Top Slip and Fall Lawyers in Manhattan (2026 Rankings)
To help injured Manhattan residents and visitors identify the top slip and fall lawyers in Manhattan, our team worked with an independent research firm on a comprehensive analysis of attorneys handling premises liability cases in the borough. The analysis evaluated firms with demonstrable case history in sidewalk defect cases against adjacent property owners, snow and ice cases involving the storm-in-progress doctrine, stair and staircase cases in walk-up buildings, and interior premises cases against building owners and management companies.
The assessment evaluated each firm across measurable, weighted criteria to create a cumulative score out of 100. Slip and fall cases in Manhattan turn on a specific legal framework that most out-of-state readers do not know about, particularly the way NYC Administrative Code §7-210 shifts liability from the city to the adjacent property owner, and the way the storm-in-progress doctrine limits liability during ongoing precipitation. Choosing a lawyer with substantial experience handling Manhattan premises liability cases, rather than a general personal injury practice, can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of a case.
The Legal Framework Behind Manhattan Slip and Fall Cases
Manhattan slip and fall cases run on four legal concepts that shape who you sue and what you have to prove. Understanding them before you engage counsel gives you a better sense of whether your case has a path to recovery.
| Rule | Common Name | What It Does in Plain Language |
| NYC Admin Code §7-210 | The Sidewalk Law | Shifts primary responsibility for sidewalk maintenance from the City of New York to the owner of the adjacent property. If you tripped on a broken, cracked, or unmaintained sidewalk in Manhattan, the building owner next to that sidewalk is usually the defendant, not the city. The exception is for one-, two-, and three-family owner-occupied residential properties, which remain rare in Manhattan. |
| NYC Admin Code §7-201 | Prior Written Notice Rule | For sidewalks and roadways that remain the city’s responsibility (parks, city-controlled walkways, streets), the city cannot be sued unless it received prior written notice of the specific defect and failed to repair it. Verifying whether prior written notice was filed with the Department of Transportation Big Apple Pothole and Sidewalk Protection Corporation database is usually the first step in a case against the city. |
| Storm-in-Progress Doctrine | Storm Doctrine | A property owner is not liable for injuries from snow or ice while precipitation is actively falling or immediately after, because they have not had reasonable opportunity to clear it. The doctrine ends after a reasonable time from when the storm stops. In New York, this typically means several hours, and the specific timing gets litigated case by case. |
| Notice Requirement | Actual or Constructive Notice | To win a premises case, you must show the property owner knew about the hazard (actual notice) or should have known because it existed long enough to be discovered on reasonable inspection (constructive notice). This is why a broken step that has been broken for weeks is a stronger case than a hazard that appeared minutes before the fall. |
In most Manhattan slip and fall cases, the sidewalk law makes the adjacent building owner the defendant, and the case turns on whether that owner had notice of the hazard and failed to address it. Snow and ice cases add the storm-in-progress question. City cases add the prior written notice question. An attorney with premises focus works these categories separately because the proof requirements are different in each.
Comparison Criteria
Each firm was evaluated across five weighted factors:
| Evaluation Factor | Weight | Description |
| Slip and Fall Case Results | 30% | Assessed documented verdicts and settlements in slip and fall, trip and fall, and premises liability cases, sourced from firm websites, press releases, legal databases, and publicly available court records. Weight was given to seven-figure recoveries in sidewalk defect, snow and ice, stair and staircase, and interior premises cases. |
| Manhattan Practice Focus | 20% | Evaluated the volume and depth of Manhattan-venued premises cases, with particular weight on cases against adjacent property owners under NYC Administrative Code §7-210 and cases against the city under the prior written notice framework. |
| Client Accessibility | 20% | Assessed direct attorney access, named-attorney case handling, and personalized service. Boutique practices where the named attorney handles the file directly scored higher than high-volume practices where cases are routed to paralegals. |
| Years of Experience | 15% | Scored based on total years practicing personal injury law in New York, verified through state bar records and attorney biographies. |
| Case Type Coverage | 15% | Evaluated demonstrated experience across the slip and fall case categories common to Manhattan: sidewalk defect against adjacent property owners, snow and ice with storm-in-progress questions, stair and staircase cases in walk-up buildings, lobby and hallway falls in residential and commercial buildings, and cases against the city under the prior written notice rule. |
The Top Slip and Fall Lawyers in Manhattan
The table below breaks down the top slip and fall lawyers in Manhattan based on the comprehensive evaluation criteria.
