When a Property Owner's Negligence Puts You on the Ground, We Put Them on the Hook
If you were hurt on someone else's property — a sidewalk, apartment building, grocery store, or job site — the owner had a legal obligation to keep that space reasonably safe. When they failed, you have the right to hold them accountable. At Gottfried Law Group, we've spent more than 30 years doing exactly that for injured New Yorkers across the Bronx and every borough.
What New York Law Requires of Property Owners
Under New York law, property owners and occupiers have a duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition and to warn visitors of known hazards they have not corrected. When a dangerous condition exists — whether the owner created it, knew about it, or should have discovered it through reasonable inspection — and someone is injured as a result, the law recognizes a viable premises liability claim. This standard applies to landlords, building managers, commercial operators, retail stores, and government entities alike.
New York also imposes a specific sidewalk liability rule under Administrative Code Section 7-210, which shifts responsibility for sidewalk maintenance and repair from the City to adjacent property owners. In the Bronx, where pre-war building stock and aging commercial corridors produce deteriorating sidewalks at a rate that outpaces repairs, this law is the foundation of a significant share of the premises liability cases we handle.
Property Owners Say "Not My Fault." We Prove Otherwise.
The single most common response from a property owner or their insurance carrier after an injury is denial. They claim the condition was obvious. They claim they had no notice. They claim the hazard appeared moments before the fall. We've heard every version of this argument — and we've beaten every version of it.
Our firm has argued and won reported decisions establishing property owner liability at the Appellate Division level. In Vizcaino v. Park Lane Mosholu (2020), we reversed a lower court's summary judgment in favor of the defendant, securing the client's right to bring their case to trial. That kind of result doesn't come from sending a demand letter and hoping. It comes from building a case that holds up when a property owner fights back.
Evidence Disappears Fast — Here's Why That Matters
Premises liability cases are won or lost on evidence. Surveillance footage is overwritten within days. Incident reports get buried. Property managers repair the hazardous condition before anyone photographs it. The window to preserve what you need is narrow, and it starts closing the moment the injury occurs.
When a new client comes to us with a premises liability claim, evidence preservation is the first priority — not paperwork. We move immediately to identify and secure surveillance footage, obtain incident reports, document the property condition, and establish a record that the defendant cannot erase. The longer you wait to contact an attorney, the more of that record disappears.
Premises Liability Cases We Handle
The legal theory of premises liability applies across a wide range of injury scenarios. Below are the four primary claim types we handle, each with its own evidentiary requirements and legal standards.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Wet floors, freshly mopped surfaces without warning signs, spilled merchandise, and unmarked liquid hazards are among the most common sources of serious injury in retail stores, apartment lobbies, and public buildings. A successful slip and fall claim requires proving the owner knew or should have known about the condition and failed to address it. We handle slip and fall cases throughout the Bronx and across New York City.
Trip and Fall Accidents
Broken pavement, raised sidewalk flags, uneven flooring, torn carpeting, and poorly maintained stairways cause trip and fall injuries that can be just as severe as any vehicle accident. Under NYC's sidewalk liability law, the adjacent property owner — not the City — is often the responsible party. Our trip and fall practice covers both private property and sidewalk claims across the boroughs.
Snow and Ice Accidents
New York property owners are required to clear snow and ice within a reasonable time after a storm ends. When they fail to do so — or when ice reforms after inadequate clearing — the resulting injuries fall squarely on the owner. Snow and ice accident claims involve specific notice and timing rules that make early legal involvement critical.
Snow and Ice Accidents
New York property owners are required to clear snow and ice within a reasonable time after a storm ends. When they fail to do so — or when ice reforms after inadequate clearing — the resulting injuries fall squarely on the owner. Snow and ice accident claims involve specific notice and timing rules that make early legal involvement critical.
Lead Poisoning
Lead Paint in Pre-1960 Housing
New York property owners are required to clear snow and ice within a reasonable time after a storm ends. When they fail to do so — or when ice reforms after inadequate clearing — the resulting injuries fall squarely on the owner. Snow and ice accident claims involve specific notice and timing rules that make early legal involvement critical.
