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Buffalo Premises Liability Lawyer
Individualized legal representation for people injured on unsafe properties in and around Buffalo, New York
When you visit a local business or meet up with a friend at their apartment, you probably aren’t thinking much about whether the property you’re headed to is being safely maintained. When a property owner or manager fails to take reasonable steps to protect visitors from harm, however, the consequences can be absolutely devastating.
Damaged sidewalks, slippery walkways, unsecured swimming pools, broken staircases and other hazards can cause serious accidents that have major implications for unsuspecting victims and their families. While it’s true that some accidents are unavoidable and no one’s fault, there are other situations in which a property owner’s negligence directly causes or contributes to a preventable accident.
When this happens, an injured victim may be within their rights to take legal action against the person who failed to keep them safe. These premises liability claims can provide accident victims with the compensation they need to address past, present and future medical expenses, as well as other losses related to their accident and injuries.
At O’Brien & Ford, PC, we’ve seen time and time again how seemingly minor oversights can cause extensive harm to people who were just trying to go about their daily routines. When a property owner’s negligence causes a serious accident, they deserve to be held accountable to the fullest extent of New York law.
If you were injured on an unsafe property in or around Buffalo, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced premises liability lawyers. When you call our office, you’ll be connected within two minutes to an attorney who can help you evaluate your legal options and make an informed decision about how to proceed in your fight for accountability and compensation.
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More than $100 million recovered in verdicts and settlements for those injured in New York.
How We Can Help
- What is a premises liability claim?
- When can a property owner be held responsible?
- Who can be held liable for an unsafe property?
- Kinds of premises liability accidents we handle
- What compensation is available in Buffalo premises liability cases?
- Why entrust O’Brien & Ford, PC with your premises liability case?
- Frequently asked questions about premises liability claims
What is a premises liability claim?
A premises liability claim is a type of personal injury lawsuit that may be filed in cases where unsafe property conditions cause preventable harm to visitors. The overarching legal principle involved in these cases has to do with the duty of care property owners and managers owe to their visitors. Under New York law, these entities are generally expected to take reasonable steps to prevent others from suffering foreseeable harm while on their property.
Crucially, not every accident that takes place on someone else’s property has legal implications. Some accidents are genuinely unavoidable and could not have been foreseen by even the most responsible property owner. For example, if you trip over a pair of shoes that you left out in your own apartment, you probably cannot pursue a claim against your landlord for any injuries you suffer.
If, however, you slip and fall on a rickety stairwell in that same apartment building, it may be worth taking a closer look at whether your landlord could or should have done more to maintain those stairs. It comes down to whether the property owner or other party responsible for overseeing a property created a safety hazard or knew or reasonably should have known about it and failed to take steps to address it.
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What Our Clients Say About Us
“I cannot say enough good things about Chris Pannozzo and this law firm! From start to finish, the professionalism, communication, and dedication was exceptional. I always felt supported, comfortable, listened to, and confident that I was in good hands. My case was handled with the utmost care and attention, and I couldn’t be happier with the way everything was resolved. I would highly recommend the firm to anyone.”
“The professionalism I received from the entire staff was great. Christopher Pannozzo, Annat and John worked tirelessly to get me the justice I deserve. Even Patrice the receptionist was professional and always a joy to talk to. Thank you guys for the hard work and taking my case.”
“I highly recommend O'Brien & Ford, P.C. to anyone who has been injured and needs someone they can trust. I’m extremely thankful for everything Anant and his team did for me and for the way I was treated throughout the entire process. They were professional, knowledgeable, and always took the time to explain things clearly and answer my questions. I would highly recommend this law firm.”
When can a property owner be held responsible?
It’s important for accident victims to understand when they can and cannot hold someone else accountable for their injuries. Every case is unique and may involve a variety of different factors. In general, however, victims of premises liability accidents may only take legal action against the alleged at-fault party if they can show that:
- The defendant owned, occupied or controlled the property in question
- A dangerous condition existed on the premises
- The defendant created the condition or was aware of it and failed to take reasonable steps to address the hazard
- The dangerous condition caused identifiable harm to a victim
Even if a property owner did not create or contribute to the unsafe condition themselves, they can still be held legally accountable for resulting harm if an investigation shows they had actual or constructive notice of the hazard. In many cases, this looks like tenants reporting safety issues to a property owner and having their complaints ignored. It can also look like a grocery store manager ignoring reports of a liquid spill that later causes a customer to slip and fall.
In some cases, however, the hazard can be considered readily apparent. If a dangerous condition is visible for long enough that a responsible party should have been aware of it, an injured victim may be able to pursue a claim based on the at-fault party’s failure to address the present danger. These cases sometimes require thorough investigations because we have to be able to show what a property owner knew or should have known, when they knew it and what – if anything – they chose to do about it.
Who can be held liable for an unsafe property?
Property owners aren’t the only people who may be considered responsible in a premises liability case. One person may own a property but entrust another entity to oversee or manage the location for them. They may also lease out the property to a separate entity that subsequently takes on the responsibility of maintaining and securing the premises.