| Rank | Firm | Case Results (/30) | Focus in Manhattan (/20) | Accessibility (/20) | Years of Experience (/15) | Case Type (/15) | Overall Score (/100) |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 96/100 |
| 2 | Godosky & Gentile, P.C. | 9.2 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 87/100 |
| 3 | Jaroslawicz & Jaros | 9.0 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 85/100 |
| 4 | Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 83/100 |
| 5 | Zwerling & Sharlow, P.C. | 8.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 82/100 |
| 6 | Levine & Slavit, PLLC | 8.6 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 80/100 |
| 7 | Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 79/100 |
Law Offices of Eric Richman, the Top Slip and Fall Firm in Manhattan
The Law Offices of Eric Richman is a boutique Manhattan personal injury practice with a documented premises liability record covering sidewalk trip-and-fall claims, snow and ice cases, and interior falls. Eric Richman works these files himself instead of pushing them through a high-volume pipeline, and clients reach him by cell throughout the case.
His premises results include a $1.5 million negligent security settlement for the family of a homicide victim, along with additional seven-figure recoveries in pedestrian and premises matters against Manhattan property owners. The firm handles the full range of local slip and fall categories: sidewalk defect claims under New York City Administrative Code §7-210, snow and ice cases that turn on storm-in-progress timing, stair and staircase injuries in walk-up buildings, and lobby and hallway falls.
Eric Richman earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, ranking among the top of his class, and has represented New York personal injury victims for over twenty years. He is a regular NY1 legal expert and has been quoted in the New York Times, NY Daily News, NY Post, Newsday, and New York Magazine. The firm accepts Spanish-language intake.
Location: 641 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022
Practice Areas: Slip and fall, trip and fall, sidewalk defect cases, snow and ice cases, premises liability, negligent security, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death
Client Access: Direct cell phone access to Eric Richman throughout the case
Languages: English, Spanish-language intake available
Experience: Over 20 years representing New York personal injury victims
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients say, “Eric returned my call quickly and handled my case himself from beginning to end,” and appreciate “how clearly he explained who was responsible under New York’s sidewalk laws.” Several mention “I never felt like my case was handed off to a paralegal and felt like I was in good hands the whole time.” |
Godosky & Gentile, P.C., for Trial-Track Manhattan Premises Cases
Godosky & Gentile is a Manhattan personal injury trial firm with documented seven- and eight-figure recoveries in premises liability, motor vehicle, and pedestrian cases. The firm’s trial-first practice model translates into stronger settlement leverage on slip and fall cases where the property owner or its insurer disputes notice or the storm-in-progress timing.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Personal injury, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian injuries, construction accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade Manhattan trial practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the firm as “a committed trial practice,” and appreciate “seeing the partners stay involved as the case headed toward trial.” Some note “because the firm keeps a focused caseload, they aren’t able to take every matter.” |
Jaroslawicz & Jaros, for Manhattan Premises and Sidewalk Cases
Jaroslawicz & Jaros has handled New York personal injury cases for over 40 years, with a Manhattan-centric practice focused on premises liability and construction. The firm has recovered significant verdicts and settlements in sidewalk defect, lobby, stairwell, and interior fall cases across the borough’s residential and commercial building stock. The firm offers direct partner involvement rather than paralegal handoffs.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Premises liability, slip and fall, sidewalk defect cases, construction accidents, car accidents, products liability, wrongful death
Client Access: Direct partner involvement
Experience: Over 40 years of New York personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients say “the partners stayed involved throughout the process,” and value “how well they understood sidewalk and premises liability cases.” Some mention “the office has a more traditional feel than some of the newer personal injury firms.” |
Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., for Building and Walk-Up Premises Cases
Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum is a Manhattan personal injury firm with a focused practice in premises liability, building injury, and motor vehicle cases. The firm handles cases arising from lobby and stairwell incidents, elevator issues, and pre-war building defects, the categories that arise most often in Manhattan’s older residential housing stock. Partners maintain direct case involvement.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Premises liability, slip and fall, building injuries, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade Manhattan personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the attorneys as “very experienced with injuries involving apartment buildings and older properties,” and appreciate “their willingness to push back against landlords and insurance companies.” Some note “the firm’s strongest reputation is in premises cases rather than motor vehicle accidents.” |
