Slip and fall accidents are among the most common personal injury cases in New York. While many people think of them as minor, the truth is that these incidents can lead to serious injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, or long-term mobility issues. If you or a loved one has been hurt, understanding the most common causes of slip and fall accidents can help you see whether you have a valid claim.
At the Law Offices of Steven Gacovino, P.C., our attorneys have decades of experience handling slip and fall cases across Suffolk County and greater New York. By knowing the causes and proving negligence, we help victims fight for the compensation they deserve.
Top Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in New York
1. Weather-Related Hazards
New York winters often create icy sidewalks, snowy entryways, and wet stairwells. When property owners fail to clear or salt surfaces, visitors are put at serious risk. Even short delays in shoveling or applying ice melt can be the difference between a safe walkway and a dangerous accident.
Municipal codes and property laws require landlords and businesses to keep sidewalks, stairs, and parking areas safe for pedestrians. That means timely snow removal, proper salting, and ensuring gutters or drains don’t create patches of ice. Courts in New York have held property owners liable when they neglect these duties, particularly in cases where melting and refreezing created a recurring hazard.
Victims of winter slip and falls often sustain serious injuries like broken wrists, fractured hips, or concussions from the sudden impact of falling on hard ice. If you’ve been hurt under these conditions, the Law Offices of Steven Gacovino, P.C. can gather meteorological reports, property maintenance logs, and expert testimony to prove negligence and secure compensation.
2. Uneven Pavement or Sidewalks
Cracked, broken, or uneven sidewalks are another major source of slip and fall claims. In New York City and surrounding areas, property owners are generally responsible for the sidewalks in front of their property, and failing to keep them safe can expose them to liability.
Hazards include raised slabs of concrete caused by tree roots, depressions where water collects, or large cracks that make footing unstable. These defects are especially dangerous for the elderly or anyone with limited mobility.
Recent New York slip and fall cases highlight that property owners cannot hide behind claims of ignorance. If a defect has been present long enough that it should have been discovered and repaired, courts will often find constructive notice — meaning the owner should reasonably have known about the hazard.
Our attorneys at Law Offices of Steven Gacovino, P.C. have the resources to obtain inspection reports, photographs, and testimony to establish how long a condition existed. This evidence often becomes the deciding factor in proving liability.
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3. Poor Lighting
It may seem minor, but poor lighting is one of the leading causes of trip and fall accidents in stairwells, hallways, and parking areas. Without proper illumination, it’s nearly impossible for visitors to see uneven flooring, wet patches, or obstacles in their path.
New York’s building codes require adequate lighting in residential and commercial properties. A burned-out bulb in a stairwell, a dark parking garage, or an unlit exterior walkway can all create dangerous conditions that put tenants and customers at risk.
Property owners often try to argue that the hazard was “open and obvious,” but inadequate lighting can counteract that defense. If an accident occurs because a property owner neglected such a basic safety measure, courts are more likely to side with the victim.
The Law Offices of Steven Gacovino, P.C. frequently works with building code experts and safety engineers to prove that lighting conditions contributed to an accident. With their help, we strengthen cases and ensure victims get the representation they need.
4. Wet or Slippery Floors
Indoor slip and falls are often caused by spills, leaks, or mopping without warning signs. Grocery stores, restaurants, and shopping centers are common locations for these accidents. Property owners and managers are legally obligated to either clean up spills promptly or warn customers with visible signage.
Even a few minutes of neglect can result in a customer slipping and sustaining injuries like torn ligaments, spinal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries. Courts in New York have held that businesses must perform reasonable inspections of their premises to discover and remedy such hazards.
For example, if a spill occurred in a supermarket and employees walked past it without taking action, that’s evidence of negligence. Our firm knows how to subpoena maintenance records, surveillance footage, and employee testimony to establish how long a hazard existed and whether reasonable steps were taken to address it.
5. Unsafe Stairs or Railings
Staircases are inherently risky, and when steps are uneven, broken, or missing handrails, they become even more dangerous. A fall down a flight of stairs can cause catastrophic injuries, including multiple fractures or permanent disability.
New York’s property laws and housing codes require safe stair construction, proper handrails, and regular maintenance. Property owners who neglect these standards can be held responsible for resulting injuries.
We’ve seen many cases where stairwell accidents were entirely preventable with basic repairs or adherence to safety standards. The Law Offices of Steven Gacovino, P.C. investigates these incidents with engineers and safety experts to prove that unsafe construction or maintenance directly caused the fall.
How Gacovino Helps Victims
At the Law Offices of Steven Gacovino, P.C., we know how to investigate the full range of slip and fall causes. Our team routinely gathers weather data, maintenance logs, photographs, and witness testimony. We also bring in experts to testify about property standards and safety protocols.
Our proven approach ensures that victims are not left to deal with medical bills, lost income, and long-term recovery alone. We focus on building cases that survive dismissal, stand strong in court, and ultimately secure the compensation our clients deserve.
Take Action After a Slip and Fall
If you are injured:
- Seek medical care immediately
- Take photos of the scene and conditions
- Report the accident to the property owner or manager
- Call the experienced slip and fall lawyers at the Law Offices of Steven Gacovino, P.C. as soon as possible
For more on several recent landmark cases in New York slip and fall law, visit our blog: Landmark Slip and Fall Cases in Recent New York History.
Click here if Interested in floor safety information that may be relevant to your case from the National Floor Safety Institute.
Conclusion? Call Our Slip and Fall Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today
Slip and fall accidents are not just bad luck — they are often the result of negligence. The Law Offices of Steven Gacovino, P.C. has built a strong reputation in Suffolk County and throughout New York for representing victims of these injuries. If you’ve been hurt, contact us today for a free consultation and let us fight for your rights.
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