What to Do If You’re Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident

Posted in Slip and Fall Accidents on September 30, 2026

A slip and fall accident in New York can be a serious event and the owner of a business may be liable. In some cases, minor injuries can be the result that does not require medical attention, however, slip and falls accidents can result in serious injuries and even lead to death. If you’re hurt in a slip and fall accident at a business, there are specific steps you must take in order to protect yourself and to get justice against the negligence that led to your injury.

First, What Causes Slip-and-Fall Injuries In New York City Stores, Apartment Complexes, Businesses, Sidewalks, and Parking Lots?

When something interferes with a footfall, it can cause your foot to slide out from under you, overextending muscles, tendons, and vertebrae before you hit the ground and suffer blunt force trauma. The most common causes of NYC slip-and-fall accidents include the following:

Wet floors from mopping, spills, plumbing leaks, or tracked-in rain and snow
Icy or snowy steps, sidewalks, walkways, and parking lots
Cracked or broken floor tiles
Cracked or broken pavement in parking lots and walkways
Inadequate lighting
Unmarked floor level changes, such as step-ups and step-downs
Loose gravel
Loose carpets and floor mats
Cluttered floors
Broken stair risers or missing handrails

Slip-and-falls cause serious injuries, like fractures, sprains, knee injuries, back injuries, and concussions. In more severe cases, a bad fall can cause spinal cord injuries, serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and permanent disability.

You have the right to compensation under New York’s comparative negligence law of contributory negligence. While no legal process erases painful and potentially debilitating injuries, a slip-and-fall accident claim can help recover your economic losses so you can focus on healing. But first, taking steps to protect yourself can help safeguard your future.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident In New York

Immediately following a slip and fall accident, visit your doctor or the ER if you are hurt. Ask the physician to document the injuries in detail and make sure to take time-stamped photos. The physician’s report and those photos will help establish the severity and reality of the injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident.

Once your injuries have been treated, return to the scene of the accident and be sure to document the conditions of the ground and the surrounding area. Write down what you see, take photos, and make sure to get statements from witnesses who were present. If you were injured in a store or restaurant, make sure you fill out an accident report and have the business manager or supervisor on duty sign the accident form.

If you are too seriously injured to take these steps yourself, ask a loved one to do so for you.

What to Do During the Days and Weeks After the Slip and Fall Accident In New York

If possible, get counsel from a personal injury lawyer who has experience with these types of cases and ask them to visit the accident scene for you while you are being treated. The sooner the better. It might seem like a lot of leg work, but you’ll be grateful for it when the time comes to provide detailed proof of the accident.

Protecting Your Best Interests After an NYC Slip and Fall Accident

During your recovery period after an accident with serious injuries like back injuries, neck injuries, fractures, and head injuries, which are common after a bad fall, you can work on protecting your financial recovery as well as your physical healing by doing the following:

Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions for treatment by attending every appointment, undergoing physical therapy if needed, and filling every prescription
Save copies of all medical bills, invoices, and receipts for related expenses, such as travel costs for seeing specialists and costs for temporary or permanent mobility equipment and home care assistance
Ask your employer for a statement about your lost work days and how your injury impacts your ability to perform your work, now and in the future
Gather proof of your standard income, such as tax forms and direct deposit slips
Hire an experienced New York City slip-and-fall accident lawyer before speaking with the property owner’s insurance company. Often, they quickly reach out with lowball offers before you know the extent of your damages

If you are looking for an accident attorney in NYC who has experience with slip and fall cases, please call me for a free consultation. I work with contingency fee agreements which means you will not pay a dime unless I win your case.

Why Hiring a New York Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Helps Your Case

A crucial step in protecting yourself after a slip-and-fall in New York City is hiring an experienced lawyer to protect your rights. Your attorney from the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel will do the following:

Visit the accident scene to make observations, gather evidence, and obtain any available security camera footage
Conduct a thorough investigation that’s independent of the insurance company’s investigation
Gather evidence of the property owner’s liability under § 6-02 Owner Responsibilities and Liabilities to make a compelling case
Consult with medical experts and review your total medical expenses to calculate the full compensation available for your damages
Send our findings to the property owner’s insurance company
Negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer to obtain a settlement, or
Take your claim to court if the insurance company doesn’t authorize an ample settlement

Fortunately, most claims end in settlements, especially when a slip-and-fall injury victim takes actions to protect themself, such as avoiding talking to the insurance adjuster on a recorded line or accepting an early, lowball settlement offer.

Contact Our Slip & Fall Law Firm in New York, NY

If you need legal assistance, contact the NYC slip & fall lawyers at Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation. Contact our top-rated New York City slip and fall lawyers near you today.

We have two convenient locations in New York:

Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers – New York City Office
450 7th Ave #409
New York, NY 10123
(212) 564-2800

Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers – Brooklyn Office
26 Court St Suite 2511
Brooklyn, NY 11242
(718) 802-1600