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Slip, Trip & Fall Injuries
Injured Because of a Dangerous Property Condition?
Onx Law represents people hurt in slip, trip, and fall accidents. A fall can happen in seconds, but the effects may last for months or even years.
(01) — Overview
Onx Law represents people hurt in slip, trip, and fall accidents. A fall can happen in seconds, but the effects may last for months or even years.
You may be facing painful injuries, medical expenses, time away from work, and uncertainty about who is responsible.
We represent people injured on commercial, residential, and public property — evaluating each case, investigating the dangerous condition, and putting the right strategy, legal team, and resources behind the claim.
(02) — What makes it different
What Makes Fall Cases Different
A fall may be caused by a temporary hazard, a long-standing maintenance issue, or a condition that a property owner should have discovered. In many cases, the question is what the owner knew — or should have known — before you fell.
Falls can happen almost anywhere: a grocery store, apartment building, office, restaurant, sidewalk, or parking lot. Who owned, managed, or maintained the area matters.
Common causes
- 01Slippery Floors
- 02Spills and Leaks
- 03Defective Handrails
- 04Uneven Sidewalks
- 05Loose Rugs or Carpeting
- 06Poor Lighting
- 07Broken Pavement
- 08Broken or Uneven Stairs
- 09Construction Debris
(03) — Evidence that matters
Evidence of the Hazard Can Disappear
A spill gets cleaned up, a broken step gets repaired, and video is often recorded over within days. What the hazard looked like when you fell can be the most important evidence in your case.
Records of complaints, inspections, and cleaning can show whether the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
Evidence worth saving:
- Photos of the hazard, the area, and your shoes
- An incident report from the store or property
- Names and contact details of witnesses
- Surveillance video, requested as soon as possible
- Inspection, cleaning, and maintenance logs
- Medical records, bills, and receipts
(04) — Who may be responsible
Who may be responsible for a fall.
Responsibility usually follows who controlled the property and who was supposed to keep it safe.
- 01
The property owner
Owners are generally expected to keep their property reasonably safe and to fix or warn about hazards they know of or should find.
- 02
A business or tenant
A store, restaurant, or other business that controls the space may be responsible for conditions inside it.
- 03
A landlord or management company
Common areas such as stairs, hallways, and walkways are often the landlord’s or manager’s responsibility.
- 04
A cleaning or maintenance contractor
A company hired to clean, repair, or maintain the area may share responsibility.
- 05
A government agency
Falls on public sidewalks or property may involve a city, county, or the District. These claims have short notice deadlines.
(05) — What compensation may include
What a Fall Injury Claim May Cover
Depending on the facts and the state’s law, compensation may include:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost income and reduced ability to earn
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Future medical care and rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket costs, such as mobility aids and help at home
What’s available depends on the facts and the state’s law. For example, Maryland caps noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering. No particular result can be promised.
(06) — What to do next
What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall?
Document the Hazard
Take photographs and videos of the exact condition that caused your fall. Capture both close-up images of the hazard and wider views showing where it happened.
Report the Accident
Notify the property owner, manager, landlord, or business. Ask that an incident report be prepared and request a copy if possible.
Preserve Important Evidence
Keep the clothing and shoes you were wearing, along with medical records, receipts, photographs, and any written communication about the incident.
Talk to an Attorney
A premises liability attorney can help investigate the condition, identify responsible parties, request surveillance footage, and evaluate your legal options.
(07) — State-specific considerations
The same fall, four sets of rules.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, exceptions apply, and how a rule affects you depends on the facts of your case.
Florida
FL
For a fall on a spill or other temporary substance in a business, Florida law requires proof that the business knew or should have known about it. Photos, witnesses, and video can be key.
Source: Fla. Stat. § 768.0755Maryland
MD
Property owners often argue that a visitor should have seen the hazard. Under contributory negligence, that argument can defeat a claim entirely, so photos and witness details matter.
Source: Coleman v. Soccer Ass’n of Columbia (Md. 2013)Washington, D.C.
DC
For a fall on a District-owned sidewalk or property, written notice to the Mayor is generally due within 6 months — and contributory negligence still applies to falls.
Source: D.C. Code § 12-309New York
NY
In New York City, owners of many buildings must keep the adjoining sidewalk reasonably safe. A fall on city property usually requires a notice of claim within 90 days.
Source: N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law §§ 50-e, 50-i
(08) — The Onx approach
Been Injured in a Fall?
Every case is evaluated individually. Depending on what yours needs, Onx Law may handle the matter directly, work with co-counsel, or connect you with trusted counsel when doing so better serves your case.
01/ 05
- 01
Listen
Tell us what happened, in your own words — online or by phone, in English or Spanish. Every case starts with understanding the people involved.
- 02
Evaluate
An attorney reviews the facts, the injuries, the insurance, and the law that applies, to determine what your case actually needs.
- 03
Build the Right Team
We put the right legal team and resources around your case. Onx may handle it directly, work with co-counsel, or connect you with carefully vetted counsel whose location, experience, or resources better serve it.
- 04
Move the Case Forward
Disciplined case management, data, and technology keep the work organized and moving, while legal judgment sets the strategy — and you’re kept informed along the way.
- 05
Pursue the Outcome
We pursue the resolution your case supports — through negotiation or, when it’s needed, in court — so you can focus on your recovery.
(09) — Questions
Frequently asked questions.
General information only, not legal advice. Every situation is different, so the best answer starts with a conversation.
Ask us directlyProperty owners, managers, landlords and businesses may be responsible for hazards they knew about, or should reasonably have found and fixed. Sometimes a maintenance or cleaning contractor shares responsibility too.
Yes, if you can. Ask the store, manager or landlord to write an incident report and request a copy. A report made at the time helps show when and where the fall happened.
Photos of the exact hazard and the surrounding area, names of witnesses, the shoes and clothing you were wearing, and prompt medical records. Surveillance footage is often overwritten quickly, so an attorney may ask for it to be preserved.
Claims against a city, county or state agency often have special notice requirements and much shorter deadlines. If a public entity may be involved, it’s important to get guidance quickly.
(10) — More practice areas
Other ways we can help.
- 01Premises LiabilitySwimming Pools · Falling Objects · Elevators & Escalators · Fires · Toxic Exposure
- 02Negligent SecurityAssaults & Robberies · Broken Locks & Gates · Poor Lighting · No Guards or Cameras · Ignored Prior Incidents
- 03Wrongful DeathCar Accidents · Pedestrian Accidents · Poor Property Conditions · Animal-Related Incidents · Defective Products
(11) — Next step
You focus on recovery. We’ll help with the rest.
A dangerous property condition can affect your health, your work, and your independence. Onx Law can help you understand what happened, identify the parties who may be responsible, and determine what options may be available.