Representing slip and fall victims across the Bronx since 1937.
If you slipped, tripped, or fell on someone else’s property in the Bronx and were seriously hurt, the property owner may be legally responsible for your injuries. Property owners and their insurance companies will argue that you were not paying attention, that the hazard was obvious, or that they had no way of knowing about the dangerous condition.
A Bronx, NY slip and fall lawyer at Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP knows how to counter those arguments. We have been representing injured New Yorkers for over 85 years and offer free consultations on all slip and fall cases.
Slip and Fall Lawyer Bronx, NY
To win a slip and fall case, the injured person has to prove that a dangerous condition existed on the property, that the owner knew about it or should have known about it through reasonable maintenance, and that the condition caused the fall and the resulting injuries. That three-part test sounds straightforward, but in practice, these cases are heavily contested.
Property owners rarely admit they knew about a hazard. A slip and fall attorney in the Bronx understands how to gather the evidence needed to overcome these defenses, including maintenance logs, inspection schedules, surveillance footage, prior complaint records, and witness statements that establish the property owner had notice of the problem.
Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in the Bronx
Slip and fall accidents happen in all kinds of settings across the Bronx, and each type of property raises different questions about who is responsible. Our attorneys handle a wide range of premises liability cases, including:
- Wet floor accidents in stores and restaurants. Spills, recently mopped floors, and leaking refrigeration units create slippery surfaces in commercial establishments. If the business knew about the condition or it existed long enough that a reasonable inspection would have caught it, the business may be liable.
- Sidewalk and pavement defects. Cracked, raised, or uneven sidewalks cause trip and fall injuries throughout the Bronx. Under New York City Administrative Code 7-210, the responsibility for maintaining sidewalks generally falls on the adjoining property owner, not the city.
- Snow and ice accumulations. Property owners in New York are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks and walkways within a reasonable time after a storm. Failing to salt, shovel, or sand icy surfaces can create liability for injuries that result from the neglect.
- Apartment building hazards. Broken stairs, missing handrails, poor lighting in hallways and stairwells, torn carpeting, and landlord negligence in maintaining common areas are all frequent causes of falls in residential buildings.
- Elevator and escalator malfunctions. A misleveled elevator or a malfunctioning escalator can cause passengers to trip and fall without warning. Our firm obtained a $1,725,000 settlement for a client who suffered a knee injury from a misleveled elevator.
- Construction site slip and falls. Debris, uneven surfaces, wet concrete, and missing guardrails on construction sites create fall hazards for both workers and pedestrians passing by.
- Falls on government property. Slip and fall accidents in public buildings, parks, subway stations, and other government-owned properties carry additional procedural requirements, including a 90-day notice-of-claim deadline that is strictly enforced.
Why Choose Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP for Slip and Fall Cases in Bronx, NY?
Over $131 Million Recovered for Injured Clients
Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has secured over $131 million in verdicts and settlements for injured New Yorkers. Our premises liability results include a $1,725,000 settlement for a client who suffered a knee injury due to a misleveled elevator and a $1,500,000 settlement for a victim who sustained back injuries after a slip and fall at a fast food restaurant.
If you need a personal injury lawyer in the Bronx, our firm handles slip and fall claims alongside car accidents, truck collisions, and other serious-injury matters with the same attention to detail.
Three Generations of Plaintiff-Side Trial Work
Our firm’s history dates back to 1937, when the Edelstein family began practicing law on Court Street in Brooklyn. Three generations later, the attorneys at Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP still operate on the same principle: prepare every case as if it is going to trial. That mindset produces results at the negotiating table and in the courtroom. The firm has been recognized by both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, and our attorneys are members of the American Bar Association and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. We handle every slip and fall case on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
What Is Important to Understand About a Slip and Fall Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall injuries are often more serious than people expect. Hip fractures, broken wrists, herniated discs, torn ligaments, and traumatic brain injuries from hitting the ground are all common outcomes, particularly for older adults. New York law allows slip and fall victims to pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and any ongoing or future care related to the fall
- Lost wages, covering income missed during recovery and any long-term reduction in your ability to work
- Pain and suffering, which accounts for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has affected your quality of life
- Out-of-pocket costs, such as assistive devices, home modifications, and transportation to medical appointments
In fatal slip and fall cases, the victim’s family may pursue a wrongful death claim.
