Home > Personal Injury Lawyer in New York City > New York City Premises Liability Lawyer

New York City Premises Liability Lawyer

When a property owner’s negligence causes someone to suffer injuries, New York law allows them to hold that owner accountable and seek compensation for their medical bills, income losses, pain and suffering, and more. However, recovering money damages in these cases may not be easy on your own. Working with a lawyer well-versed in NYC premises liability law can help.

A Shulman & Hill premises liability attorney in New York City may be able to help you better understand your case and legal options. We offer free case consultations for victims and their loved ones. Contact our New Yorl City office today.

How Common Are Premises Liability Injuries in New York City?

There are hazards everywhere. You could suffer any number of injuries as you go about your day in the city. Thousands of New Yorkers need emergency medical care for injuries every day. Thankfully, most heal from their injuries. However, some will suffer catastrophic, life-changing injuries or even pass away.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries, a premises liability lawyer in New York City may be able to help you prove your case and hold the property owner or legal occupier responsible. This is true on any type of property, including:

  • Schools
  • Stores
  • Theaters and clubs
  • Hotels, motels, and resorts
  • Public buildings
  • Parks and recreational facilities
  • Apartment buildings

Some types of premises liability incidents are likely more common than you realize.

Falls

According to the New York State Department of Health, slips, trips, and falls from a height are common causes of injuries across all age groups. Statistics show:

  • Falls are the top cause of death from accidents for New Yorkers over age 45
  • Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalization for adults over age 25
  • Children up to age 14 are also frequently hospitalized for fall injuries

Elevator Incidents

According to a report from the NYC Department of Buildings, New York City is home to more than 70,000 elevators. Some of them will malfunction or run into other issues and cause injuries this year.

According to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, elevators and escalators cause thousands of injuries—around 17,000—each year, and more than two dozen actually die. While escalators can and do play a role in fatal injuries, elevators are much more dangerous. They cause about 90 percent of these deaths and 60 percent of the injuries.

About half of the deaths each year happen to maintenance workers, installers, or others working in or near the elevator or shaft.

Fires and Fire Injuries

In 2019, fire deaths in NYC dropped by 25 percent from the previous year. Still, faulty wiring and other electrical issues, careless cooking, smoking, and burning candles or incense continue to cause significant concerns for firefighters.

According to the New York Fire Department, 66 civilians died from fire-related injuries in 2019. The top cause of fatal fires in New York City was electrical.

Assault and Negligent Security

According to the New York Police Department, there were 2,307 felony assaults reported in May 2022. In a felony assault, the victim suffers serious injuries, is a child or a senior, or the perpetrator uses a gun. Many assaults are preventable if the property has adequate lighting, security, and other measures to protect guests.

What Is Premise Liability in New York?

Premises liability cases occur when a guest, customer, or another party suffers injuries because of the property owner or occupier’s negligence. These cases can be difficult to prove without help from a knowledgeable New York City premises liability attorney who can help you prove the elements of the case and pursue fair compensation.

According to the New York Bar Association, New York case law recognizes that property owners or lessees must ensure their property is safe and free from any “unreasonable and foreseeable” hazards. This includes providing property oversight, maintenance, and repairs when necessary. The ruling in Basso v. Miller, 40 N.Y.2d 233 (1976) established that property owners may be liable for any injuries that occur due to their negligence.

Premises liability accidents occur in commercial and residential buildings, both indoors and outdoors, including:

Premises Liability Claims and Lawsuits in New York City

A New York City premises liability lawyer from Shulman & Hill may be able to help you understand your case and take steps to recover compensation. Premises liability claims can be difficult to prove, but our team understands what plaintiffs must show to win these cases, including:

  • The property owner or lessee caused a hazard or knew (or should have known) about an unsafe condition
  • The hazard or unsafe condition played a significant role in causing the incident and their injuries

Often, when our team files an insurance claim or lawsuit to recover premises liability damages for a client, the property owner denies the allegations. We expect this and know how to counter their claims with evidence. However, you should expect the defendant to claim they were unaware of the hazard or blame the entire incident on you.

In many cases, we can negotiate a settlement before trial. We work towards an agreement about fair compensation for your injuries, but we will go to trial if we need to. When we do have to file a lawsuit, we must meet deadlines. In New York, these deadlines are typically:

There are exceptions to these deadlines. For example, you may have significantly less time to act if your injuries occurred in a municipal building such as a public school or on other government-operated property. However, the attorneys from our firm understand the ins and outs of New York premises liability law and can ensure you have someone on your side fighting for justice and the fairest settlement possible.