As Buffalo premises liability attorneys, our team will look at any and all potential sources of liability in our clients’ cases, including:
- Property owners
- Commercial tenants
- Business owners or operators
- Landlords
- Property management companies
- Maintenance professionals
- Security companies or contractors
- Event organizers
- Government entities, in some cases
When we take on a premises liability case, the first thing we need to establish is who was actually legally responsible for the property at the time of the accident. Sometimes, our investigation will point to multiple liable parties, in which case we may need to build separate claims against each entity that may have contributed to the accident.
It’s also worth noting that accident victims can sometimes contribute to their own injuries. When this happens, the case is subject to New York’s comparative negligence system. In most standard personal injury cases, this system still allows injured victims to recover compensation from another party even if they contributed to their own injuries. However, any compensation the plaintiff recovers will ultimately be reduced by the same percentage as their level of fault.
If the premises liability accident in question involved a motor vehicle collision that falls under New York’s no-fault system, and the personal injury action was commenced on or after May 26, 2026, the injured party will only be able to recover personal injury damages if their culpable conduct does not exceed that of the party or combined parties from whom they seek recovery. If so, the same rule applies and their damages will be reduced proportionally to their level of fault.
Kinds of premises liability accidents we handle
We handle a wide variety of premises liability accident scenarios in our practice. There are so many different safety issues that can arise on both public and private property, and these hazards can serve as the impetus for a wide range of traumatic accidents.
The possibilities for these cases are truly endless, but there are some scenarios we encounter more often than others, including:
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Falls from significant heights
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Snow and ice-related accidents
- Falling merchandise or building materials
- Construction-related incidents
- Electrical accidents and fires
- Smoke inhalation accidents
- Poisonings
- Drownings
- Dog bites
- Violent assaults
When unsafe property conditions cause or contribute to these kinds of accidents, the party responsible for the property should be held accountable for its failures. Inadequate lighting, poor property maintenance, understaffing, policy violations, missing or non-working security cameras, skipped inspections and other forms of negligence can all serve as the basis for a premises liability claim against a property owner or other responsible entity.
What compensation is available in Buffalo premises liability cases?
Many of the accidents we commonly encounter in premises liability cases result in serious physical injuries. Brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries and organ damage are just a few examples of the catastrophic injuries that may happen because of a property owner’s negligence. These kinds of serious injuries often require extensive and costly medical care. They may also prevent a victim from working for extended periods of time, which only compounds the financial strain associated with these incidents.
To help offset these costs, some survivors choose to pursue claims for compensation against the negligent party responsible for their injuries. Depending on the kind of injury a victim suffered and the nature of their accident-related losses, they may be able to recover compensation for economic losses like medical bills, medication costs, physical therapy or rehabilitation expenses, property damage, lost wages or reduced earning capacity.
Because traumatic accidents can also affect a survivor’s mental well-being, some plaintiffs also pursue claims for non-economic damages like pain and suffering and emotional distress. While these kinds of losses are hard to quantify, they are just as valid and deserving of recognition as the economic losses commonly sought in these cases.
Why entrust O’Brien & Ford, PC with your premises liability case?
If you were injured on another person’s property, your ability to trust others may have been compromised, and understandably so. Choosing a law firm to represent you in a personal injury case is a big decision that survivors need to make based on their personal preferences and needs, and you should never feel pressured to do anything you’re not ready for.
At O’Brien & Ford, PC, we believe accident victims deserve to be treated like people – not dollar signs. We keep our caseloads small so we can provide the individualized, hands-on legal support our clients deserve during times of uncertainty. When you work with O’Brien & Ford, PC, you can count on your legal team to know your name and genuinely care about getting you the justice you deserve.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations to prospective clients, and we work on a contingency basis so you’ll never be asked to pay any attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation in your case. While we cannot guarantee any particular outcome in your case, our motto is “No one will work harder for you” for a reason, and we strive to honor that commitment in every case we take on.
Frequently asked questions about premises liability claims
Can I sue my landlord for an accident at my home?
If your accident happened because of an unsafe property condition, you may be able to pursue a premises liability claim against your landlord or property manager. Generally, this means you’ll have to be able to show that the landlord created, was aware or reasonably should have been aware of the hazard that injured you and failed to take steps to address it.
Can I recover compensation if I was partly responsible?
Can I file a claim after falling on snow or ice?
How long do I have to file a premises liability lawsuit?
Do you have a premises liability lawyer near me?
Speak with a Buffalo premises liability lawyer
If you were injured because of dangerous conditions on someone else’s property, O’Brien & Ford, PC is here to help you explore your legal options. We know that your sense of safety has probably been seriously shaken up, but we want you to know that there are people out there who care about you and want to see you get the justice you deserve.
While we cannot turn back time and stop your accident from happening, we may be able to help you fight for the resources you need to move forward with a little more ease and confidence. Give us a call today at 716-222-2222 or visit one of our local offices at 4549 Main St., Suite 201, or 701 Seneca St., Suite 208, to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with one of our premises liability attorneys. When you call our office, we guarantee you’ll be connected with a lawyer within two minutes so you don’t have to waste another moment in your fight for accountability.