What If You Were Injured Due to Poor Lighting On NYC Property?

Posted in Premises Liability on November 12, 2025

Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe for anyone who legally enters the property. This duty applies to owners of apartment buildings, hotels, stores, and all commercial and private properties in New York City. One often overlooked aspect of maintaining a safe property is proper lighting. When a property lacks adequate lighting, it opens the door to serious injuries and liability.

A slip and fall attorney in NYC can assist you after an accident — contact us online to get started with a free consultation today.

How Does Poor Lighting Cause Injuries On NYC Properties?

When a property lacks sufficient lighting, the risk of injury substantially increases. Inadequate lighting has the following adverse effects:

It causes dark or shadowy areas that hide obstacles, causing trip-and-fall accidents
It makes it difficult to see level changes, such as step-ups or step-downs
It hides slip-and-fall hazards such as wet floors or debris inside a building or loose gravel in a parking lot
It makes navigating staircases more dangerous
Insufficient lighting also increases the risks of criminal assault and acts of violence

Falls are a frequent result of poor lighting on New York City properties, including inside dimly lit buildings, and outdoors in parking lots, parking garages, and on poorly illuminated walkways and steps.

What Types of Injuries Occur Due to Inadequate Lighting In New York City?

Falls are the most common cause of accidental injuries. They are also preventable when a property owner takes adequate measures to maintain their property in a safe condition, including providing sufficient lighting. Poor lighting accidents cause injuries such as the following:

Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from concussions to more severe injuries
Broken bones
Soft-tissue injuries like sprains, torn ligaments, and tendon injuries
Neck injuries
Back injuries
Contusions, lacerations, and abrasions
Facial and dental trauma
Spinal cord injuries
Injuries from assault, sexual assault, or other acts of criminal violence

When inadequate lighting on a property directly causes a fall or other accident or incident resulting in injury, the victim has the right to seek compensation for their injury-related damages with the help of a premises liability lawyer in NYC to bring a claim against the property owner.

What Damages Are Recoverable In a Premises Liability Claim for Inadequate Lighting?

Injuries are expensive, as well as painful and emotionally traumatic. Common damages awarded to injury victims in NYC premises liability claims include the following:

Past and future medical expenses
Out-of-pocket costs
Past and future income loss
Reduced future earning capacity
Compensation for pain and suffering
Catastrophic injury damages, if any apply, such as for permanent scarring, loss of limb, loss of one of the senses, or diminished quality of life

If inadequate lighting caused the death of a loved one, a wrongful death lawyer in New York City can recover compensation to the family for their economic losses and emotional anguish.

How Can a NYC Premises Liability Lawyer Help?

It takes clear and compelling evidence to prove that a property owner’s failure to provide adequate lighting caused the injury and that the injury victim suffered significant damages. Call The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel for legal counsel throughout every step of the process, maximizing your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve.