East Rochester, NY Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Injured on Property in East Rochester? Don’t Ignore the Pain or the Legal Options

Maybe it was a cracked sidewalk near Commercial Street. Or a slick patch of ice in the parking lot outside the bank on West Maple. You slipped, fell, or tripped, and now, you’re dealing with pain you didn’t ask for and bills you didn’t budget for.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we represent people who were hurt on someone else’s property because the space wasn’t kept safe. Our slip and fall accident lawyers understand that what seems like a simple fall can lead to weeks of physical therapy, time off work, and nonstop stress. If someone’s neglect led to your injury, we’re here to hold them accountable.

What Could Have Been Prevented, And Why It Matters

Hazards in East Rochester are more common than they seem. And often, they’re ignored until someone gets hurt. Whether you're walking near the post office or heading into a store off Main Street, unsafe property conditions aren’t just inconvenient, they’re dangerous.

Broken walkways in commercial areas lead to ankle twists, sprains, and full-on falls. Crumbling cement or lifted tiles trip people up all the time, especially near retail storefronts where foot traffic is constant. In winter, parking lots and outdoor staircases become accident zones if property owners don’t salt or shovel. Black ice at night is nearly invisible but totally preventable with regular maintenance.

We’ve also seen injuries happen at building entrances that weren’t secured, doors swinging open in high wind, steps without railings, or slippery tile just inside after snow or rain. These conditions don’t fix themselves. Someone is supposed to handle them. And when they don’t, people like you end up paying the price.

The Legal Truth About Who’s Responsible

It’s not always clear who’s actually liable after a premises injury. The person you think is responsible may have legally passed that responsibility to someone else, through a lease, a contract, or a management agreement. That’s why identifying control is one of the first steps we take.

Sometimes the property owner is liable. Other times, it’s the tenant running the business inside, especially if the hazard was indoors or created by their staff. In some cases, it’s a third-party company responsible for maintenance or snow removal.

Another key issue is knowledge. Did the person responsible know about the hazard, or should they have known? New York law doesn’t require them to witness the danger firsthand. If the problem existed long enough or recurred regularly, they should’ve taken action. That’s the legal standard. And when we build your case, we prove how the condition wasn’t just dangerous, it was ignored.

What New York Law Says About Property Injuries

The law gives you a chance to recover damages, but it doesn’t give you forever, and it doesn’t make it easy if multiple parties are involved or you're being blamed. Here's what you should know.

You typically have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York, under CPLR § 214(5). But if your injury happened on public property, like a town-maintained sidewalk or municipal building, you must file a Notice of Claim within just 90 days, as required by General Municipal Law § 50-e. Miss that step, and your entire case can be dismissed.

Even when liability is clear, the defense may try to say you were partly at fault. That’s where CPLR § 1411 comes in. It allows shared fault. If you’re found to be 20% responsible, your settlement could be reduced by 20%. We work hard to push back against that tactic by showing exactly how the hazard, not your behavior, caused the injury.

How to Protect Yourself After the Incident

There’s no perfect playbook in the moment, but there are smart steps you can take after a property injury to give your case a solid foundation.

First, seek medical care. Whether you head to Rochester Regional Health’s urgent care or visit Strong Memorial’s ER, getting checked out early creates a clear link between your injury and the incident. Waiting too long can make insurance companies claim your pain came from somewhere else.

Second, report what happened to whoever manages or owns the property. If it’s a business, ask to speak with a manager and request a written incident report. If it’s a residential property, notify the landlord or super. Keep things brief, honest, and factual.

Finally, gather anything that can support your case:

• Save the clothes and shoes you were wearing. Torn fabric or scuffed soles can show the force of a fall.
• Take photos of the scene as soon as possible, even if the hazard has been cleaned up, surrounding context matters.
• If anyone saw what happened, get their names and contact information. Independent witnesses often sway cases more than surveillance footage.

These simple steps can mean the difference between a strong case and one that gets pushed aside.

What You’ll Need to Prove in Court

It’s not enough to say you got hurt. New York law requires specific elements to win a premises liability case. And that’s what we focus on proving, one piece at a time.

We’ll show that the property was unreasonably unsafe. That could mean broken stairs, poor lighting, lack of signage, or ice buildup. Then we’ll prove the owner or responsible party knew, or should have known, about the danger. We do this using maintenance records, prior complaints, inspection schedules, and sometimes even security camera footage.

Finally, we connect the dots between that condition and your actual injuries. That means medical documentation, expert assessments, and proof of how your daily life has changed since the incident. We make the story undeniable.

Compensation: What Are You Actually Entitled To?

Every case is different, but the damages you may be entitled to go well beyond the ER bill. We work to recover every dollar you’ve lost—and every impact the injury has had on your life.

• Medical treatment, from x-rays and physical therapy to medications and follow-up care, is usually one of the largest parts of your claim. We include current and future needs.
• Lost income matters, too. Whether you missed one paycheck or can’t return to work full-time, your claim should reflect the hit your household took financially.
• Pain and suffering is real. That includes ongoing physical discomfort, the stress of not being able to live normally, and the emotional weight that comes with feeling unstable, dependent, or sidelined.

We don’t let insurance companies decide what your injury is worth, we build a case that demands they take it seriously.

What Happens if You File in Monroe County Courts

Once you’ve filed your claim, the legal process begins. This might sound intimidating, but we handle everything from the paperwork to the courtroom. Most cases don’t go to trial, but we prepare for that possibility from the start.

In Monroe County, your case will likely move through discovery first, where each side gathers evidence, interviews witnesses, and shares relevant documents. Then we often enter settlement discussions. If the other side makes a fair offer, we’ll walk you through the decision. If they don’t, we take them to court and argue your case in front of a judge or jury.

No matter the route, we stand by you throughout, keeping you informed and making sure you’re never caught off guard.

Horn Wright, LLP, Is Ready to Help You in East Rochester

We know how hard it is to be hurt on someone else’s property, and then be the one expected to chase answers. At Horn Wright, LLP, our slip and fall accident attorneys handle that burden for you. We investigate, organize, and advocate, so your voice is heard, and your losses are taken seriously.

We’re honored to be ranked among the best law firms in the country and proud to bring that level of care to each East Rochester case we handle.

Let’s talk. Your injury wasn’t your fault—and it shouldn’t be your responsibility alone to fix.