer?
Bring anything you have, such as:
- Photos or videos of the accident scene and your injuries
- Incident reports or written complaints
- Medical records and bills
- Health insurance information
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- Any letters, emails, or messages from insurance companies or the property owner
If you do not have all of this, do not worry. Come as you are. Our job is to help you figure out what is missing and how to get it.
Why Choose Greenstein & Pittari, LLP for Your NYC Slip & Fall Case?
When you are injured in New York City, you need a law firm that understands the city, understands the law, and knows how to win.
At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP:
- We focus exclusively on personal injury law, including NYC slip and fall and premises liability cases.
- We know New York City building codes, safety regulations, and court procedures.
- We move quickly to investigate, preserve surveillance footage, and secure maintenance records.
- We handle all communication with insurance companies so you can focus on healing.
- We offer bilingual services and represent injured New Yorkers from every borough and background.
- We have hundreds of positive client reviews and a proven record of results.
- Our attorneys are recognized in respected publications such as Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
- We maintain convenient offices in Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Yonkers, and Nassau County. Your convenience and access to justice are our priorities.
Our motto is clear:
“Don’t Be a Victim Twice.”
Do not let an insurance company or negligent property owner take advantage of you after a serious fall.
Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) today to speak with a New York City slip and fall attorney at Greenstein & Pittari, LLP.
The call is free. The consultation is free. You do not pay us unless we are successful.