What Should I Do After A Slip-And-Fall?

The first few moments after an injury can feel frightening. You are in pain, and you don’t know what to do. But there are some important steps to follow if you slip and fall or trip and fall. Seek medical treatment, even if you do not feel any injuries Get the name and contact information of the property owner and any witnesses Take photographs of the scene, especially the terrain or objects you tripped or slipped on DO NOT speak to any insurance representatives Get a personal injury lawyer who has experience in premises liability accidents immediately

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Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

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Sameer Chopra

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Sameer Chopra is a founding partner at our firm and a successful trial lawyer with 17 years of experience standing up to large corporations, government entities, and wealthy landlords on behalf of injured individuals. He is a true New Yorker and recognized as one of the Nation’s Top One Percent of attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

He was recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2017-2019 and then became a Super Lawyer from 2020 to present. He was also recognized as the 2021 Attorney of the Year by Top 100 Lawyers and was selected by Top Attorneys in North America as a distinguished Exclusive Presidents Circle Attorney for his continued excellence within the legal community. Sameer has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts, including significant verdicts against the City of New York and/or their affiliated agencies, and independent insurance carriers.

Content Last Updated: March 10, 2025

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New Yorkers just going about their daily business get hurt due to hazards such as slick floors, uneven sidewalks, and improperly maintained elevators and escalators. Property owners, businesses, management companies, and others who fail to keep their premises reasonably safe may be negligent and owe you compensation following a slip and fall accident.

Our New York slip and fall lawyers understand how the unexpected expenses, pain, and other effects of a slip and fall can affect you and your family. Contact us today so we can review your case, explain your legal rights, and help you fight for the damages you need and deserve.

Para servir mejor a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad, ofrecemos servicios en español.

Why You Need a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

Slip and fall cases can be frustrating, as you often have to go up against teams of attorneys and insurance adjusters. They may use tactics such as telling you you don’t have a claim or trying to press you into a quick, low settlement before you even know your full damages.

A skilled attorney can investigate your fall, collect vital evidence, and determine liability. This can be difficult to do on your own, as the person you are suing may control things such as surveillance video or maintenance logs you need to prove your case. We will ask a judge to compel them if they refuse to hand over evidence.

A skilled attorney also knows how to fully calculate your current and future damages so you don’t lose potential compensation. They will fight any claims you are to blame for your accident. Based on New York’s pure comparative negligence law, any fault you hold reduces your compensation.

Don’t talk to an insurance adjuster alone. Partner with our respected slip-and-fall lawyers in Manhattan quickly to let other parties know they have a fight on their hands.

Elements You Must Prove in a Slip and Fall Claim

Property owners in New York have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe from hazards or warn people about them. They must do so based on the likelihood of injuries to others, the seriousness of potential injuries, and the burden of avoiding the risk. Failure to take reasonable steps to keep a property safe can be negligence.

You must establish who legally controlled the property where you fell. That could be the property owner, business owner, management company, government entity, or multiple parties.

You must also prove that the other party did not take reasonable care, that you were injured, and that you suffered damages. You may have to overcome arguments that the hazard was readily observable and you could have avoided it.

You can represent yourself after being injured from a fall, but you risk losing out on compensation in these sometimes complex claims. Our experienced slip and fall accident attorneys in NYC have the resources and knowledge of New York slip and fall laws necessary to determine who is responsible for your injuries.

Why Choose the New York Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at Chopra & Nocerino

We firmly believe that accident victims deserve personal attention and support. They also deserve compensation to cover the best available medical treatment and deal with the other impacts of their accidents.

Our New York slip and fall lawyers are passionate about representing those injured by negligent property owners. We use our over 20 years of experience to fight for fair settlements and go to court when necessary. At Chopra & Nocerino, we don’t shy away from taking on deep-pocketed defendants and their teams. Instead, we work to show them what legal dominance looks like.

We are proud of accolades from groups such as Super Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers, and the National Academy of Personal Injury Lawyers. However, recognition from our clients means the most to our personal injury attorneys.

Slip and Fall Verdicts and Settlements

We understand how quickly being injured from a fall can eat up savings and put New York families in financial peril. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions for our deserving clients and have had significant success in slip and fall cases.

Some of our notable slip and fall case results around New York include:

$1.3 Million – Our client was walking into Marshalls to the customer service desk when she sustained serious injuries after falling. With video surveillance footage, we were able to prove that water was accumulating due to negligently storing wet umbrellas by the entrance. Though the defense heavily contested, we were prepared to go to trial, and as the jury was being selected, the case was settled. Our client required a one-level spinal fusion surgery.
$1.2 Million – Our client, age 43, tripped while exiting a Staten Island bar and sustained neck and back injuries. Settlement reached after liability verdict in favor of the plaintiff in Richmond County Court. The defendant argued no liability, we proved fault by tracking down the owner's Facebook page where he had shared a post about the bar just a few days prior.
$1.05 Million – Our client, age 29, fell down a flight of stairs that were not properly maintained in Brooklyn and suffered neck injuries that required surgery. A settlement was reached on the eve of the trial in Kings County, NY.
$875,000 – Our disabled client in her 40s was injured in a Staten Island assisted living residence after a tragic fall. We helped secure this compensation for the victim to assist in her recovery from a minor spine surgery.