Why the Bronx Produces More Premises Liability Claims Than Any Borough Should
A significant portion of the Bronx's residential and commercial building inventory was constructed before World War II. These structures were built under different codes, with materials that have exceeded their useful life, and many have not received the capital investment needed to meet current safety standards. Deteriorating stairways, failing handrails, crumbling facades, and malfunctioning elevators are not rare exceptions in this borough — they are common conditions in buildings where tenants and visitors are injured every year.
Aging Building Stock
A significant portion of the Bronx's residential and commercial building inventory was constructed before World War II. These structures were built under different codes, with materials that have exceeded their useful life, and many have not received the capital investment needed to meet current safety standards. Deteriorating stairways, failing handrails, crumbling facades, and malfunctioning elevators are not rare exceptions in this borough — they are common conditions in buildings where tenants and visitors are injured every year.
Sidewalk Liability Under NYC 7-210
Since 2003, New York City Administrative Code Section 7-210 has required adjacent property owners — not the City — to maintain and repair public sidewalks in front of their buildings. In the Bronx, where sidewalk infrastructure has been chronically underfunded and where property ownership is often fragmented across LLCs and absentee landlords, this law creates a significant volume of actionable claims. We know how to identify the responsible party, pierce through ownership structures, and hold the right defendant accountable.
Commercial Properties and Retail Hazards
The Bronx's commercial corridors — from Fordham Road to Hunts Point to the Grand Concourse — see high foot traffic through properties that are not always maintained to the standard the law requires. Grocery stores, bodegas, pharmacies, and retail chains have legal obligations to their customers. When a $2,950,000 settlement follows a fall in a grocery store, it is a reminder that "everyday" settings produce serious injuries and real liability.
Government-Owned Properties
Injuries on property owned or controlled by the City of New York, the New York City Housing Authority, or other government entities involve a separate set of procedural rules — including strict notice of claim deadlines that can be as short as 90 days from the date of injury. Missing that deadline can permanently bar a claim. If your injury occurred in a public housing development, a city park, or on a municipally maintained property, contact us immediately.
Results That Reflect What's at Stake
Premises liability injuries are not minor inconveniences. Fractured hips, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and permanent disability are the outcomes we see in these cases — and the recoveries we pursue reflect that reality.
- $2,950,000 settlement (2026) — grocery store fall
- $4,200,000 settlement (2023) — serious injury case
- Named Top 50 Lawyers in America (2024)
- Super Lawyers recognition every year from 2009 through 2026
- Reported appellate decisions establishing property owner liability, including Vizcaino v. Park Lane Mosholu (2020)
You do not decide whether your case is serious enough. We do — at no cost to you, and with no obligation to proceed.
Dangerous Conditions in Residential Buildings
How long do I have to file a premises liability lawsuit in New York?
In most cases, New York's statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if the property is owned by a government entity — such as the City of New York or NYCHA — you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the injury. Missing that deadline can permanently extinguish your right to recover. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after the accident.What does a property owner have to know about a dangerous condition for me to have a case?
Under New York law, a property owner is liable if they created the dangerous condition, had actual knowledge of it, or had constructive notice — meaning the condition existed long enough that a reasonable inspection would have revealed it. You do not need to prove the owner saw the hazard with their own eyes. Evidence of how long the condition existed, prior complaints, and maintenance records all bear on this question.The property owner's insurance company already called me. Should I talk to them?
Do not provide a recorded statement or sign any documents from the property owner's insurer before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to limit the value of your claim. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your recovery. A free consultation with our firm costs you nothing and could protect you from a significant mistake.What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault for your own injury. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault — but it is not eliminated. A finding that you were 20% at fault, for example, reduces a $500,000 recovery to $400,000. Do not assume partial fault disqualifies your claim.How much does it cost to hire a premises liability lawyer?
Nothing upfront. We handle premises liability cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you. There are no hourly fees, no retainers, and no out-of-pocket costs to pursue your claim. If we don't win, you don't owe us anything.
