Mendon, NY Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Hurt on Property in Mendon? Let’s Uncover the Truth About Who’s at Fault

It only takes one misstep. You’re walking up a friend’s porch steps off Route 64, parking outside a shop near Clover Street, or navigating an icy driveway after dark. Then it happens. You fall, or worse, and suddenly your everyday life is filled with doctor visits, missed work, and growing bills.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our premises liability lawyers help people in Mendon take legal action when someone else’s negligence causes these injuries. The truth is, many property-related accidents are completely preventable. When someone fails to keep their space safe, we step in to hold them accountable.

What Can Go Wrong on Properties in Mendon?

Mendon may be known for scenic trails and open space, but injuries from unsafe property happen here too, and we’ve seen how devastating they can be. Often, the danger isn’t immediately obvious.

Ice at Driveway Entrances

Especially during winter months, the sloped or shaded driveways near Mendon Ponds Park or rural parts of Route 251 become slick fast. Property owners are legally required to remove or salt these areas. If they don’t, the risk of a slip or fall skyrockets.

Broken Steps in Rental Homes

Porch steps, basement entries, or side door landings in older rental properties often go unrepaired. Under Multiple Dwelling Law § 78, landlords must keep common areas like stairs in good repair. When they don’t, injuries are on them, not you.

Poor Lighting in Parking Areas

A poorly lit walkway behind a restaurant or grocery store can conceal hazards like uneven pavement or obstacles. If lighting is out and hasn’t been fixed, the business or property manager could be found negligent.

Hazards don’t have to look dangerous to be dangerous. That’s why the law puts the burden on owners and occupiers, not visitors, to prevent harm.

Who’s Liable? And Why That Matters

Liability in premises cases isn’t always obvious. You might assume it’s the person who owns the land, but sometimes it’s someone else entirely.

Property managers and owners often share responsibility. If the property is rented out, the owner may handle structural repairs, while the tenant manages day-to-day hazards. Figuring out who failed to act is critical.

Commercial tenants, such as cafés, markets, or salons in Mendon, may be responsible for conditions inside their business, even if they don’t own the building. Under ADA Title III (42 U.S. Code § 12182), businesses are required to keep their premises safe and accessible.

If your injury happened on a town-maintained sidewalk or in a municipal parking lot, the Town of Mendon may be liable. But there’s a catch: General Municipal Law § 50-e requires a Notice of Claim to be filed within 90 days. Miss that, and your entire claim could be dismissed.

Sorting out responsibility is one of the first things our legal team does. It lets us move quickly and build a targeted case from day one.

What NY Law Requires for a Winning Case

Bringing a successful premises liability claim in New York hinges on a few clear points.

You have to show that a dangerous condition existed, something like an icy walkway, a loose step, or poor lighting that created an unreasonable risk.

Then, you must show the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard. This doesn’t mean they had to witness it in the moment. If the issue was ongoing or obvious to anyone regularly on the property, that’s enough. The law doesn’t let people claim ignorance when they never bothered to look.

Lastly, the hazard must not have been obvious to you. If the danger was hidden, unmarked, or occurred in a way you couldn’t reasonably predict, that strengthens your claim significantly.

These standards are built on New York case law and civil codes. Our premises liability lawyers use them to push back hard when insurance adjusters try to place the blame on you.

What to Do Right After an Injury Happens

The moments following a property injury are critical, not just for your health, but for your ability to recover compensation later.

Seek medical care immediately. Visit a local clinic or head to Highland Hospital or Strong Memorial in nearby Rochester. Getting evaluated ensures your injuries are treated early and recorded properly.

Take photos of the scene as soon as possible. Include any visible hazards like snow, ice, broken steps, or missing signs. Also photograph your clothes and shoes. These details matter later when an insurance company questions what happened.

Finally, notify the property owner. If it’s a business, ask for a written incident report. If it’s a rental, notify your landlord in writing. The sooner this is done, the harder it is for the other side to claim they “had no idea.”

We’ll take it from there, gathering records, witness statements, and anything else needed to build a solid case.

Types of Compensation You Might Receive

A premises liability case is about more than getting your bills paid. It’s about recovering the losses that ripple through your life after the injury.

• Emergency room bills add up quickly, especially if you needed scans, medication, or follow-up care. These are recoverable.
• Physical therapy and ongoing treatment may be required for weeks or months, depending on the injury. This includes chiropractic visits, orthopedic care, and pain management.
• Lost time at work can drain your income fast. Whether you missed a few shifts or had to take extended leave, we include these losses in your claim.

Your case may also include compensation for pain and suffering, loss of mobility, or emotional distress. These are known as “non-economic damages” under New York law, and they matter just as much as the bills.

New York allows full recovery of these damages unless you’re found partly at fault. Even then, CPLR § 1411 ensures you can still recover a percentage. We work hard to keep that percentage as low as possible so your recovery isn’t unfairly reduced.

What Happens in Monroe County Civil Court

Once your case is filed, it typically moves through the civil court system in Monroe County. This process starts with pre-trial steps like discovery, where we gather and exchange information with the other side.

Most cases settle before trial. But when they don’t, we’re prepared. Our team knows the judges, court staff, and legal environment in this area, and we come ready with evidence, expert testimony, and a clear, organized case presentation.

Throughout the process, we handle everything, so you can focus on getting better, not fighting legal battles.

Horn Wright, LLP, Is Ready to Help You in Mendon

At Horn Wright, LLP, our premises liability lawyers help Mendon residents find answers—and real results, after injuries caused by unsafe property. Whether it happened in a rental unit, a commercial space, or a public area, we build the case that gets you taken seriously.

We’re proud to be ranked as one of the top-performing firms nationwide and even prouder to serve people locally, right here in Monroe County.

If your injury never should have happened, let’s talk about what we can do to make it right.