What If I Slipped and Fell On Commercial Property?

Posted in Slip and Fall Accidents on September 30, 2025

New York residents spend their busy days navigating a variety of properties, from workplaces and public spaces like transit stations and parks, to commercial areas where they shop, eat, and run errands. All property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain reasonably safe premises for those who are on the property legally, but the owners of commercial property owe the highest duty of care to those they invite onto their properties for commerce and business purposes.

A NYC slip and fall attorney from the Law Offices Of Jay S. Knispel is here for you will fight for justice — contact us online today.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents on Commercial Property?

There are hundreds of muscle movements involved in taking steps, including tiny muscles that help our feet grip the floor surface. When liquid, debris, an uneven surface, or an unseen level change interferes with a foot’s grip, the result can throw the walker off balance and cause a fall. Common causes of slip-and-fall accidents on commercial property include the following:

Wet floors from spills, leaks, or mopping, often paired with the failure to place warning signs
Tracked-in rain, mud, snow, or ice
Inappropriate cleansers or floor wax products that leave a slick surface
Loose floor mats or carpets
Debris or clutter underfoot
Inadequate lighting
Cracked or broken floorboards or tiles
Uneven, cracked, or broken pavement
Slippery or icy steps
Loose gravel or sand
Unmarked floor level changes

Commercial property owners have a responsibility to instill in their staff the importance of routine inspections and prompt corrective measures to address slip-and-fall hazards.

Understanding a Commercial Property Owner’s Duty of Care for Invitees

A business owner, such as the owner of a convenience store, coffee shop, or restaurant, actively invites others onto their property to do business. Those who enter the property for commercial activities, like shopping, dining, or buying a cup of coffee, are known as “invitees” to the property. Commercial property owners owe their highest duty of care to invitees who are their customers and patrons. Unfortunately, sometimes business property owners cut corners, fail to adhere to safety standards, postpone repairs, or perform inadequate inspections and maintenance, resulting in slip-and-fall accidents. A slip-and-fall accident victim who seeks compensation for their injury-related damages must present compelling evidence showing that the case meets the following legal standards of liability:

The commercial property owner was aware of a safety hazard, like a slip-and-fall risk, or should reasonably have known about it
They owed a duty of reasonable care to the injury victim
They breached their duty of care through negligence
The breach of duty directly caused the slip-and-fall injury
The injury victim suffered damages from the injury

Damages in slip-and-fall claims range from a single emergency room bill and a few days of lost pay to lifelong disability damages and compensation for chronic pain and suffering.

What Damages Could I Recover In My Slip-and-Fall Injury Case Against a Commercial Property Owner?

Injuries such as fractures, sprains, torn ACL or MCL tendons in the knees, back and neck injuries, and traumatic brain injuries are the most common results of slip-and-fall accidents. These injuries require costly treatment and interfere with earning ability. A successful claim recovers compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, reduced earning ability, and pain and suffering. In some cases, catastrophic injury compensation is also available to a slip-and-fall injury victim with permanent injuries, such as spinal cord damage with paralysis or a facial injury that causes scarring or disfigurement.

Most slip-and-fall claims are resolved through a settlement from an insurance company; however, it often takes an experienced NYC premises liability lawyer to make a compelling claim that proves liability and maximizes the compensation available for an injury victim’s damages.