New York follows a pure comparative negligence standard under CPLR Section 1411. That means even if the property owner argues you were partly at fault for your fall, you can still recover compensation. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovery entirely. The defense will almost always try to shift blame to you, which is why having an experienced slip and fall lawyer in the Bronx matters.
What Are Important Aspects of a Slip and Fall Case?
The single most contested issue in almost every slip and fall case is notice. Did the property owner know about the hazard? And if they did not know, should they have known? That question drives the entire case.
- Actual notice is the stronger of the two. If a tenant filed a complaint about a broken step, or an employee mopped a floor and forgot to put up a wet floor sign, the owner cannot credibly claim they were unaware of the danger
- Constructive notice is harder to prove but comes up more often. You have to show that the hazard was there long enough that any property owner exercising basic diligence would have found it. A puddle with shopping cart tracks through it tells a different story than a fresh spill. A sidewalk crack with grass growing out of it did not appear overnight
- Scene documentation is something you should do immediately if you are physically able. Photograph the hazard, the lighting, the surrounding area, your shoes, and your injuries. If there are security cameras nearby, tell your attorney right away. Footage gets overwritten, sometimes within days
- Incident reports matter too. If you reported the fall to a store manager or building superintendent, there should be a written record. Get a copy before it gets buried or lost
What Is the Slip and Fall Case Timeline?
No two slip and fall cases move at the same speed. A straightforward fall in a grocery store with clear surveillance footage may settle in several months. A fall on a city sidewalk involving a government entity can take years. Here is the general arc:
- The first few days and weeks are about getting medical care, reporting the fall to whoever owns or manages the property, and contacting a slip and fall attorney in the Bronx. The property owner will fix the hazard quickly, so documenting the condition before that happens is critical
- Over the next several months, your attorney gathers maintenance logs, inspection schedules, prior complaints, surveillance footage, and witness statements. All of this goes toward building the notice argument
- Medical treatment continues, sometimes for a year or more. Settling before you have reached maximum medical improvement almost always means leaving money on the table, because neither you nor your attorney can fully calculate what the case is worth until the doctors have a clear picture of your prognosis
- Once the medical picture stabilizes, your attorney sends a demand to the insurer and begins negotiating. Some cases resolve here. Many do not, because property owners and their carriers fight these claims aggressively
- If no fair offer comes, the case goes to litigation. In the Bronx, court timelines vary, but you should expect one to several years from filing to trial depending on the judge’s calendar
What Should You Bring to Your Slip and Fall Consultation?
Do not wait until you have a perfect file to call. But if you have any of the following, bring them along:
- Photos of the hazard, the location where you fell, and your injuries
- A copy of any incident report you filed with the property owner, store manager, or building super
- Medical records and bills from treatment so far
- Contact information for anyone who saw what happened
We will go through the details with you, explain what New York premises liability law says about your particular situation, and tell you whether we think you have a case.
What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Slip and Fall Cases?
