Slips, Trips & Falls Attorney in New York
If you’ve been injured in a slip, trip, or fall due to someone else’s negligence in New York, it’s essential to understand your legal rights and options. Slip and fall accidents may sound minor, but they can lead to serious and lasting injuries that affect your health, income, and quality of life. These accidents happen suddenly on wet floors, icy sidewalks, cracked pavement, or uneven stairs, and they can occur almost anywhere, from apartment complexes to grocery stores, restaurants, and office buildings.
Whether your fall happened in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, or the Hudson Valley, working with an experienced New York slip and fall attorney can make a critical difference in recovering the compensation you deserve.
At The Law Office of Lizzette Muñiz, we specialize in premises liability and slip, trip, and fall cases throughout New York. Our legal team is dedicated to helping clients recover physically, emotionally, and financially. We approach every case with compassion, transparency, and unwavering advocacy because we understand that your recovery depends not only on medical treatment but also on obtaining the justice and compensation you’re entitled to.
Over the years, we’ve successfully represented victims injured in a wide range of slip and fall scenarios, including accidents that occurred in apartment buildings, shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, office complexes, construction sites, and public walkways.
Why Legal Representation Matters in Slip and Fall Cases
After a fall, your primary focus should be on healing. Unfortunately, that process can be complicated by property owners and insurance companies who are more interested in protecting their bottom line than your well-being. Many injury victims receive settlement offers that do not come close to covering their full medical costs, lost income, and long-term needs.
That’s where having a knowledgeable slip and fall attorney becomes invaluable. An attorney ensures that your case is properly investigated, your injuries are fully documented, and your claim is accurately valued. At The Law Office of Lizzette Muñiz, we handle every aspect of your case from gathering evidence and negotiating with insurers to, if necessary, taking your case to trial to fight for your rights.
In New York, victims of slip, trip, and fall accidents may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and mobility equipment
Our firm’s deep understanding of New York premises liability laws ensures that your case is built on a strong foundation of evidence and advocacy.
Common Causes of Slips, Trips & Falls
Slip, trip, and fall accidents can occur virtually anywhere—indoors or outdoors, on private, commercial, or public property. Common causes include:
- Wet or freshly mopped floors with no warning signs
- Icy, snowy, or rain-covered sidewalks
- Broken or uneven stairs and handrails
- Loose rugs, mats, or carpeting
- Cracked pavement, potholes, or uneven surfaces
- Poor lighting in hallways, stairwells, or parking lots
- Spilled liquids, clutter, or debris left on the floor
In each of these situations, property owners, landlords, or managers have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions and to warn visitors of known hazards. When they fail to uphold this duty, they can be held legally responsible for any resulting injuries.
Types of Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in New York, particularly among older adults and workers in physical professions. Even a seemingly simple fall can lead to severe and long-lasting harm, such as:
- Broken or fractured bones (especially wrists, ankles, and hips)
- Head injuries and concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Hip fractures
- Soft tissue damage, sprains, and bruising
These injuries often require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and therapy. In many cases, victims are unable to return to work or resume normal daily activities for weeks, months, or even permanently. Beyond the physical pain, the financial strain from mounting medical bills and lost income can be overwhelming.
Understanding Negligence in Slip and Fall Cases
To recover compensation for a slip and fall accident in New York, your attorney must establish that the property owner or another responsible party was negligent. To prove negligence, we must demonstrate:
- Duty of Care – The property owner or manager had a responsibility to maintain safe conditions for visitors.
- Breach of Duty – That duty was violated due to a failure to repair, inspect, or warn about a dangerous condition.
- Causation – The unsafe condition directly caused your accident and injuries.
- Damages – You suffered measurable losses such as medical bills, pain, or lost income.
Under New York’s pure comparative negligence rule, even if you were partially at fault for the accident (for instance, if you were distracted or wearing non-ideal footwear), you may still recover compensation. However, your total award may be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% responsible for the accident, your compensation would be reduced by 20%.
This rule emphasizes the importance of having a skilled attorney who can minimize claims of shared fault and ensure you receive the maximum recovery possible.
What Damages Can You Recover?
In New York, damages in a slip and fall case generally fall into two main categories:
1. Economic Damages:
These include tangible financial losses such as hospital bills, surgery costs, prescription medications, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medical equipment, and lost income from missed work.
2. Non-Economic Damages:
These compensate for the intangible but equally real losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, or permanent disability.
In rare but severe cases involving reckless disregard for safety, such as a landlord ignoring repeated complaints about dangerous conditions, punitive damages may also be available to punish wrongdoing and deter similar behavior in the future.
Statute of Limitations in New York
Timing is crucial in any slip and fall case. Statutes of limitations and notice requirements vary widely across personal injury cases, with some deadlines, such as municipal notices or No-Fault applications, coming as soon as 30 days after an accident. Since delays can leave you legally time-barred, it’s crucial to seek legal help right away to protect your rights.
Steps to Take After a Slip, Trip, or Fall Accident
Taking the right steps immediately after your fall can significantly strengthen your case:
- Seek Medical Attention: Your health comes first. Even if your injuries seem minor, get evaluated by a doctor. Medical records serve as vital evidence.
- Report the Incident: Notify the property owner, store manager, landlord, or supervisor right away and request a written report if possible.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the hazard that caused your fall, your injuries, and the surrounding area. Gather contact information from any witnesses.
- Avoid Speaking with Insurance Adjusters: Do not provide recorded statements or sign any documents without legal advice. Insurers often aim to minimize payouts.
- Contact a Slip and Fall Attorney: The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better your chances of building a strong claim and securing fair compensation.
Why Choose The Law Office of Lizzette Muñiz?
At The Law Office of Lizzette Muñiz, we bring local experience, proven results, and personalized care to every case we handle. With extensive experience managing slip and fall claims throughout Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and the Hudson Valley, our firm understands the local courts, insurance companies, and strategies necessary for success.
We have a strong record of securing significant settlements and verdicts for injury victims across New York. More importantly, we pride ourselves on treating every client with compassion, respect, and individualized attention. You’re never just a case number—your story matters, and we’re here to fight for you every step of the way.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a slip, trip, or fall accident in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, or the Hudson Valley, don’t wait to seek help. Contact The Law Office of Lizzette Muñiz today for a free consultation.
Let our experienced slip and fall attorneys handle the legal battle while you focus on what truly matters: your recovery and your future.