Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
A slip-and-fall accident can leave you with broken bones, a head injury, or damage to your back or knees. Recovery takes weeks or months. You may miss work, fall behind on bills, and struggle to handle daily responsibilities.
Property owners in Clarkstown have a legal duty to keep their premises safe. When they ignore hazards and you get hurt, you may be able to hold them liable. Our slip-and-fall accident lawyer in Clarkstown can help you understand your rights and options.
Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers has recovered over $1 billion for New Yorkers injured in accidents that weren’t their fault. 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.
Immediate Steps After a Slip and Fall Accident in Clarkstown
Your first move is to get medical care. Prompt treatment documents your injuries, ties them to the fall, and protects your health. If you can, report the incident to the property owner or manager before leaving.
Photograph the hazard, your shoes, and the scene from several angles. Ask for the names and contact details of employees and witnesses. Keep the clothes and footwear you wore that day in the same condition for potential testing. Avoid discussing faults on the scene or on social media.
Video and reports can disappear quickly. Many businesses overwrite camera footage in days. Ask in writing that the property owner preserve all video for the hours surrounding your fall, plus maintenance logs and cleaning schedules.
How Our Team Will Help
From day one, we focus on preservation. We send evidence, hold letters, request video, and secure records before they vanish. We visit the scene when possible, take measurements, and analyze lighting, slope, and drainage that may reveal code violations or recurring risks.
We also help you track medical care and out-of-pocket costs. When appropriate, we consult with treating providers to clarify diagnosis, prognosis, and future needs. Our goal is a clear, documented claim that speaks to both fault and the full scope of your losses.
Dealing With Insurers
Insurers often look for ways to avoid paying your full claim. They may say you were distracted, wore the wrong shoes, or ignored an open and obvious hazard. Our slip-and-fall attorneys in Clarkstown anticipate these defenses and answer them with facts.
Maintenance gaps, poor lighting, lack of mats, or inadequate snow removal can outweigh allegations of inattention. Our approach is to build leverage through evidence and negotiate from strength.
Proving Liability and Causation
To recover in a premises liability claim, you must show a dangerous condition existed, the owner or occupier knew or should have known about it, they failed to fix or warn, and the hazard caused your injuries. Evidence often turns on notice:
- Actual notice means the owner knew of the hazard
- Constructive notice means it existed long enough that they should have discovered it with reasonable inspections.
Causation requires linking the condition to your injuries. Consistent treatment, clear documentation, and credible witness accounts help anchor the timeline and cause.
Assess Your Damages in a Slip-and-Fall Case
You can pursue economic and non-economic damages. Our Clarkstown slip-and-fall accident lawyers present both categories with medical support and, when needed, expert analysis.
- Economic losses include medical bills, therapy, home health services, and lost income. If injuries reduce your future earnings or require long-term care, those losses may be included as well.
- Non-economic damages account for pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and the daily impact of your limitations.
Litigation doesn’t always mean a trial. Many cases settle after discovery clarifies what happened and why. We negotiate for a settlement that fully reflects your losses. If an insurer offers too little or refuses to accept liability, we will file a civil lawsuit and take your fight to court.
Deadlines and Special Notice Rules in New York
Most New York personal injury actions have a three-year statute of limitations from the date of the fall. Waiting can hurt your case because video, witnesses, and conditions change quickly. Early action helps capture the scene before it’s repaired or weather shifts wash away proof.
Claims against public entities have shorter deadlines. If you fell on village, town, county, or state property, a Notice of Claim may be due in as little as 90 days, and the lawsuit deadline can be much shorter than three years. We assess ownership early so these time limits are met.
Talk to Our Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawyers in Clarkstown
New York property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe for lawful visitors. Landlords, stores, restaurants, and municipalities all have duties, though the standards and timelines for fixing hazards can differ by property type.
If you were hurt in a fall on unsafe property, our slip-and-fall accident attorneys in Clarkstown can review your claim, preserve key evidence, and explain your options under New York law. If you’re unsure whether your fall qualifies, we can review the facts at no cost.
Our team at Shulman & Hill has more than 200 years of combined legal experience, standing up for accident victims in New York. Call today for your free consultation.