Our NYC Personal Injury Lawyers Can Fight to Protect Your Rights

An NYC premises liability attorney from Shulman & Hill may be able to go to work on your case today. Our team understands the role a prompt and thorough investigation of your claim plays in these cases. It is vital to gather evidence and begin to document what happened as soon as possible because evidence can disappear quickly. Without strong evidence to show what happened and who is legally responsible, we cannot recover your compensation.

We have a strong history of helping New Yorkers get the compensation they deserve from careless and negligent property owners. This includes more than $300 million recovered in total and several $1 million+ settlements. Our recent premises liability verdicts and settlements include:

  • A $1,600,000 settlement for a bus driver who suffered injuries to her knees and left shoulder after falling on ice in a bus lot
  • A $750,000 settlement for another bus driver who slipped on ice and fell in a bus lot, seriously injuring her right knee
  • A full policy, $500,000 settlement for a young school employee hit by a falling fence and forced to recover from a pelvic fracture

Although these results are not a guarantee of your cases’s outcome, we will work just as hard as we did for our other clients to get you the compensation you need.

We Want to Help You Recover From your Accident

To learn more about our services, how we protect clients’ rights, and how we can help with your case, our free case reviews are available to all injured victims and their families in New York City. We can assess your legal options based on the facts of your case. There is no charge for these free initial consultations. We can discuss it on the phone, via video chat, or meet in person.

You can hire a premises liability lawyer in NYC to handle your case with no upfront costs. Our team works based on contingency. We do not charge our clients any upfront fees. Instead, our attorney’s fees come as a percentage of the total compensation we recover for the client. We do not charge clients for attorney fees if there is no financial recovery in their case.

Connecting With a Premises Liability Lawyer Near You in New York City

At Shulman & Hill, our premises liability attorneys offer free case reviews for those hurt in New York City. If you or a loved one suffered an injury and have questions about your rights, our team can help. We can discuss your legal options with you for free. Contact us today to get started.

WE WORK WITH YOU
TO GET YOU COMPENSATED

Free Case Evaluation

We have helped thousands of New Yorkers recover more than $400 million in compensation

We have helped thousands of New Yorkers recover more than $400 million in compensation

We have helped thousands of New Yorkers recover more than $400 million in compensation

NO FEE UNLESS YOU WIN

Everyday working people often struggle to afford top-tier legal representation. To ensure equal access to justice, we work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no attorneys’ fees unless we achieve a settlement or verdict in your case.

pen writing on a paper symbol
lawyer scales symbol

More practice areas

Over 400 million dollars won

Our History of Success

Testimonials

"The treatment received by Shulman & Hill was extremely excellent. They treated me like I was part of their family and that gave me a lot of confidence in them. I would recommend them one hundred percent because they are very trained in your area. I congratulate you and ask God to fill you with blessings. Gracias for your support."

Ramon E.

"I would like to thank The Shulman & Hill Law Firm in Brooklyn for their outstanding representation on my worker’s compensation case. The monetary reward exceeded our expectations and Alex worked closely with me to meet and exceed my goals."

John S.

"To anyone in need of a worker’s compensation lawyer, I highly recommend Alex Shulman and his team. They went above and beyond to best accommodate me during my time of injury. All my questions and concerns were answered in a timely manner and with the utmost professionalism. In addition and most importantly they fought to make sure I was correctly compensated for my injuries at time of settlement and didn’t rush to get paid. I will be recommending their firm to anyone and everyone in need of their services."

Chaim L.

"I am both satisfied and relieved with the results this extremely professional and reliable firm did. They lead me through the entire process, they never gave me any issues. They handled everything on their own, and always put a great deal of effort to ensure my comfort and best interest. They were always reachable and answered all my questions, and gave me information even when I didn’t know what the right question to ask was.  They turned a grave dilemma into something very manageable and repairable. They are efficient and do not linger with any paperwork, I was truly amazed at the results and the short time it took. I highly recommend them to anyone, and will seek their counsel in the future."

Akila B.

"I really appreciate the service I received with Shulman & Hill.  They walked me through the process and kept me informed every step of the way.  They would call and leave a message and when I called back, I was connected with a person who knew exactly what my call was about.  I was very satisfied with my settlements. Thank You!"

Aaron R.