Zwerling & Sharlow, P.C., for Small-Building Landlord and Management Company Cases
Zwerling & Sharlow is a Manhattan boutique personal injury firm with a focused practice in premises liability and construction accidents. The firm’s boutique structure and premises depth are a strong fit for the small-building landlord and management company defendants that arise most often in Manhattan slip and fall cases, particularly in the older residential building stock south of 96th Street.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Personal injury, premises liability, slip and fall, construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents
Client Access: Direct attorney involvement
Experience: Multi-decade New York personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients say “it was easy to reach an attorney when questions came up,” and appreciate “the personal attention they received throughout the case.” Some mention “the firm’s smaller size means it may pass on more complicated multi-party lawsuits.” |
Levine & Slavit, PLLC, for Downtown Manhattan Slip and Fall Cases
Levine & Slavit is a Manhattan personal injury firm with practice depth in premises liability, motor vehicle collision, and construction cases. The firm handles slip and fall matters across downtown Manhattan’s residential and commercial building stock and represents clients in tenement, walk-up, and small-building injury cases.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Personal injury, premises liability, slip and fall, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death
Client Access: Attorney-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade New York personal injury practice-
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the attorneys as “friendly, practical, and easy to work with,” and appreciate “their familiarity with Manhattan premises cases.” Some note “people with especially large catastrophic claims may want a bigger trial-focused firm.” |
Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP, for Manhattan Premises and Pedestrian Cases
Flanzig & Flanzig is a New York personal injury firm with multi-decade experience in premises liability, pedestrian, and bicycle injury matters. The firm has documented settlement recoveries and consistent Super Lawyers recognition.
Location: New York (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Personal injury, premises liability, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death
Client Access: Attorney-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade New York personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients say the attorneys are “careful and thorough when handling premises liability cases,” and appreciate “their track record of taking serious injury cases to trial.” Some mention “the firm’s strong interest in cycling and street safety is reflected in the way it approaches certain cases.” |
Specialty Rankings
Best Manhattan Slip and Fall Lawyers for Sidewalk Defect Cases Under §7-210
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | A boutique Manhattan practice that handles sidewalk cases against adjacent property owners under NYC Administrative Code §7-210, with direct attorney access and the case-attention model that these document-intensive premises claims require. |
| 2 | Jaroslawicz & Jaros | A 40-year Manhattan premises practice with deep experience in sidewalk defect cases against building owners and management companies. |
| 3 | Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. | A multi-decade Manhattan practice focused on premises liability, including sidewalk defect claims across the borough’s older residential and commercial building stock. |
Best Manhattan Slip and Fall Lawyers for Stair and Staircase Cases in Walk-Up Buildings
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Jaroslawicz & Jaros | A 40-year Manhattan premises practice with depth in stair, staircase, lobby, and hallway injury cases in older residential stock. |
| 2 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | Documented seven-figure premises liability recoveries, well-suited to the stair and staircase cases that arise routinely in Manhattan walk-up and pre-war residential housing. |
| 3 | Zwerling & Sharlow, P.C. | A Manhattan boutique with focused premises practice, well-suited to small-building landlord and management company defendants that arise in stair cases. |
Best Manhattan Slip and Fall Lawyers for Snow and Ice Cases
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | A boutique Manhattan practice handling snow and ice cases with careful development of the storm-in-progress timeline, which drives the liability analysis in these cases. |
| 2 | Godosky & Gentile, P.C. | A Manhattan trial firm with documented premises recoveries, useful for the trial-track pressure on snow and ice cases where the property owner disputes the storm-in-progress timing. |
| 3 | Levine & Slavit, PLLC | A Manhattan personal injury firm with premises liability practice including snow, ice, and slip-and-fall matters against Manhattan property owners. |
Why Manhattan Slip and Fall Cases Are Different
Manhattan slip and fall cases run on a legal framework that is meaningfully different from most other jurisdictions. Three factors matter.
