Rush, NY Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Was Your Injury in Rush Caused by a Property Owner's Negligence?

You never expect to get seriously hurt just going about your day. But it happens. You could be leaving a store off Route 251, walking a path near Five Arch Bridge Trail, or stepping out of a rural post office, and then a split second later, you’re on the ground, injured. Maybe the lighting was bad. Maybe ice wasn’t cleared. Either way, you’re now facing pain, medical bills, time away from work, and a thousand unanswered questions.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we help people in Rush understand when someone else’s negligence caused their injury. Our premises liability lawyers dig into what happened and who’s responsible, and we fight to make sure that you get the compensation you’re legally entitled to. Because when you’re hurt on someone else’s property, you shouldn’t have to carry the burden alone.

The Hazards in Rush That Property Owners Pretend Not to See

Rush may be quiet, but hazards still exist, especially when business owners, landlords, or public agencies fail to take care of their property. We’ve seen how seemingly small problems turn into major incidents.

Poor Lighting in Parking Lots

At businesses along Rush Scottsville Road, it’s not uncommon to find parking lots with broken lamps or minimal lighting. These spaces can hide uneven pavement, unexpected curbs, or icy patches. When a property owner fails to keep lighting functional, they make it more likely someone will get hurt, and under the law, that’s a serious issue.

Icy Walkways Near Rural Stores

Rush winters hit hard. Small stores, convenience marts, and post offices in the area often leave sidewalks untreated or delay snow removal. One slip on untreated black ice could leave someone with a fractured hip or a concussion. When stores or landlords neglect snow and ice, they expose visitors to preventable danger.

We handle cases involving falls, slips, and other injuries where the property owner either ignored a problem or didn’t fix it in time. And we hold them accountable for the consequences.

Don’t Wait to Act: These First Moves Matter Most

After getting hurt, it’s natural to feel shaken or embarrassed. But the decisions you make in the next few hours can impact the strength of your legal case.

• Go to the hospital or an urgent care facility as soon as possible. Even if your injuries don’t seem serious right away, underlying damage, like head trauma or torn ligaments, might not show up until later. Seeing a doctor creates an official medical record, which is key for linking your injuries to the incident.
• File a report with whoever is in charge of the property. Whether it's a store manager or the town clerk’s office, let them know about the injury and ask for written confirmation. This creates a timeline that can support your case later.
• Preserve the evidence before it disappears. Take photos of the exact area where you were hurt, and get different angles of the hazard. Keep the shoes or clothes you were wearing, especially if they were damaged or wet. These items can help disprove claims that your fall was your fault.

Small steps make a huge difference. Acting quickly means we can start building your case with strong documentation and facts.

Who's Really at Fault for What Happened to You?

It’s easy to assume that no one’s truly responsible, but legally, someone almost always is. The key is figuring out who had control of the property and what their legal duties were.

In many cases, business owners and tenants are responsible for keeping their storefronts and walkways safe. If a grocery store, hardware shop, or restaurant failed to maintain safe conditions, they could be liable. We often see this in plazas along Route 251 or local roads with frequent foot traffic.

Landlords, especially those renting out apartments or duplexes, have duties under Multiple Dwelling Law § 78 to keep shared spaces, like stairwells, sidewalks, and parking lots, in good condition. A landlord who ignores tenant complaints or skips basic maintenance can be held accountable if someone gets hurt.

When your injury happens on public property, like a town-maintained sidewalk or municipal lot, the rules change. In these cases, GML § 50-e applies, requiring a formal notice of claim to be filed within just 90 days. These deadlines are strict, and if you miss them, you may lose your right to recover anything.

Our premises liability lawyers examine ownership records, lease agreements, maintenance logs, and even surveillance footage to get answers. We don’t rely on assumptions, we find proof.

What New York Law Will, and Won’t, Do for You

Under New York law, the owner or person in control of property is responsible for keeping it reasonably safe. That includes repairing hazards they know about and inspecting for conditions they should’ve known about. If they don’t, and someone gets hurt, that’s negligence.

You also need to understand how shared fault could impact your case. New York follows CPLR § 1411, which means that if you’re found partially responsible, for example, if you were distracted or wearing slippery shoes, your compensation could be reduced. But you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault.

Timing is everything. Most personal injury claims must be filed within three years under CPLR § 214(5). But as we mentioned, if you’re suing a public entity like the Town of Rush, you must act within 90 days. These aren’t suggestions, they’re hard deadlines that courts enforce strictly.

Knowing your legal window, and acting before it closes, is one of the most important things you can do.

What You’re Owed for What You’ve Lost

A property injury can derail your life, and New York law allows you to recover for far more than just a hospital bill.

• Medical expenses include everything from the initial ER visit to follow-up care, prescriptions, physical therapy, and future treatments. We work to calculate not only what you’ve spent, but what you’re likely to spend moving forward.
• Pain and suffering is more than a number. If your injuries limit your mobility, interfere with daily tasks, or cause long-term emotional stress, you deserve compensation for that impact.
• Income loss isn’t just for people who miss work. If your injuries force you to work fewer hours, take on a lower-paying job, or stop working altogether, we include those losses too.

Our team at Horn Wright, LLP, partners with doctors, economists, and vocational experts to show how your injury has affected every part of your life, and what the law says you're entitled to.

What You Should Expect in a Monroe County Case

Once we file your claim with the Monroe County court system, your case enters the litigation phase. This starts with a formal complaint, followed by discovery. We’ll exchange documents with the defense, take sworn testimony from witnesses, and compile expert opinions if needed.

Some cases settle quickly, especially when the evidence is clear. Others may require negotiation over months, or even a trial. Either way, we prepare your case from day one as if it’s going the distance. That’s how we get serious offers, and serious results.

We also handle all communications with insurance adjusters, who are trained to minimize payouts. You’ll never have to argue your own case or take a lowball offer out of desperation.

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

If you were hurt on unsafe property in Rush, don’t wait and hope things sort themselves out. Our premises liability lawyers will investigate, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you need to move forward.

We’re proud to be recognized as one of the best law firms in America, but it’s what we do right here in Rush that matters most. We treat every case personally, because we know what’s at stake for you and your family.