New York City Premises Liability Lawyer

Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss:  Trusted Advocates for Those Injured on Dangerous Properties Across New York

Slipping and suddenly falling at the grocery store or on someone’s ice-covered sidewalk is shocking. At first, you feel embarrassed and can’t believe you fell. But then the pain immediately starts, and you realize you’re seriously hurt. These types of accidents happen all the time throughout New York State. The law calls these accidents Premise Liability cases, especially when the fall was caused by the property owner’s negligence. 

At Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, we represent New Yorkers harmed by dangerous property conditions — from unsafe apartment buildings to hazardous retail spaces. When property owners fail to maintain safe conditions, we hold them accountable.

What makes our firm different is our direct approach—no layers of case managers or paralegals between you and your lawyers. Our NY premises liability attorneys personally answer their own phones and handle your case from start to finish. Unlike the big firms, you’re more than just a file number to us, and we don’t pass you down to brand new inexperienced lawyers and paralegals. We built our practice this way because premises liability claims need swift, focused attention to preserve evidence and build strong cases.

We handle premise liability cases across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. With a multilingual team, we bring local knowledge and substantial resources to your claim. We’ve seen how property owner negligence impacts lives — that’s why we focus on securing compensation that truly reflects your losses.

What Is Premises Liability?

Under the current New York Property Maintenance Code, all property owners who welcome people onto their premises must keep these spaces safe. When they fail in that duty, and someone gets hurt, premises liability law protects the injured person’s right to compensation.

This protection extends beyond just fixing obvious dangers. Property owners must actively look for potential hazards like loose railings or burned-out lights in stairwells. They need to either fix these problems promptly or warn people about them. 

Under New York’s “pure comparative negligence” law, even if you weren’t paying full attention when you got hurt — for example, maybe you were looking at your phone while walking — you can still seek compensation. The amount might be reduced based on your role in the accident, but you don’t lose your right to recover damages completely.

Types of Premises Liability Cases We Take On and Win

Whether you’ve been injured in a private residence, commercial building, or public space, our attorneys have the determination and skill to pursue your claim. We handle cases including:

• Dram Shop Liability
• Elevator & Escalator Accidents
• Municipal Liability
• Negligent Security
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Trip and Fall Accidents
• Sidewalk Accidents
• Lead Paint Poisoning
• Rooftop Negligence
• Apartment Accidents
• Faulty Stairwell Accidents
• Airbnb Injuries
• School Daycare Injuries
• Snow/Ice Accidents
• Fire Injuries
• Scalding Injuries
• Drowning Accidents

Each type of property injury brings unique challenges. We’ve handled them all successfully and are ready to put this specific experience behind your case.

How Injuries on Someone’s Property Happen

Most property accidents are traced back to owners putting profits over safety. Some delay repairs until something breaks. Others hire untrained maintenance staff. Many ignore complaints until serious injuries occur. Looking closer at the causes shows three main patterns in premises liability cases:

• Poor Maintenance: When property owners cut corners on repairs and upkeep, serious accidents happen. Many skip routine maintenance to save money or delay fixes until something breaks. This leads to dangerous conditions like broken stairs that collapse, crumbling sidewalks that trip people, and faulty elevators that suddenly stop working. Under New York law, these failures often mean full liability for injuries.
• Health Hazards: Every property faces daily risks that need constant attention. Spills in grocery aisles, ice build-up on walkways, and loose floor tiles all threaten visitor safety. People get hurt when property owners don’t monitor for these dangers or fix them quickly. New York law sets strict time limits — like clearing snow within 4 hours — but many owners ignore these rules.
• Security Failures: Property owners must protect visitors from preventable crimes. Yet many cut costs on basic security — leaving broken locks unfixed, parking lots poorly lit, and security staff untrained. These choices save money but put visitors at risk of assault, theft, and other crimes that proper security could prevent.

What to Do After Being Injured on Someone Else’s Property

After getting hurt on someone’s property, your actions in the first hours and days matter. An immediate call to our premises liability lawyers should be one of your first calls – even before speaking to the property owners or insurance companies. They protect your rights from the start and guide your next steps while you focus on recovery. Property owners have lawyers and insurance adjusters working against your claim immediately, so having legal help levels the playing field.

Remember: Property owners have lawyers and insurance adjusters working against your claim from day one. Their sole job is to pay you as little as possible for your losses and pain and suffering. Having your own legal representation early protects your rights and helps secure fair compensation.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Property Injuries

Property accidents often involve more than just the owner. Multiple parties may share responsibility for your injuries:

• Property Owners: They set maintenance budgets and safety policies that directly impact visitor safety. Their decisions about repairs, security, and upkeep can lead to accidents.
• Property Managers: Daily operations fall under their watch. When they skip inspections or ignore complaints, people get hurt.
• Maintenance Companies: Outside contractors handle many property repairs. Their poor work or delayed responses create hazards.
• Security Companies: Their failures can lead to assaults or theft in buildings they’re paid to protect.
• Retail Stores: Store owners must prevent and clean spills, secure merchandise, and maintain safe aisles.