"Alex Shulman did a wonderful job walking me through all the process of my case…making sure I understood all the legality and severity of all my hearing. I highly recommend their firm to handle any and all worker’s compensation cases. They strive for your wellbeing health-wise as well as aiming for the financial max."

Altagrace G.

"Schulman & Hill was my very first choice I chose for my WC case . I am very pleased with the outcome of my case. I would highly recommend them to friends. They are very professional and kept me informed during every step of this process. Should I ever need a WC attorney again, God forbid, Shulman & Hill it is, hands down . Thank you ."

Cheryl M.

"I had a great experience with Shulman & Hill. They have a great team and were very understanding and helpful from day one. I felt like I was in good hands and the outcome on my case overreached my expectations! I highly recommend this firm. You can be rest assured that they will fight for you rights."

Anna G.

"My experience with the Shulman & Hill lawyers during this process time was excellent, they are competent and very professional lawyers, they worked quickly with my case and they kept me informed of the whole process all the time. Shulman & Hill’s fans recommend them with closed eyes, thank you very much Shulman & Hill."

Carolyn G.

"Shulman & Hill is the best firm out there. They help you understand....since walking into Shulman & Hill, they have guided me...to get a win. I am completely happy with my compensation. What brought me to Shulman & Hill was their expertise in workers compensation and personal injury cases. What I found value in was in their mission to provide compassionate service..."

Jason S.

"I went to the Internet to find a lawyer to assist me to navigate worker’s compensation process. Shulman & Hill was my first choice  and I have no regrets. I was impressed with the prompt response to my case. I must comment on the office environment and office staff being  friendly, professional and prompt. A big thanks to the lawyers that represented me at the hearings and Valeria who helped to lessen my anxiety are dealing with legal issues. I have no hesitation in recommending this law firm to anyone that requires legal services."

Ita L.

"The best law firm in NYC! They explain everything to you and they are very generous and helpful. The lawyers are excellent and very respectful as also is the receptionist. I highly recommend the Shulman & Hill law firm."

Davis C.

"Excellent lawyers. Excellent service. I will recommend them as my first choice. They helped me with my case since day one. They know exactly how to work on a case and win it. They worked fast and were always in communication with me.  I won my case with a very high amount. Thanks to all the staff, I wish them my best. They will always be in my heart."

Grace B.

"Had a very positive experience working with Shulman & Hill in the worker’s compensation case. Everyone is very professional and competent. Received the maximum possible settlement in court. I am sincerely grateful to my lawyers and personally Alex Shulman for the work done. I wish you further success and prosperity."

Dmitry M.

"I am so glad that I chose Alex Shulman to represent me in my worker’s compensation case. I have definitely recommended him to some of my coworkers and friends who needed an Attorney. I am so happy with the service I got from him and his paralegals. Thank you very much to the entire staff at Shulman & Hill for everything!"

Ilya K.

"Shulman & Hill have been tremendously helpful in resolving my case. They are extremely professional and thorough. I would recommend them to anyone working to resolve a difficult case."

James M.

"I was very pleased with the work of this firm. They made sure I understood my case and I was never left out of the loop. They were professional and very friendly. I would recommend them to anyone looking for someone who is going to fight for you to the very end."

Jennifer D.

"Do not waste time looking for better. There is no better than Shulman & Hill. I am very happy I got introduced to them by my good friends. Definitely THE BEST there is."

Arian K.

"Shulman and Hill are the absolute best: JJ, Alex and Christine are powerhouse attorneys who get the best results for their clients. I feel like these guys took care of me like family. When you’re dealing with a worker’s compensation case, you’ll want a pit bull to represent you: Shulman & Hill is the firm you need."

Chelsea W.

"Wonderful service quality by the group of professional advocates in the law firm of Shulman & Hill! I did not expect that I will find a proper solution regarding my worker’s compensation. However, it has been possible by the experts and they have made the task easier over the period. Thanks to them for their help."

Corey A.

"I would definitely like to thank Mr. Alex Shulman and his entire staff at Shulman and Hill for their exceptional work in helping me with my Worker’s Compensation case. Their entire staff was courteous and professional from start to finish and all work was done in a timely fashion. I was previously with a different law firm who were not as informative, and they made me feel like I was a mere money to them. I personally recommend the law offices of Shulman & Hill for any injury/ worker’s compensation case you may have. They strive to get you a maximum reward for your injury, while maintaining the utmost courtesy and professionalism."

Dain J.

Testimonials

Free Case Consultation

Get your free, immediate case evaluation

Consultation
By submitting you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.