New York Slip and Fall Lawyer

Falling Down Isn’t The End. Rise Up With Our Help.

A slip-and-fall accident commonly occurs as a result of unsafe or dangerous conditions on public or private property. Often, these conditions are the result of negligence on the part of the property owner. In the wake of a serious injury, an experienced New York slip-and-fall lawyer at Douglas & London can protect your rights to monetary compensation.

Whether the fall took place in a business, home, government building, or store, our legal team can investigate the circumstances to determine liability and take appropriate measures to ensure victims are properly compensated by negligent parties.

Douglas & London attorneys have helped our clients collect millions in restitution following slip-and-fall accidents. Due to the complexities of premises liability claims in New York, it pays to align yourself with a reputable law firm that can stand up to insurance companies and maximize your chances of recovering a fair settlement. Douglas & London provides sound legal advice and can quickly assess if you have the elements of a successful slip-and-fall claim. Contact us 24/7 for a free consultation.

How Can a New York City Slip-and-fall Lawyer Help Me with My Accident Lawsuit?

Many slip-and-fall accidents could be prevented if property owners and managers had taken more care in addressing obvious hazards. In a city like New York where it’s common for people walk or take public transportation, there are unique dangers that can put residents at risk of a fall.

We take the burden of litigation off your shoulders and fight to protect your right to maximum compensation. We’re confident in our skills, work ethic, and resources, which is why we work on a contingency basis: You owe us no fees until we win your case.

Here are some of the ways we can assist.

Assess the Value of Your Damages

Our team of experienced NYC slip-and-fall attorneys can evaluate the total sum of your damages to determine the full and fair compensation you need.

We use forensic experts to quantify tangible costs such as medical expenses and lost wages, as well as intangible losses like pain and suffering. This assessment helps us set a baseline before negotiating with negligent parties and their insurance companies.

Build a Strong Case

We thoroughly investigate every aspect of each case we take on. We’re relentless when gathering all the evidence needed to prove the other party’s fault.

Our network of medical specialists, crash recreationists, forensic accountants, ex-law enforcement investigators, and other top-level experts can build strong legal arguments and clear narratives about what happened.

Negotiate with Negligent Parties

Most cases settle out of court. When they do, it saves a lot of time and money that would otherwise go to extending the legal process to a trial. Our attorneys bring world-class negotiating skills to the table to help secure the favorable outcome you deserve.

It’s no accident that our attorneys have obtained over $18 billion in settlements and jury awards for our clients. We don’t accept lowball offers. If negotiations fail, we’re prepared to go to court to fight for maximum compensation.

Do I Have a Case to Take to a New York Slip-and-fall Attorney?

Many factors go into whether an injured party can hold someone else legally accountable for the damages they sustained in a slip-and-fall incident. The law is complex and depends on the unique circumstances of each individual case.

Sometimes an incident that seems straightforward to the victim may involve legal complexities that a layperson can’t anticipate. However, you should never automatically assume you don’t have a case and talk yourself out of pursuing the compensation you’re owed.

The best course of action is to reach out to a seasoned attorney who can guide youand give you an honest assessment of the strengths (and weaknesses) of your case and its estimated value.

When you suffer a serious slip-and-fall injury on someone else’s property, it’s not always easy or even possible to collect evidence at the scene. That’s okay. Your priority should be getting medical attention. Our dedicated lawyers can track down evidence in the days, weeks, and months following your incident. However, the more evidence you can collect on the scene, the sooner we can bring your claim to a satisfying resolution.

Case evidence can include:

Photos and videos of the location as it was when you were injured
Eyewitness testimony
Incident reports from police or property managers
Surveillance footage

Proving Negligence After Slips, Trips, and Falls

Slip-and-fall victims can face insurmountable losses. In addition to considerable medical attention, 20% of slip-and-fall injuries require days away from work. Proving negligence is the key to collecting compensation in a slip-and-fall lawsuit.

You must prove three things:

You had a right to be on the property and were not trespassing.
The owner was negligent in property upkeep, resulting in a hazardous condition.
This negligence caused your injury, resulting in losses.