Do You Have a Premises Liability Case?

Not every accident on someone else’s property leads to compensation. But if a property owner’s negligence caused your injury, you likely have a claim (premises liability lawsuit). A few important points are identifying what caused you to fall or be injured. Be as specific as possible. Without pointing to the exact issue, it could jeopardize your recovery.

Second, being aware of your status as a visitor helps determine the property owner’s legal duties toward you. Your right to compensation depends on why you were on the property when you got hurt. New York law recognizes three types of visitors, each with different levels of protection:

Types of Visitors and Their Rights

Your rights after a property injury depend on why you were there. New York law sets different safety standards based on your relationship with the property owner:

Elements of a Premises Liability Case and How to Prove It

To win compensation, you’ll need evidence showing:

1. The Hazard Existed: Photos, videos, or witness statements proving the dangerous condition.
2. They Knew About It: Previous complaints, maintenance records, or security logs showing awareness of the problem.
3. They Failed to Act: Proof they ignored the danger or didn’t fix it properly.
4. It Caused Your Injury: Medical records linking your injuries directly to the property condition.

Time Limits for New York Premises Liability Claims

New York sets strict deadlines for premises liability claims. These filing deadlines are called the Statute of Limitations. Missing these time limits can block your right to compensation forever:

• Private Property: You have 3 years from your injury date to file a lawsuit against property owners, businesses, or landlords.
• Government Property: Claims against the city, state, or other public entities face much shorter deadlines: 90 days to file a formal notice of claim (1 year and 90 days total to file your lawsuit thereafter). Federally owned properties within the state have different deadlines. For example, if you slip and fall at a U.S. Post Office, you would have different filing deadlines to sue the federal government.
• Special Cases: Some situations alter these deadlines — for example, cases involving minors, claims against the Port Authority, and injuries in public housing. The most important thing is to contact our experienced premise liability lawyers as soon as possible to get your case filed within the proper time frame.

How to Know if You Have a Strong Premises Liability Case

Your premises liability claim is stronger when:

• The owner knew about the danger
• Similar accidents happened before
• Required maintenance was skipped
• Safety regulations were ignored
• You have clear evidence of negligence
• Your injuries match the accident
• You reported it promptly
• You sought medical care quickly.

Property owners often claim they “didn’t know” about dangers or that you “should have seen” them. A premises liability lawyer knows how to counter these defenses with evidence that proves negligence.

Damages You Can Recover After Being Hurt on Someone Else’s Property

When property owner negligence leads to injuries, you deserve compensation that covers all your losses. Property owners and their insurance companies often try to minimize payment, but New York law protects your right to full compensation for:

1. Medical and Treatment Costs: All expenses for healing and recovery, from emergency room visits to long-term rehabilitation. This includes ambulance rides, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and any future care you’ll need for your injuries.
2. Lost Work and Income: Money you’ve lost by missing work, including salary, commissions, bonuses, and benefits. If your injuries affect your future earning ability or force a career change, you can claim these long-term losses, too.
3. Pain and Suffering and Life Changes: Beyond just bills and lost wages, you deserve compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and how injuries change your daily life. This includes trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, and activities you can no longer enjoy.
4. Loss of Consortium: Your spouse is entitled to damages for the loss of help and companionship while you were injured.

Property injury cases demand strong legal representation. Insurance companies start building their defense immediately. The right legal team knows how to calculate your actual losses, gather supporting evidence, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

How Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss Will Help You After a Property Injury

When you choose Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss for your premises liability case, you get a team focused on your recovery and results. We handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing. From day one, we investigate thoroughly, gather evidence before it disappears, and build the strongest case. Your concerns become our priorities — whether that’s covering medical bills, dealing with aggressive insurance companies, or fighting for full compensation

Time matters in property injury cases — evidence disappears, witnesses move, and deadlines approach. Our attorneys are ready to review your case and outline your options at no cost.

Meet Our Dedicated Legal Team

Premises liability claims demand both legal skill and genuine empathy. Our attorneys bring both, combining proven trial success with a commitment to understanding how injuries affect your life.

What our clients value most about us

• Determination to Win the Case
• Excellence in Negotiations
• Personalized Attention
• Aggressive Representation

Attorneys

Matthew Sakkas Esq.

Partner

Adam D. Cahn Esq.

Managing Partner

Mitchel E. Weiss Esq.

Associate Attorney