Where Slip and Fall Accidents Happen on Long Island

The most common locations on Long Island are grocery store parking lots, supermarket aisles, apartment complex stairwells and walkways, gas stations, and retail stores. Icy or uneven sidewalks — particularly in Nassau and Suffolk County municipalities — are also a leading cause. Property owners are responsible when they knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to fix it.

Yes. Under New York law, a property owner — whether a landlord, business, or municipality — can be held liable if they had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition that caused your fall. Constructive notice means the hazard existed long enough that a reasonable inspection would have revealed it. You must file suit within three years under CPLR §214.

If you fell on a sidewalk owned or maintained by a town, village, or city on Long Island, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident before you can sue the government entity. This is a strict deadline — missing it typically bars your claim entirely. An attorney should be contacted immediately to preserve your rights.

New York’s statute of limitations for slip and fall claims against private property owners is three years from the date of the accident under CPLR §214. Claims against a municipality are subject to the 90-day Notice of Claim requirement and a shorter one-year-and-90-day suit deadline. Do not wait to consult an attorney, as evidence degrades quickly.