Several New York statutes and public agencies are directly relevant to slip and fall claims. If you want to research the law yourself, these are good starting points:
- CPLR Section 214 sets a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in New York. But falls on government property are different. You have just 90 days to file a notice of claim against a city or state agency, and missing that window can end your case before it starts
- CPLR Section 1411 is New York’s pure comparative negligence statute. The property owner will argue you share fault for the fall. Under this rule, that does not bar your claim. It reduces your recovery by whatever percentage of fault the jury assigns to you, but you are still entitled to compensation for the rest
- The NYS Department of Health publishes data on fall-related injuries, hospitalizations, and prevention resources for New York residents
- The CDC’s fall injury data shows that millions of older adults report falling each year nationally, and provides state-by-state breakdowns of fall death rates
- The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee runs pedestrian and public safety campaigns that overlap with premises liability and sidewalk hazard issues
Reach Out to Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP to Schedule a Consultation
If you were hurt in a slip and fall in the Bronx and you believe the property owner’s negligence was responsible, our firm will review the facts at no cost. We take slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you. Contact us to set up a free consultation with a Bronx slip and fall attorney.
Slip and Fall Statistics in the Bronx
According to CDC fall data, more than one in four adults age 65 and older reports a fall each year, which adds up to roughly nine million fall injuries nationally. Federal mortality data shows the unintentional fall death rate for that age group reached 69.9 per 100,000 in 2023, a number that has climbed steadily over the past two decades. Falls are not only a concern for older residents. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 479,480 nonfatal workplace falls, slips, and trips in 2024, many of them on wet floors, damaged stairs, and neglected walkways. Behind each figure is a person whose injury was often preventable with reasonable property maintenance.
Mistakes That Can Damage Your Slip and Fall Claim
A strong case can lose value quickly when the injured person makes a few avoidable errors in the days after the accident. A Bronx slip and fall attorney sees the same problems repeated, and most of them are easy to prevent once you know what they are. These are the ones that cause the most harm to an otherwise solid claim.
- Waiting too long to act after the fall. Property owners repair hazards fast, and once the condition is fixed, proving it existed becomes much harder. Documenting the scene and getting advice early protects the case. If you are not sure what to do first, our guidance on the steps to take after a fall walks through the basics.
- Skipping or delaying medical care. When there is a long stretch between the fall and your first doctor visit, the insurance company argues the injury came from something else. These gaps in treatment give adjusters an easy way to discount what your claim is worth.
- Posting about the accident on social media. A single photo or comment can be twisted to suggest you were not really hurt. Insurers monitor these accounts, and social media posts that seem harmless often end up as evidence against you.
- Assuming the video will still be there. Store and building cameras frequently overwrite footage within days. If you wait, the surveillance footage that would have shown the hazard may be gone before anyone requests it.
- Giving the insurer a recorded statement alone. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that lock you into answers you may regret later. A short, friendly call can quietly undercut your position before you have spoken with a lawyer.
- Trying to settle the claim yourself. Property owners and their carriers fight these cases hard, and handling a claim alone usually means accepting less than the case is worth. Knowing the common claim mistakes that reduce recoveries is half the battle.
Bronx Slip and Fall Lawyer FAQs
How much does it cost to talk to a Bronx slip and fall lawyer?
There is no charge for that first conversation. Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP offers a free consultation on every slip and fall matter, so you can have your situation reviewed without paying anything to sit down with an attorney. That first conversation is a chance to learn where you stand and ask questions, with no obligation to hire us afterward. If you decide to move forward, we will explain in plain terms how the process works from there.
What happens during a free consultation?
We start by listening. You describe how and where the fall happened, we look at any photos, medical records, or reports you have, and we give you an honest read on whether a claim is worth pursuing. If you want to know what to expect during a consultation, the short version is that it is a conversation, not a commitment. Bring what you have, even if the file feels incomplete.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in the Bronx?
Most personal injury claims in New York carry a three-year filing deadline. Falls on government property are the major exception, because a notice of claim against a city or state agency is generally due within 90 days of the accident. Those shorter deadlines are enforced strictly, and missing one can end a case before it starts. Speaking with a slip and fall lawyer in the Bronx, NY early keeps your options open.
What if I was partly at fault for my fall?
You can still recover. New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation is reduced by your share of fault rather than eliminated. If a jury decides you were 20 percent responsible, you receive 80 percent of your damages. Property owners almost always try to shift blame onto the injured person, so having a Bronx slip and fall attorney who can push back on that argument matters.