“The team’s expertise, professionalism, and dedication were instrumental in my case. Christine, my attorney, approached every step of the process with care and compassion, always available to answer my questions and provide unwavering support. If you’re looking for a skilled attorney who genuinely cares about their clients, look no further than Chopra and Nocerino. Thank you all.”

– Alexandros Pouris

Common Injuries From Slip and Falls

Unintentional falls are the leading cause of nonfatal emergency room visits in the United States. In 2022, more than 8.5 million people went to the emergency room following a fall, about 3.5 million of them aged 65 and older.

Slips and falls can lead to bodily injuries that leave you laid up and unable to work. Some victims experience lifelong pain and an inability to engage in previous family or work activities.

Common fall injuries include:

Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and other head injuries.
Spinal cord injuries, sometimes requiring surgery.
Soft tissue injuries such as damaged ligaments or tendons.
Bone fractures, especially when older adults fall.

Even after physically healing, some people experience fall-related anxiety, which can lead to reduced activity and depression. Victims have a right to pursue compensation against property owners whose negligence harms them physically, financially, and emotionally.

How Much Does a Slip and Fall Lawyer in New York Cost?

Our slip and fall lawyers in Manhattan firmly believe that everyone deserves top-quality support and legal representation after an injury. We offer free case evaluations and take our trip and fall cases on a contingency basis. We pay to investigate your claim and take it through the insurance and legal processes. You don’t pay us unless we win compensation.

We’re real New Yorkers who don’t believe in nonsense and double-talk. We will always be upfront with you, including about how our contingency fees work.

“I have so much gratitude for Alex Nocerino who was able to help me receive my full settlement amount after having issues with my previous lawyer. Alex was extremely patient, knowledgeable and professional, and gave me great legal advice through my anxiety and impatience.”

– Summer E., Google

How Much Compensation Can You Get In a Slip and Fall Claim in New York?

The circumstances of every claim are different, and you can’t get an accurate assessment of your potential compensation until you discuss your case with a skilled premises liability lawyer. Don’t compare your case to someone else’s, and don’t trust online calculators that don’t consider all the relevant factors.

Your attorney can ask for compensation for your economic and non-economic harm, together called compensatory damages. Economic damages make up for your financial losses, while non-economic damages compensate you for emotional harm that isn’t easily measurable, such as pain and suffering.

Factors that influence your case value include:

The severity of your injuries, which affects your current and future medical needs and costs.
Your career, which affects things such as lost wages and future earning capacity.
Your age and working years remaining.
Non-financial losses such as quality of life, lack of consortium, and emotional trauma.
Insurance policy limits for the defendant.
Your lawyer’s skill in telling your story, which is especially important in winning non-economic damages.

It is essential that you partner with a lawyer you can communicate openly with. They must know enough to describe how your slip and fall accident impacted your life, not just physically and financially but emotionally. Most cases settle, but some go to trial. Our New York slip and fall attorneys have experience talking to juries, who will ultimately decide your compensation in those cases.

New York City Slip and Fall Claims FAQs

The time after a slip and fall can be frustrating and confusing. Knowing the answers to some common questions about New York slip and fall laws and claims can help you take the best next steps.

1. Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?

For New York personal injury claims, you generally have three years from your accident date to file a lawsuit. If you slip and fall on government property, you must give notice within 90 days to the appropriate agency that you are seeking compensation. Visit our New York personal injury statute of limitations page for more details.

2. Should I Visit a Doctor Even if I Don’t Feel Hurt?

Always visit a doctor after an accident, as you may have injuries that don’t present immediately, such as internal bleeding and brain injuries. The adrenaline after an accident may also initially mask your pain. You must have proof from a medical provider of the injuries related to your fall. If you hold off on care, the defendant can claim your injuries weren’t serious or happened later.

3. How Long Does a Slip and Fall Claim Take To Settle?

How long your slip and fall case takes to settle depends on factors such as the extent of your injuries and how cooperative the other parties are. Liability questions also affect the timeline. Claims involving obvious negligence may settle faster. Partner with an attorney with a history of success. They understand key decision-making moments, such as when a fast settlement offer is too low to address your long-term needs.

What Do I Do If I'm Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident?

Especially if you believe your slip and fall injuries are someone else’s fault, there are several steps to take as you recover:

Keep all follow-up medical appointments.
Retain copies of medical records, incident reports, and other documentation.
Keep a pain journal.
Seek mental health care if necessary.
Contact a respected personal injury lawyer with significant experience collecting compensation in slip and fall cases.

We strive daily to separate ourselves from other law firms. We will take your calls, personalize your representation, and fight for your legal rights at every step.

Contact NYC Slip and Fall Lawyers, Chopra & Nocerino, To Learn More

If you were injured in a NYC slip and fall accident due to someone else’s negligence, you and your family shouldn’t have to pay the price. It can be frustrating to hit roadblocks when seeking compensation, but you don’t have to go it alone.

Contact us at 855-NYC-HURT or complete our online contact form to learn more about your legal rights. Our New York slip and fall lawyers are fierce advocates who never back down in fights with property owners, corporations, and insurance companies.

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