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If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident due to someone else's negligence, you likely have grounds for a personal injury claim. Understanding the specific circumstances of your fall is the first step toward seeking justice and compensation.
We encourage you to reach out for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your unique situation. Even if your specific incident isn't listed below, our experienced New York slip and fall lawyers are here to assess your case and determine if another party's responsibility led to your injury.
Below, we outline common types of slip and fall cases we successfully handle for clients across New York.
"A freshly mopped floor without warning signs, a leaking pipe, or spilled liquids left unattended can turn any property into a danger zone. Simple maintenance and clear warnings prevent serious injuries."
Shana De Caro, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
Wet floors and slippery surfaces are the most common premises liability claims in New York, striking victims in everyday locations they should be able to trust:
High-Risk Locations:
The Hidden Dangers: Almost half of all falls occur at home, often due to hazards like wet floors, but commercial properties pose equal risks. Businesses legally must maintain safe floors. When they fail, catastrophic injuries result.
Devastating Consequences:
"Dimly lit stairwells, hallways, and parking garages create unnecessary hazards. When visibility is compromised, the risk of falls skyrockets. Negligent property owners must be held accountable."
Michael Kaplen, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
Poor lighting is cited as a frequent contributor to falls, particularly in nursing homes where environmental hazards cause an estimated 16%–27% of falls. The same dangers lurk in:
Common Problem Areas:
When property owners neglect lighting maintenance, they create invisible death traps that destroy lives.
"New York's crumbling sidewalks are a public menace. When property owners and the city fail to maintain safe walkways, innocent pedestrians pay the price with broken bones and traumatic injuries."
Shana De Caro, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
The numbers tell a shocking story of municipal negligence: NYC recorded 2,350 sidewalk defect injury claims in FY 2023, about 7% of all personal injury claims citywide. These sidewalk falls alone cost the city over $53 million in injury settlements.
Common Sidewalk Dangers:
The Legal Reality: In NYC, property owners bear responsibility for maintaining adjacent sidewalks, even when the city technically owns them. When they fail, both the city and property owners can face massive liability.
"New York winters are harsh, but that's no excuse for negligence. Property owners must clear ice and snow promptly and maintain sidewalks to keep pedestrians safe."
Michael Kaplen, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
Ice and snow create seasonal spikes in falls, with winter conditions among the leading causes of weather-related injuries nationally. Falls on ice account for over one-third of all injuries in winter months.
Deadly Winter Hazards:
New York's harsh winters make property owners' obligations even more critical, and their liability even greater when they fail.
"Nursing home residents are among our most vulnerable citizens. When facilities prioritize profits over safety, the consequences are devastating—and often fatal."
Michael Kaplen, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
The statistics are horrifying: 50–75% of nursing home residents fall each year—2 to 3 times the rate for seniors living in the community. An average 100-bed nursing home reports 100–200 falls annually, with about 1,800 nursing home residents dying each year nationwide due to fall-related injuries.
The Preventable Tragedy: Environmental negligence causes 16–27% of nursing home falls, including wet floors, poor lighting, incorrect bed heights, and wheelchair issues. About 10–20% of nursing home falls cause serious injuries, and 2–6% cause fractures.
When profit-driven facilities cut corners on safety, vulnerable residents pay with their lives.
"Stairs are inherently dangerous when not properly designed and maintained. Missing railings, uneven step heights, or poorly marked single steps can cause devastating falls even for the most careful person."
Shana De Caro, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
Stairway defects create some of the most serious fall injuries because victims often tumble multiple steps, gaining momentum and striking hard surfaces repeatedly.
Common Stairway Hazards:
Why These Falls Are So Devastating: Stairway falls often result in multiple impact injuries as victims tumble down several steps. Head injuries, spinal trauma, and multiple fractures are common outcomes.
"The Americans with Disabilities Act requires proper ramps for accessibility. When property owners cut corners on ramp installation or maintenance, they create dangerous conditions for everyone."
Michael Kaplen, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
Improperly designed or maintained ramps can be more dangerous than stairs, especially for individuals using mobility aids or carrying items.
Dangerous Ramp Conditions:
Ramps must meet strict engineering standards—when property owners ignore these requirements, serious injuries inevitably follow.
"Property owners have a legal duty to warn visitors of known hazards they can't immediately fix. A simple warning sign could prevent a lifetime of suffering."
Shana De Caro, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
Failure to post adequate warnings about potential hazards is one of the most inexcusable forms of negligence, especially when property owners know dangers exist but fail to alert visitors.
Warning Failures Include:
When property owners know about hazards but fail to warn visitors, they demonstrate conscious disregard for safety that often results in punitive damages.
"Cluttered walkways, exposed wires, and damaged flooring materials turn ordinary paths into obstacle courses. These hazards are often easily preventable, making the resulting injuries even more tragic."
Shana De Caro, senior partner and personal injury attorney at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
Tripping hazards catch victims completely off guard, often causing them to fall forward with significant force and unable to protect themselves.
Common Tripping Dangers:
The Devastating Impact: Tripping falls often result in serious facial injuries, broken wrists and arms from attempts to break the fall, and knee injuries from awkward landings.
If you suffered a slip and fall accident in New York due to the negligence of a third-party or government entity, contact us today for a free consultation.
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