Buffalo Premises Liability Lawyer
Get Help from a Buffalo Premises Liability Lawyer
Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable
If you were injured on someone else’s property in Buffalo or anywhere in Western New York, you may be dealing with pain, medical bills, missed work, and a lot of unanswered questions.
Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail to do so and someone gets hurt, they can be held financially accountable.
At Feroleto Law, our Buffalo slip-and-fall attorneys and premises liability lawyers have spent decades standing up for people injured due to unsafe property conditions. We understand how overwhelming these situations can be and are here to help you pursue the compensation you need for bills and ongoing care.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a dangerous condition on another person’s property, call 716-854-0700 to request a free, confidential consultation. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Understanding Premises Liability in New York
Under New York law, property owners, landlords, businesses, and property managers have a duty of care to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This means they must take reasonable steps to:
- Inspect their property for hazards
- Repair dangerous conditions they know about or should have known about
- Warn visitors about hazards that cannot be immediately fixed
- Take temporary measures to prevent injuries until repairs are made
When property owners ignore these responsibilities and someone is injured as a result, the injured person may have grounds for a premises liability claim.
Premises liability cases often involve everyday places such as:
- Grocery stores and retail shops
- Apartment buildings and rental properties
- Restaurants and bars
- Parking lots and garages
- Office buildings
- Nursing homes and assisted living facilities
- Schools, churches, and public buildings
- Private homes
No matter where the injury occurs, the central legal question is the same: Did the property owner fail to act with reasonable care? An experienced premises liability attorney can help you determine that answer.
Common Types of Premises Liability Accidents
Unsafe property conditions can take many forms. Some of the most common causes of premises liability injuries include:
- Slip and fall accidents caused by wet floors, ice, snow, or spills
- Uneven sidewalks, cracked pavement, or loose flooring
- Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, or parking areas
- Broken or missing handrails
- Unsafe stairs or steps
- Carbon monoxide exposure
- Unsafe elevators or escalators
- Falling objects or improperly stacked merchandise
- Negligent security leading to assaults or other violent crimes
Such accidents can result in serious injuries, including:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back, neck, shoulder, and joint injuries
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
In the most tragic cases, premises negligence can even lead to wrongful death.
How Our Buffalo Premises Liability Lawyers Help Victims
Having an experienced premises liability lawyer on your side can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Insurance companies often move quickly to protect their bottom line. They might deny their client’s responsibility or blame the injured person.
When you hire Feroleto Law, we immediately take action to protect your rights and preserve critical evidence.
Our team will:
- Meet with you to understand exactly how the accident happened
- Determine whether negligence occurred and who may be responsible
- Investigate the accident scene and secure photos, videos, and physical evidence
- Interview witnesses, property staff, and first responders
- Review building maintenance records and inspection logs
- Examine applicable New York Fire, Building, and Property Maintenance Codes
- Consult safety standards such as ASTM F1637-95 when relevant
- Work with engineers, safety experts, and medical professionals
- Handle all paperwork, filings, and deadlines
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies
- Prepare your case for trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached
Throughout the process, we keep you informed, answer your questions, and shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on healing.
Proving Negligence in a Premises Liability Case
To succeed in a premises liability claim, our premises liability lawyers must prove that the property owner or responsible party was negligent. This typically requires showing:
- Duty of care. The property owner owed you a duty to keep the premises reasonably safe
- Breach of duty. The owner failed to repair, remove, or warn about a dangerous condition
- Causation. The hazardous condition directly caused your injury
- Damages. You suffered actual harm such as medical expenses, lost income, or pain and suffering
BLOG: New York Negligence Law: When Do You Have a Case?
These cases often hinge on details such as how long the hazard existed, whether the owner had notice of it, and whether reasonable steps were taken to address it.
In many cases, multiple parties may share responsibility, such as:
- A property owner
- A landlord
- A management company
- A maintenance contractor
- A business tenant
Our attorneys carefully investigate all potential sources of liability to maximize your chances of recovery.
BLOG: Can I Sue My Landlord for Personal Injury?
What Compensation May Be Available in Premises Liability Claims?
If you were injured due to unsafe property conditions, you may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages may include:
- Medical bills (emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, therapy)
- Future medical and long-term care costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-economic damages may include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
In rare cases involving especially reckless or egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior.
Every case is different. While no attorney can guarantee a specific outcome, Feroleto Law carefully evaluates every factor and fights for the maximum compensation available under the law.
Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability Cases
What should I do after being injured on someone else’s property?
Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor. Report the incident to the property owner or manager, take photos of the hazard if possible, gather witness information, and contact a premises liability lawyer as soon as you can.
How can a premises liability lawyer help me?
An experienced premises liability lawyer investigates the accident, preserves evidence, handles insurance negotiations, builds a strong legal case, and fights to protect your rights every step of the way.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Yes. New York follows a contributory negligence rule. You may still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible, although your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Aren’t most slip-and-fall cases and lawsuits frivolous?
Not at all.
There has been a history of “frivolous” lawsuits receiving outsized attention in the media, but the truth is that most of these lawsuits involve people who had their lives changed by real and serious injuries. Even some of the supposedly “frivolous” lawsuits, such as the infamous McDonald’s hot coffee case, involved much more serious injuries than implied in the jokes and commentaries that swirled around that time.
Do not hesitate to seek legal help for any accident in which you may have been injured due to the negligence of another. Our Buffalo slip-and-fall attorneys will listen to the circumstances of your case and recommend next steps based on legal standing and nothing else.
BLOG: When Do You Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer?
How long do I have to file a premises liability lawsuit in New York?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to file for personal injury. However, cases involving municipalities or government property may have much shorter deadlines. It’s important to speak with a lawyer right away.
What if the property owner says they didn’t know about the hazard?
Property owners, even if they truly were unaware of a hazard, could still be held liable if they reasonably should have known about the dangerous condition through reasonable inspections and maintenance.
What types of evidence are important in premises liability cases?
Photos, surveillance footage, maintenance records, inspection logs, witness statements, incident reports, and medical records can all be critical in a premises liability case.
After an accident, if you are capable of doing so, try to photograph or record as much evidence about the surrounding environment and your injuries as you can, including the contact information of any witnesses.
However, please do not put yourself at risk of further harm to gather evidence or worry if you are too incapacitated at the time of the accident to do so. Our premises liability lawyers can further investigate for you.
Do premises liability cases usually go to court?
This is a common and understandable question. The thought of going to trial can be stressful for many personal injury victims, especially on top of any recovery challenges they currently face.
The good news is that most personal injury cases are resolved through settlements. But if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, our attorneys are fully prepared to take your case to trial. We will do all we can to make the experience the least stressful it can be.
How much does it cost to hire Feroleto Law?
There is no upfront cost. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Call Our Buffalo Premises Liability Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has been injured on unsafe property in Buffalo or anywhere in Western New York, don’t wait. Evidence can disappear quickly and strict deadlines apply.
At Feroleto Law, we have decades of experience holding negligent property owners accountable and securing meaningful compensation for injured clients. We put our clients first and fight relentlessly for justice.
Call 716-854-0700 or fill out our form to request a free case review.
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