Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises safe. When they fail, and you get hurt, you may be forced to deal with pain, time away from work, and medical bills you can’t afford. You may be able to hold the property owner liable for the hardships they have caused.
However, a premises liability claim can be complicated. Insurance companies push back hard, dispute fault, and minimize what your injuries are worth. Our premises liability lawyers in Clarkstown know how to counter those tactics and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers has recovered more than $1 billion for injured New York residents. Call for your free consultation and find out how our personal injury lawyers in Clarkstown can help. Every Borough, Every Block, New York, We Got You.
What Counts as a Dangerous Property Condition?
A dangerous condition is any hazard the owner or person in control knew about or should have discovered through reasonable inspection, yet failed to fix or warn about. Examples include wet or freshly waxed floors without signs, broken handrails, uneven sidewalks, and poor lighting.
New York premises cases turn on notice and reasonableness. We work to show the property owner had actual notice (they knew) or constructive notice (the condition existed long enough they should have known).
Common Premises Claims We Handle
Premises cases are not limited to supermarkets and sidewalks. They arise in apartment buildings, parking lots, office towers, schools, construction sites, and entertainment venues.
Our premises liability attorney in Clarkstown can evaluate your facts and identify all at-fault parties. Typical premises liability incidents include:
- Slip, trip, and fall incidents on wet floors or uneven surfaces
- Ice and snow injuries involving delayed or improper removal
- Stairway and handrail failures or code violations
- Falling merchandise or ceiling collapses
- Negligent security leading to assault or theft
How a Premises Liability Lawyer Builds Your Case
An effective claim rests on four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. We gather maintenance records, incident reports, surveillance footage, and witness accounts to show how the hazard formed and how long it existed.
When needed, we consult building code professionals, safety engineers, or snow and ice experts.
We also analyze lease agreements to see who actually controlled the area—owner, tenant, or a management company—and whether a contractor or snow vendor shared responsibility. From there, we present your medical evidence and financial losses to the insurer or a jury.
Evidence to Preserve After an Injury
Right after an incident, seek medical evaluation quickly and follow treatment plans. Medical evaluations not only make sure you are on the road to recovery, but the records form the backbone of your damages claim.
Time-sensitive evidence can disappear. Security footage may be overwritten within days, and cleanup can erase proof of a spill or ice patch. If you can, document the scene and your injuries promptly, and keep anything related to the event, like damaged shoes or a broken phone.
Photograph the hazard from multiple angles, the surrounding area, and any warning signs—or the lack of them. Ask for an incident report and get a copy if possible. Collect names and phone numbers of witnesses and employees who saw the condition or your fall.
Who May Be Liable for Your Losses
Multiple parties can share responsibility. Property owners owe duties to keep areas reasonably safe, but tenants or commercial occupants often control the interior space and day-to-day maintenance.
Management companies, janitorial services, snow and ice contractors, and security vendors may also be liable based on their contracts and conduct.
If an out-of-possession landlord retained control over repairs or assumed a contractual duty, they can be brought into the case. When the property is publicly owned, special rules and shorter deadlines may apply, including strict notice requirements.
Damages Available Under New York Law
Our Clarkstown premises liability lawyers will seek economic damages on your behalf, such as Medical care.
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Medications
- Medical devices
- Future treatment
- Reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket transportation or home-care costs
Non-economic damages address physical pain, emotional distress, scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life. In severe cases, if a loved one passes away, wrongful death damages may be available to the estate and eligible family members under New York statutes.
Deadlines and Legal Timelines in Clarkstown
Most New York personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the incident. Wrongful death actions are generally subject to a two-year deadline. Waiting can damage your case because witnesses move, memory fades, and critical video is routinely erased.
Claims against a government entity can require a Notice of Claim within 90 days and a shorter lawsuit deadline. Talk to our premises injury attorney quickly so we can track the correct timelines and protect your rights.
Get Help from Our Premises Liability Attorneys in Clarkstown
If you were hurt on someone else’s property, we can help you understand your options and build a plan that fits your situation. You don’t have to deal with this alone. We handle the legal work and pursue fair compensation while you recover.
Our premises liability attorneys in Clarkstown start with a careful case review, identify all liable parties, and send preservation letters to secure evidence. You get clear updates, practical guidance, and a strategy shaped around your goals.
The team at Shulman & Hill has more than 200 years of combined legal experience serving the New York community. Call now for your free consultation.