Premises Liability in New York: When Is a Property Owner Responsible?

The Duty to Maintain Safe Premises

New York property owners owe visitors a duty of reasonable care to keep their premises reasonably safe and to warn of known hazards that aren't obvious.

Common Premises Hazards

Inadequate lighting, broken stairs and railings, uneven floors, falling merchandise, negligent security, and unaddressed spills all give rise to claims when they cause injury.

Notice, Again

As with slip-and-falls, liability usually turns on whether the owner created the hazard or had notice of it and a reasonable opportunity to address it.

Proving Your Claim

Photographs, incident reports, and maintenance records help establish the hazard and the owner's knowledge. Prompt action preserves this evidence.