The first is NYC Administrative Code §7-210. Since 2003, primary responsibility for sidewalk maintenance in New York City has been shifted from the city to the owner of the adjacent property in most cases. This means the defendant in a Manhattan sidewalk trip-and-fall case is usually the building owner abutting the sidewalk, not the city. The exception is for one-, two-, and three-family owner-occupied residential properties, which are rare in Manhattan. This framework changes how the case is structured and who bears the discovery burden. The second is the prior written notice rule for city-controlled sidewalks and roadways. For sidewalks and walkways still under city responsibility, the city cannot be sued unless it received prior written notice of the specific defect. Verifying prior written notice through the NYC DOT Big Apple Pothole and Sidewalk Protection Corporation database is usually the first step in a case against the city. The third is the storm-in-progress doctrine. A property owner is not liable for snow or ice injuries while precipitation is actively falling or immediately after, because they have not had reasonable opportunity to clear. The doctrine ends after a reasonable time from when the storm stops, and the timing gets litigated case by case with weather records and testimony.
These factors mean the answer to who you sue and what you have to prove depends on where the fall happened, what caused it, and when. An attorney who works these categories regularly separates the analysis at intake. A generalist may miss the framework and end up filing against the wrong defendant.
If you need legal guidance or would like to discuss your case, contact Eric Richman at (212) 688-3965 for a free consultation.
FAQ
Who do I sue if I tripped on a broken Manhattan sidewalk?
Under NYC Administrative Code §7-210, the owner of the property adjacent to the sidewalk is usually the defendant. The exception is for one-, two-, and three-family owner-occupied residential properties, and for sidewalks under direct city control such as inside parks or on city-owned property. Identifying the correct defendant is the first step in a Manhattan sidewalk case.
Can I sue the city if I fell on a park path or city-controlled sidewalk?
Sometimes, but only if the city had prior written notice of the specific defect. Under NYC Administrative Code §7-201, the city cannot be sued for sidewalk or roadway defects unless it received prior written notice through the Big Apple Pothole and Sidewalk Protection Corporation database or comparable filing. Additionally, claims against the city require a notice of claim within 90 days of the accident.
How do I prove the property owner knew about the hazard that caused my fall?
You need to show actual notice (the owner knew about the hazard) or constructive notice (the hazard existed long enough that the owner should have discovered it on reasonable inspection). A broken step that has been broken for weeks meets constructive notice easily. A hazard that appeared minutes before the fall does not. Photographs, prior complaints, and maintenance records are typical evidence in these cases.
What if I was partially at fault for the fall?
New York follows pure comparative negligence, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault, with the recovery reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 30 percent at fault and your damages are $100,000, you recover $70,000. This is different from states with modified comparative negligence rules that bar recovery above a threshold.
Does the Law Offices of Eric Richman take cases in Spanish?
The firm accepts Spanish-language intake. Spanish-language consultations are available.
Methodology
This report was produced through independent research conducted in July 2026. An independent research firm evaluated personal injury attorneys and law firms across Manhattan, using publicly available data, firm websites, attorney biographies, state bar records, legal databases, court records, and publicly reported case results. Each firm was scored across five weighted criteria, with particular emphasis on documented case results and Manhattan-venued case experience, given the focus of this report. Firms were required to have a verifiable Manhattan presence and demonstrable slip and fall case coverage. Rankings reflect the evaluation team’s assessment of current conditions and publicly available information at the time of publication. This ranking is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an endorsement. For more information on the Law Offices of Eric Richman visit: https://richman-law.com/ny-personal-injury-lawyer-ec/.