Can I Sue If My Apartment’s Ceiling Collapsed?

Posted in Premises Liability on November 12, 2025

New York residents deserve to feel safe inside their own homes, including when they rent an apartment. No one should have to worry about a ceiling collapsing in their apartment. Still, ceiling collapses happen more often than you might think, including in New York City, where many buildings are aging and in ill-repair. When property owners cut corners and fail to properly maintain apartment buildings, the results can be devastating, including collapsed ceilings.

A premises liability lawyer in New York City will be there to fight for your rights — call (212) 564-2800 today.

Understanding Premises Liability Lawsuits for Collapsed Ceilings

It’s distressing enough to come home to a collapsed ceiling and damaged property, but when a ceiling collapse occurs when you and your loved ones are at home, it can result in severe injuries and trauma. Some ceiling collapses in New York City have caused fatal injuries.

Apartment building owners have a legal obligation—known as a duty of care—to adequately maintain all aspects of their property by conducting regular inspections, providing sufficient maintenance, and promptly repairing problems that could pose safety hazards, including structural and plumbing issues that could cause a ceiling collapse. When a property owner violates this duty of reasonable care, they are liable for the victim’s damages.

An injury victim harmed by a ceiling collapse has the right to file a premises liability lawsuit against the property owner.

What Causes Ceiling Collapses In New York City Apartments?

New York has stringent building codes and maintenance requirements. Despite these regulations, some property owners procrastinate on necessary repairs and ignore signs of dangerous safety hazards, including bowed, cracked, blistered, or water-stained ceilings. The most common causes of ceiling collapses in New York include the following:

Building code violations and structural failures
Poor maintenance
Plumbing leaks and water damage
Deteriorated building materials
Snow accumulation
Pest infestation
Negligent remodels
Inadequate or faulty repairs

Older apartment buildings are the most likely to experience ceiling collapses, especially when property owners fail to update structures to meet current codes.

What Types of Injuries are Caused by Apartment Ceiling Collapses in New York?

Ceiling collapses cause injuries ranging from mild to catastrophic. Common injuries cited in premises liability cases after ceiling collapses include the following:

Traumatic brain injuries
Fractured bones
External head, facial, and dental trauma
Neck injuries
Back injuries
Soft-tissue injuries
Lacerations, abrasions, and contusions
Crush injuries
Internal organ damage/internal bleeding

Ceiling collapses also cause respiratory illnesses from plaster dust and, sometimes, toxic exposure to hazards such as mold, rat droppings, and asbestos.

Damages In Apartment Collapse Cases In NYC

After experiencing a ceiling collapse, you not only have a right to recover compensation for your damaged property, but also for past and future medical expenses related to your injuries, lost income, and compensation for pain and suffering.

If you suffered a permanent injury, you could recover additional catastrophic injury compensation. If a loved one died due to their injuries after a ceiling collapse, a wrongful death claim against the property owner can bring your family financial accountability and a sense of justice for the grievous loss — contact an NYC wrongful death attorney today.

How Can a New York Premises Liability Lawyer Help My Ceiling Collapse Case?

Few accidents are as sudden and frightening as an apartment ceiling collapse. Sadly, these incidents injure apartment tenants of all ages, including children. If you or a loved one suffered serious injury due to a ceiling collapse in your apartment, contact the experienced New York City premises liability attorney at The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel.