John Richmond, Co-Founder and CEO
- October 6, 2026
- Why Choose Our Trial-Ready Lawyers to Handle Your Premises Liability Case?
- What Our Clients Say About Us
- What Types of Premises Liability Cases Are Common in Buffalo, New York?
- Who Can File a Premises Liability Claim in Buffalo, NY?
- What Do You Need to Prove Negligence in a Buffalo Premises Liability Claim?
- What Damages Can I Recover in a Buffalo Premises Liability Case?
- How Long Does a Buffalo Premises Liability Case Take?
- How Can a Buffalo Premises Liability Attorney Help Me?
- Contact Richmond Vona Today for Help With Your Buffalo Premises Liability Case
Getting injured on someone else’s property can add a degree of shock to the pain and stress you’re dealing with. It’s natural to wonder why the owner didn’t do anything about an unsafe condition, instead of just waiting until someone like you was inevitably hurt.
In New York, property owners are legally responsible for keeping their buildings and land safe. If someone’s failure to uphold that duty left you with significant injuries, a Buffalo premises liability lawyer can help you hold them accountable.
Why Choose Our Trial-Ready Lawyers to Handle Your Premises Liability Case?
At Richmond Vona, we understand how complicated and stressful life can be after a premises liability injury. We’re here to help provide clarity and get results.
- We’re based in Buffalo, and many of our attorneys have lived and worked in Western New York their entire lives.
- We have deep experience handling a variety of personal injury claims for our friends and neighbors in Buffalo, including premises liability cases.
- We work in small teams to resolve cases quickly and efficiently, while keeping your family updated on our progress.
- We’re not afraid to go to trial to get you the best results, and insurance companies know that we mean business. Our meticulous preparation helps us both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table.
Premises Liability Cases We’ve Handled
Our team has recovered over $250 million for people like you, including these notable premises liability case results:
- A settlement worth seven times the insurance company’s initial offer for a client seriously injured after falling into a plate-glass window
- $505,000 for a client who suffered a serious back injury after slipping on an icy trail
- $325,000 for our client who slipped on an ice-covered access ramp when exiting their apartment building
- $300,000 for a client who suffered serious bone fractures after falling down stairs that lacked handrails
- $190,000 for our client who slipped and fell on ice during a professional appointment in the greater Buffalo area.
- $175,000 for a healthcare worker who was injured in a slip and fall accident and, as a result, was unable to work for years due to their accident.
- $155,000 for a client who suffered a deep leg wound and permanent scarring from a bracket protruding from a public bench
- $175,000 for a local healthcare worker who slipped and fell on a hospital floor and tore their meniscus
- $140,000 for a client who slipped and fell outside of a local restaurant, which resulted in facial tearing and permanent scarring
What Our Clients Say About Us
What Types of Premises Liability Cases Are Common in Buffalo, New York?
A premises liability case can emerge from any type of hazard left unaddressed by someone responsible for maintaining it, whether it’s residential, commercial, or public property. Some of the most common types of premises liability injuries include:
- Slip and fall accidents, often caused by spills, broken stairs, or uneven walking surfaces
- Accidents from unmanaged snow and ice, which are an annual safety issue in Buffalo
- Dog bite and animal attack injuries
- Falling object injuries and unsafe construction sites
- Negligent security incidents, where property owners fail to protect the public from known or foreseeable risks of violence or criminal activity
- Burns and other injuries caused by fire hazards on the property
- Swimming pool and hot tub injuries
- Accidents involving escalators and elevators
Who Can File a Premises Liability Claim in Buffalo, NY?
Anyone injured by a dangerous condition on a property they were lawfully visiting may qualify for a premises liability claim in Buffalo. If a child is injured on their property, owners can sometimes be held liable even if the victim was trespassing.
Eligibility can vary from case to case depending on several factors, including how the accident occurred, the victim’s relationship to the property, and who was responsible for maintaining the site.
Common examples of premises liability claimants include:
- Customers injured by wet floors or tripping hazards at stores and restaurants.
- Tenants and guests injured by poor maintenance at rental properties.
- Children, guests, and delivery workers injured by dangerous conditions on private property.
- People injured by unsafe conditions on sidewalks or other public property, depending on who was responsible for maintaining the area.
What Do You Need to Prove Negligence in a Buffalo Premises Liability Claim?
Being injured on someone else’s property doesn’t automatically make the owner liable. To pursue a successful claim for premises liability in Buffalo, you must show that the property owner caused you injuries through negligence.
Proving negligence requires you to establish four elements:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care as a guest, worker, or otherwise permitted on the premises.
- The property owner breached their duty of care by failing to fix or warn guests about a condition they knew or should’ve known was a safety risk.
- There was direct causation between the property owner’s failure to act and your injuries.
- Because of your injuries, you suffered recoverable damages, such as hospital bills.
What Evidence Can Prove a Property Owner Knew About a Dangerous Condition?
If a property owner received complaints from tenants, guests, or customers about an unsafe condition, the owner had “actual notice” of the hazard and was responsible for fixing it. Written complaints, repair requests, and inspection records can help you prove the owner had active notice.
Even if there’s no clear record, you can argue the owner had “constructive notice” of the hazard because they should’ve found and fixed the problem by now. Determining how long the unsafe condition existed is key to establishing constructive notice, as you must argue that a reasonable and responsible property owner would have addressed the hazard in that time frame.
Other types of evidence that can help prove what the owner knew and when include:
- Maintenance records
- Incident reports detailing any previous accidents or close calls
- Dated photos, videos, or surveillance footage showing the hazard
- Witness statements from people who saw your accident or noticed the hazard some time before
What Damages Can I Recover in a Buffalo Premises Liability Case?
Depending on the circumstances of your case and the impacts of your injuries, you may be entitled to a variety of damages. Personal injury damages are typically classified as either “economic,” or monetary losses, or “non-economic,” meaning harms without a definitive or specific cost.
You may be able to pursue any of these damages in a premises liability case:
- Medical bills and future healthcare costs
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages, in very rare circumstances involving severe negligence or malice
What Happens if I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Sharing some responsibility for a slip and fall accident does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation in Buffalo. In an ordinary premises liability case, New York’s pure comparative negligence rule reduces any damages you recover by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you were looking at your phone when you fell down an unsafe staircase, a jury might find that both your distraction and the property owner’s negligence contributed to your injuries. If the jury assigns you 20% of the fault, your damages would be reduced by 20%, meaning you could recover 80% of the amount you would otherwise receive.
How Long Does a Buffalo Premises Liability Case Take?
New York has a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, and it generally applies to premises liability claims as well. However, there are some circumstances where your premises liability case might operate on a different timeline.
Cases involving public property can be particularly tricky, as claims against government entities tend to follow different, narrower rules. If you’re considering a claim against a municipality, speak with an experienced Buffalo premises liability lawyer as soon as possible to make sure you meet the applicable notice and filing requirements.
How Can a Buffalo Premises Liability Attorney Help Me?
Pursuing a premises liability claim without relevant legal guidance is a stressful, confusing experience. A trusted Buffalo premises liability lawyer can help you build a strong case and handle all the complicated negotiating and maneuvering for you.
Your premises liability attorney will help:
- Investigate the circumstances of your accident, proving how long the hazard existed and when the owner knew about it
- Identify all potentially liable parties, beyond just the property owner
- Gather and review key evidence, such as maintenance reports, complaint records, and surveillance footage
- Effectively communicate and negotiate with insurance companies
- Calculate and document the full value of your damages
- File a lawsuit and represent you in court, when necessary
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Words cannot describe how grateful my wife and I are of John Richmond. His friendliness, knowledge, loyalty and professionalism are of the highest level. Being this was the first time we’ve had to obtain legal assistance, John made this process very easy for my wife and I. We both would highly recommend Richmond Vona.
What a phenomenal experience to come from a terrifying accident. From day 1 Richmond/Vona provided me with nothing but comfort and professionalism. Communication is paramount in my needs and they performed that with nothing short of exceptional. Mr. Richmond made me feel like this was the only case he was working on. Thank you to all of your staff for looking out for my best interests and taking a stressful situation and making it so very easy for me and my family.
My experience with Keith Vona was exceptional. To this day, I am grateful for the dedication and compassion he displayed throughout my case. The outcome of my case was successful as a result of his drive and commitment. I would highly recommend Keith Vona to anyone in need of legal representation.
Contact Richmond Vona Today for Help With Your Buffalo Premises Liability Case
If you were injured because of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, don’t wait to take action. We’re ready to explain your legal options and build a strong case that will hold the property owner accountable for their negligence. Reach out to us online or call our Buffalo office today at 716-500-5678 to schedule your free consultation.