Parma, NY Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Injured Because of Unsafe Property in Parma? Here’s What You Should Do Next

You didn’t expect your day to take a turn like this. One minute you were visiting a local store or stopping by a friend’s place, and the next, you’re lying on the ground, stunned and in pain. Whether it was a fall on an icy walkway or a trip caused by crumbling pavement, the reality is that unsafe property can lead to real, lasting injuries.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our premises liability lawyers work with people in Parma who’ve been hurt because someone failed to take care of their property. These are preventable incidents, and New York law allows you to seek compensation when property owners or those in charge neglect their responsibilities.

Who’s Legally Accountable in a Premises Case?

Many people assume the owner of the property is always to blame. But in practice, it depends on who was responsible for maintaining the space at the time of your injury.

Business tenants operating inside retail plazas or along Route 259 are often responsible for conditions inside their store. If you slip on a freshly mopped floor without a warning sign or fall over misplaced inventory, that liability may fall on the business, not the building owner.

Store managers are often the ones responsible for daily safety. If a hazard is reported but not handled, and someone gets hurt because of that delay, the manager could be liable.

City or county maintenance crews handle sidewalks, municipal buildings, and areas like the exterior of Parma Town Hall. If your injury happened on public property, different legal procedures apply. In those cases, General Municipal Law § 50-e requires that you file a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident. Miss that deadline, and you may lose the right to sue altogether.

Our team can help identify the right party quickly and start building your case while evidence is still fresh.

Dangerous Conditions in Parma You Should Know

Parma may not be a large town, but the risk of injury from unsafe property is very real. We've handled cases involving hazards that could have been fixed long before they caused someone harm.

Ice Build-Up in Winter Months

During snowy season, driveways and walkways near Spencer Road and West Ridge Road get icy quickly. Business owners and landlords are required to salt and clear snow to prevent injuries. If they fail to act and someone falls, that’s not just carelessness, it could be legal negligence.

Loose or Uneven Pavement

Poorly maintained surfaces can be just as dangerous. Sidewalks that have cracked or buckled can easily catch a foot and cause serious falls. When these issues exist in commercial zones or near apartment complexes, it is usually the owner or manager’s job to fix them.

In both cases, the danger doesn’t have to look extreme to be legally actionable. If someone should have addressed it and didn’t, that’s what makes it a premises liability case.

Next Steps After You’re Hurt

After an injury, you're dealing with pain, shock, and often embarrassment. But what you do in the hours and days that follow can make a big difference in your ability to file a successful claim.

Start by getting medical care. Whether that’s at Strong Memorial or a walk-in clinic in the area, a medical evaluation provides documentation that helps link your injury to the incident.

Then, take photos of where you were injured. Capture details like ice patches, broken concrete, or lighting conditions. If anyone saw what happened, ask for their name and number. Witnesses often forget details as time passes, so getting this information early can really help.

Finally, notify the property owner or business manager in writing. Whether it’s a grocery store or an apartment landlord, reporting the issue formally helps establish a timeline and shows that you acted responsibly.

The Law That Applies in New York

Under New York law, property owners and those who control a space must maintain it in a reasonably safe condition. If they fail to do so and someone gets hurt, they can be held legally responsible.

To win a case, our premises liability lawyers must show that:

• A hazardous condition existed
• The person responsible either knew or should have known about it
• They didn’t fix it or provide a warning
• That failure led to your injury

Negligence doesn’t require intent. If the danger was obvious or had existed long enough that it should have been addressed, that counts.

New York also uses comparative fault rules under CPLR § 1411. If the other side argues that you weren’t watching where you were going or should have worn different shoes, it doesn’t erase their liability. It just means your compensation may be reduced based on your level of responsibility.

The Damages You Might Be Entitled To

The impact of a property injury often lasts far longer than the moment you hit the ground. A successful claim can help you recover compensation for both your financial and personal losses.

• Treatment costs include ER visits, diagnostic imaging, specialist care, physical therapy, and prescriptions. If your injury requires future care, we factor that in too.
• Missed work is another major concern. If you couldn’t return to your job, lost income, or had to take on fewer hours, we’ll help recover those lost wages.
• Daily pain or loss of function matters as well. These are known as non-economic damages, and they can include emotional distress, sleep loss, and limitations on physical movement.

Our premises liability lawyers work with doctors and financial experts to make sure every part of your injury is valued accurately.

What to Expect if Your Case Goes to Monroe County Court

If we file your case in Monroe County Civil Court, the process begins with what’s called discovery. This is when both sides exchange information, everything from photos and medical records to witness lists and expert reports.

Most cases settle out of court. But we prepare every file like it’s going to trial. This keeps the pressure on the defense and lets them know we’re serious about getting the compensation you deserve.

We handle court deadlines, negotiations, and filings. You focus on healing. We take care of everything else.

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

At Horn Wright, LLP, we help people in Parma who were hurt on unsafe property pursue justice and full compensation. Whether it happened at a business, a rental, or a public space, our premises liability lawyers know how to build strong, local cases that stand up in court.

We’re proud to be recognized nationally as one of the most respected law firms in the country, but our commitment remains rooted in towns like Parma, where everyday people deserve honest, aggressive legal representation.

Let’s find out what really happened, and what we can do to make it right.