New York property owners have certain duties to ensure their premises are reasonably safe, but a slip-and-fall accident doesn’t guarantee a legal claim. Slip-and-fall cases at apartment complexes, for example, usually hinge on whether the landowner knew or should have known about a broken sidewalk, icy parking lot, or other hazard.

Can a Property Owner Use Video Evidence to Avoid Responsibility?

In New York, comparative fault rules mean your compensation can be reduced if you’re found partially at fault for an accident. Property owners may use surveillance footage to shift blame in a slip-and-fall case, especially if it shows:

You were distracted (for example, looking at your phone).
You ignored warning signs or entered a restricted area.
The hazard wasn’t present at the time of the incident.
You were trespassing, which limits the property owner’s duty of care.

If a property owner tries to use video against you, Douglas & London can help protect your rights and challenge misleading evidence.

Injuries Stemming from Slips and Falls

Slip-and-fall accidents can result in catastrophic harm, like a traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord damage, or fractured bones. Elderly people are more likely to develop additional health complications.

In New York, the law allows victims to seek damages from any parties who contributed to slip-and-fall injuries such as:

Spinal cord damage
Broken bones
Skull fractures or TBIs
Soft tissue injuries
Nerve damage
Contusions and muscle strains

We leverage our knowledge and resources to preserve compelling evidence and secure expert testimony, allowing clients to recover the full compensation they deserve, even if they partially share fault for the accident.

Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most falls are associated with recognizable risk factors. Some of the most common causes of slip-and-fall accidents include:

Wet or slippery floors from a leak or spill
Uneven or broken sidewalks
Loose extension cords
Rugs or carpets that aren’t secured
Broken or damaged stair treads
Loose or broken floorboards
Damaged thresholds
Snow, ice, or other hazards not removed from walkways

Time Limits for Filing a NYC Slip-and-Fall Lawsuit

The statute of limitations in New York for filing a slip-and-fall claim is three years from the date of the accident. If you fell and were injured on public property managed by the city or municipality, filing deadlines are much shorter. For example, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has jurisdiction over LaGuardia and JFK, so if you’re hurt at an airport, you must bring a lawsuit within one year.

The claim process is also more complicated. New York City has government immunity protections in place that shield it from civil liability in many cases.

Whether the potential defendant is a government entity or a private landlord, our attorneys at Douglas & London can protect your right to pursue civil justice.

How Long Does a Slip-and-fall Case Take?

Slip-and-fall accident settlements can happen in as few as six months, or as long as three to six years. Most cases settle before trial, but being prepared for every step gives you the strongest position.

Here’s a general timeline for how a slip-and-fall claim may progress in New York:

First 2 to 3 months: Your attorney investigates who’s responsible.
By 6 months: If your injuries are not catastrophic and medical treatment is complete, your lawyer may begin negotiating a settlement.
6 to 12 months: Settlement talks continue with the property owner’s insurance company. If no agreement is reached, a lawsuit is filed.
After filing:
- The defendant has 20 business days to respond.
- The discovery phase begins. Both sides share evidence and question witnesses.
- A new round of settlement talks may happen during mediation.
If no settlement is reached: The case moves to trial, where a judge or jury decides the outcome.

How Much Is My Slip-and-Fall Case Worth?

Slip-and-fall settlements range widely from case to case, depending on factors like medical costs, long-term health impacts, lost income, and other variables. Cases involving permanent injuries or disabilities can result in significant compensation.

As seasoned negotiators with ample trial experience, Douglas & London attorneys can maximize the value of a slip-and-fall claim by ensuring that a settlement or verdict takes the following into account:

Medical and hospital expenses
Lost wages and income
Physical pain and emotional suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Rehabilitation costs

Injured in a slip and fall accident? Tap to call for a FREE consultation!

New York Slip-and-fall Attorneys You Can Depend On

If you or a loved one were injured on someone else’s property, you may have a claim for monetary damages.

Contact us now to speak with an experienced NYC slip-and-fall attorney at Douglas & London about your case. Our veteran legal team offers support on a contingency basis, meaning there are zero upfront costs. Explore your legal rights by reaching out today.