If you slipped, tripped, or fell on someone else’s property in the Bronx, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Since 1992, Stillman & Stillman, P.C. has helped Bronx residents hold negligent property owners accountable, recovering millions in verdicts and settlements for slip and fall victims throughout New York City. As a Bronx-based slip and fall lawyer, our firm knows the borough’s sidewalks, buildings, and courts — and we never charge a fee unless we win.
Why You Need a Bronx Slip & Fall Lawyer After an Accident
Slip and fall cases are deceptively complicated. Insurance companies routinely deny these claims, arguing the hazard was “open and obvious,” that the victim wasn’t paying attention, or that the property owner had no prior knowledge of the dangerous condition. Without an experienced attorney building your case from day one, evidence can disappear, witnesses can become hard to locate, and strict legal deadlines can quietly expire.
A qualified slip and fall lawyer in the Bronx will investigate the scene and preserve evidence before it’s repaired or removed, identify every liable party (landlords, store owners, management companies, even the City of New York), obtain surveillance footage and maintenance records, calculate the full value of your claim, and negotiate aggressively with insurers — taking your case to trial if necessary.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in the Bronx
Slip, trip, and fall accidents happen more often than most people realize. In the Bronx, they commonly occur due to:
- Cracked, uneven, or defective sidewalks throughout neighborhoods like Tremont, Fordham, Throgs Neck, and Riverdale
- Wet or recently mopped floors in supermarkets, bodegas, and retail stores without warning signs
- Poorly lit stairwells and hallways in apartment buildings and parking garages
- Snow and ice accumulation that landlords and businesses fail to clear promptly
- Broken or missing handrails on interior and exterior staircases
- Potholes and pavement defects in parking lots and supermarket lots
- Loose flooring, torn carpeting, or debris left in walkways at malls and commercial properties
- Construction site hazards, including uncovered holes and unmarked obstructions
These accidents can happen anywhere — apartment buildings, grocery stores, malls, sidewalks, parks, subway stations, and workplaces — and resulting injuries are often severe, including fractures, herniated discs, and traumatic brain injuries.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bronx Slip and Fall?
Under New York premises liability law, property owners and managers have a legal duty to keep their property reasonably safe for anyone lawfully on it. That duty isn’t absolute, but it does require reasonable steps — fixing broken stairs, clearing debris, providing adequate lighting, and conducting regular inspections of common areas. Depending on where your accident happened, liability may fall on a private homeowner or landlord, a commercial property owner or business tenant, a property management company, the City of New York (for accidents on public sidewalks or city-owned property), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), or a co-op or condominium board.
Notably, our firm represented a client in a 2009 sidewalk fall case against the City of New York that the Daily News listed as the second-highest settlement paid by the city that year — a track record that reflects our depth of experience taking on municipal defendants, not just private property owners.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall in the Bronx
The steps you take in the hours and days after your accident can make or break your claim.
- Seek medical attention immediately. Even if you feel “fine,” some injuries don’t show symptoms right away — a timely medical report links your injuries to the fall.
- Report the accident. Ask a store manager to complete an incident report, or note the exact location if you fell on a sidewalk.
- Take photographs of the hazardous condition before it’s repaired or removed.
- Get witness contact information — names, phone numbers, and addresses.
- Avoid recorded statements to insurance adjusters before speaking with an attorney.
- Contact a Bronx slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible so we can begin preserving evidence on your behalf.
New York’s Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Claims
Time limits in slip and fall cases are strict, and missing one can permanently bar your right to compensation.
- Private property owners: You generally have three (3) years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in New York.
- City or municipal property: If your fall occurred on a city-owned sidewalk, street, or building, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident, and the overall statute of limitations is significantly shorter.
Because municipal claims move on such a compressed timeline, it’s critical to consult a Bronx slip and fall attorney immediately after an accident on public property.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
The value of a slip and fall claim depends on the severity of your injuries and the strength of the evidence supporting your case. Compensation may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, out-of-pocket recovery expenses, and — in cases involving particularly reckless property owners — punitive damages.
What Makes Stillman & Stillman, P.C. Different
Choosing the right Bronx slip and fall lawyer matters. Founded by Jeffrey Stillman in 1992, our firm has spent nearly 40 years representing only injured accident victims — never insurance companies, never defendants — which means there’s no conflict of interest standing between you and the maximum compensation you deserve.
Our results speak for themselves: a $3,300,000 recovery for a fall on a defect in a supermarket parking lot, a $2,300,000 recovery for a 47-year-old woman who fell on a defective sidewalk, and a sidewalk fall settlement against New York City that the Daily News recognized as one of the largest the city paid that year.
Attorney Stillman was born in the Bronx, and our office has remained at 2622 E Tremont Avenue throughout the firm’s history. Our attorneys — including Robert Birnbaum, Howard Trepp, and Adam Raclaw — bring decades of combined trial experience and active membership in the Bronx Bar Association and New York State Trial Lawyers Association. We handle cases on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you, and we offer free consultations 24 hours a day — at your home, the hospital, or wherever is convenient. Se habla español.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I slip and fall on a wet floor in a Bronx store? Seek medical attention right away, ask the manager to prepare an incident report, photograph the scene before conditions change, and get contact information for any witnesses. Then contact a slip and fall lawyer before speaking further with the insurance company.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in the Bronx? Generally three years for private property, but only 90 days to file a Notice of Claim if the City of New York or another municipal entity is involved. Contact an attorney immediately to protect your rights.
How much does it cost to hire a slip and fall attorney? Nothing upfront. Stillman & Stillman, P.C. works on a contingency fee basis — we only get paid if you get paid.
Contact a Bronx Slip & Fall Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident in the Bronx, don’t wait — evidence disappears and deadlines pass quickly. Contact Stillman & Stillman, P.C. today for a free consultation.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case.