Who is responsible if I fell on a Bronx sidewalk?
Usually the owner of the property next to the sidewalk, not the city, though there are exceptions for certain public and one-to-three-family owner-occupied properties. Cracked flags, missing pavement, and untreated ice are common culprits. Cases involving slipping on a sidewalk or a pothole turn on who controlled the area and whether they let a known hazard linger.
What if I slipped in a subway station or on public property?
Claims against public entities follow different rules than claims against private owners. Suing the MTA or a city agency involves that short notice-of-claim window and often a 50-h hearing, where you answer questions under oath before any lawsuit is filed. These steps are easy to miss without guidance, and a misstep can be costly.
How do I prove the property owner knew about the hazard?
Notice is the heart of most slip and fall cases. You show either that the owner actually knew about the danger or that it existed long enough that reasonable inspection would have caught it. That second path, called constructive knowledge, is built from maintenance logs, prior complaints, and evidence of how long the condition was present.
What is my slip and fall case worth?
It depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, time missed from work, and how the fall has affected your daily life. Two cases with similar-looking injuries can settle for very different amounts. Rather than guess, an attorney evaluates the records and the liability picture to estimate what a case is worth. Settling before treatment is complete usually leaves money on the table.
What kinds of injuries do slip and fall accidents cause?
More serious ones than people expect. Hip and wrist fractures, herniated discs, torn ligaments, and head injuries from hitting the ground are all common, particularly for older adults. Bone fractures alone can mean surgery, months of therapy, and lasting limitations. Getting evaluated promptly protects both your health and any future claim.
Should I still call an attorney if the insurer already offered money?
Yes, before you accept or sign anything. Early offers tend to arrive fast and low, well below what the claim may be worth once the full injury picture is clear. These falls fall under premises liability claims, where the value depends on evidence you may not have gathered yet. A quick review by a slip and fall attorney in the Bronx costs you nothing and can prevent a serious undervaluation.
Local Information for Bronx Slip and Fall Cases
What Are Important Local Resources for Bronx Slip and Fall Cases?
If you were hurt in a fall in the Bronx, a few local resources can help you report the hazard and get treated. Reporting a dangerous condition also creates a record that may support your claim later.
- NYC Department of Buildings: dial 311. File complaints about broken stairs, missing handrails, and other hazards in apartment buildings and commercial properties.
- Jacobi Medical Center: (718) 918-5000. A Level I trauma center in Morris Park that treats serious fall injuries.
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln: (718) 579-5000. A South Bronx trauma center for emergency injury care.
- Montefiore Medical Center: (718) 920-4321. A major Bronx hospital system with orthopedic and rehabilitation services.
We share these contacts for convenience only. Listing them is not an endorsement, and none of these organizations are affiliated with our firm.
About Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP
Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP is led by partners Paul J. Edelstein, Glenn K. Faegenburg, and Arthur Blyakher, plaintiff-side trial lawyers who have recovered millions of dollars for injured New Yorkers. Glenn Faegenburg is a member of the Eight Figure Litigators, and our attorneys belong to the New York State Bar Association. We prepare every slip and fall case as if it is headed for trial, which is what puts us in a strong position whether a claim settles or goes before a jury.
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“Great experience with this law firm. They handled my case with professionalism and care. They always communicated clearly, answered my questions, and guided me through every step. I’m really satisfied with their service and grateful for their support. Highly recommended.”
—Abdoulaye Pathé Baldé
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Contact Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP
If you were injured in a slip and fall in the Bronx and believe a property owner’s negligence caused it, the attorneys at Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP are ready to review what happened. We offer a free consultation, and there is no obligation to move forward after we talk. During that first conversation, we will go through how the fall occurred, look at any photos or records you have, and give you an honest assessment of your options. We respond to new inquiries promptly. Contact us to set up your free consultation with a Bronx slip and fall lawyer.
