If you were hurt because a building owner ignored a broken lock, a failing elevator, or loose debris overhead, the injury was not your fault. Our Brooklyn premises liability lawyers at Hach & Rose, LLP represent people injured by unsafe property conditions in apartment buildings, stores, offices, and public spaces across Kings County.
We handle these cases on a contingency basis, so you don't owe any legal fees if we don't recover compensation for you. We have recovered more than $1 billion for injured New Yorkers. Call 212-779-0057, 24/7, for a free consultation in English or Spanish.
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What Does a Premises Liability Lawyer Handle in Brooklyn?
A premises liability claim holds a property owner or manager responsible for injuries caused by a dangerous condition they failed to fix. Falls are part of this area of law, and slip and fall injuries get their own focused investigation, but many of the most serious premises cases involve other hazards.
The cases we see most often in Brooklyn include:
- Assaults in lobbies, hallways, and parking areas with broken entry doors or missing lighting.
- Elevator and escalator malfunctions in residential and commercial buildings.
- Falling bricks, facade pieces, or materials from poorly secured scaffolding and sidewalk sheds.
- Fires, burns, and electric shocks caused by building code violations.
Each of these hazards traces back to a maintenance or security decision someone made. Our job is to find out who made it.
Who Can Be Held Responsible When a Property Is Unsafe?
The person or company that owns, manages, or controls a property is usually responsible for keeping it reasonably safe. In Brooklyn, that can mean a landlord, a management company, a commercial tenant, a contractor working on the building, or a public agency.
Responsibility often depends on who had control over the specific hazard. The table below shows how that typically plays out.
| Hazard | Parties We Commonly Investigate |
|---|---|
| Broken building door lock or dark stairwell | Landlord, managing agent, security company |
| Elevator malfunction | Building owner, elevator maintenance contractor |
| Falling facade or construction debris | Building owner, general contractor, scaffolding company |
| Unsafe conditions in a store or restaurant | Business owner, commercial landlord |
| New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) building | NYCHA |
Claims against NYCHA or another public agency require a notice of claim, generally within 90 days, under General Municipal Law § 50-e. That short window is easy to miss without help.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONWhen Can You Sue a Landlord for an Assault in Brooklyn?
You may be able to sue a landlord after an assault if the attack was foreseeable and a security failure, such as a broken front door lock, helped the attacker get in. New York courts generally consider whether the owner knew of similar crimes on or near the property and whether reasonable precautions could have prevented the harm.
These claims are hard to prove without early investigation. We look for:
- Prior complaints and repair requests about locks, buzzers, and lighting.
- Police reports of earlier incidents at or near the building.
- Security camera footage and access logs.
- Testimony from tenants and building staff.
Our work on negligent security cases shows how often a simple, ignored repair opens the door to serious harm.
Why Choose Hach & Rose, LLP?
Property owners and their insurers have lawyers lined up before you leave the emergency room. Hach & Rose, LLP gives you a firm that has stood up to them since 2002, with trial lawyers who prepare every case for a jury.
Experience With Brooklyn Buildings
From prewar walk-ups in Flatbush to new towers in Downtown Brooklyn, we know how building ownership and management are structured, and we know how to find the party actually in control of a hazard.
A Firm Built for Working New Yorkers
We are the union law firm, and we represent the people who build, clean, and maintain New York's buildings. Clients tell us what that means to them in their own words: “Union lawyers for union members, they are true professionals.”
When you hire us, you get:
- Trial lawyers who build the case from day one.
- Consultations in English or Spanish.
- No fee unless we recover for you.
Call 212-779-0057 to start with a free case review.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONHow Long Do You Have to File a Premises Liability Claim in New York?
Most premises liability lawsuits against private owners in New York must be filed within three years of the injury under CPLR 214. Claims against the City, NYCHA, or another public body start with a 90-day notice of claim and a lawsuit deadline of one year and 90 days.
Exceptions can shorten or extend these periods, including rules for minors and wrongful death. Being partly at fault also doesn't end your case, because New York's comparative fault statute reduces, rather than eliminates, your recovery in premises cases.
FAQs About Brooklyn Premises Liability Claims
Can I sue my landlord if the elevator in my building malfunctioned?
A Brooklyn tenant or visitor injured by an elevator malfunction may have a claim against the building owner, the elevator maintenance company, or both, depending on who was responsible for inspections and repairs. Service records and prior complaints are often the key evidence.
What if a store says I signed a waiver or was trespassing?
A waiver or a claim that you didn't belong on the property does not automatically defeat a New York premises case, but it can change the legal analysis. Customers, tenants, and guests are generally owed reasonable care, and a lawyer can review whether any document you signed actually applies.
How much is a premises liability case worth in Brooklyn?
The value of a Brooklyn premises liability case depends on the severity of the injury, medical costs, lost income, long-term effects, and the strength of the evidence against the owner. No honest lawyer can give you a number before reviewing the facts, and past results do not predict future outcomes.
Do I need to report the injury to the property owner?
Reporting an injury to the property owner or manager creates a written record that the incident happened, which can help later. Keep a copy, and avoid making statements about fault until you've spoken with a lawyer.
Can I file a claim if I was hurt by falling debris while walking past a building?
A pedestrian hit by falling bricks, facade material, or construction debris in Brooklyn may have a claim against the building owner, contractors, or both. New York City requires owners of certain buildings to inspect and maintain their facades, and those records can help establish fault.
Start Your Brooklyn Premises Liability Case
An unsafe building rarely injures just one person. Holding the owner accountable protects you and the neighbors who walk through the same doors every day, and it's the core of our premises liability practice across the city. Call Hach & Rose, LLP at 212-779-0057, day or night, to talk with our team about your injury.
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