Slip and fall accidents happen every day in Queens. They happen in grocery stores, apartment buildings, on sidewalks, and in workplaces. One moment you are walking normally, and the next you are on the ground in pain. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, slip and fall accidents account for 26 percent of all reported workplace injuries. They also rank among the top three causes of preventable injury-related deaths in the United States.
No one plans to get hurt this way. But when it happens, what you do in the hours and days after your fall can make or break your case. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
This guide covers the steps you should take after a slip and fall accident in Queens to protect your health and your legal rights.
Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident in Queens
1. Get Medical Attention Right Away
The first thing you should do after a fall is see a doctor, even if you think you are okay. Some injuries do not show up immediately. Concussions, soft tissue damage, internal injuries, and herniated discs can take hours or even days before you feel the full effects.
Getting checked out right away does two important things. First, it makes sure you get the care you need. Second, it creates a medical record that connects your injuries directly to the accident. If you wait days or weeks before seeing a doctor, the property owner’s insurance company will likely argue that your injuries came from something else entirely. Do not give them that opening.
Depending on how serious your injuries are, you may need emergency transportation to a hospital. Even if you feel well enough to drive yourself or take the subway, still go. A doctor’s visit on the same day as your accident is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can have.
2. Report the Accident Before You Leave
If your fall happened on someone else’s property, whether it was a store, a restaurant, a landlord’s building, or any other privately owned space, report it to the property owner or manager before you leave. Ask to fill out an official incident report and request a copy for your records.
Be clear and honest about what happened. Describe where you fell, what caused the fall, and what injuries you noticed. What you should not do is apologize, accept blame, or make guesses about fault. Just stick to the facts.
If the owner or manager is not around, ask for the name of someone you can contact. The report you file right away shows that you took the accident seriously from the start, which adds credibility to any future claim.
3. Document the Scene
If you are physically able to do so, take photos of the accident scene before anything changes. Use your phone. You do not need professional equipment. The goal is to capture the conditions exactly as they were at the time of your fall.
Your photos should include:
- The exact spot where you fell
- Whatever caused the fall, such as a wet floor, broken pavement, uneven flooring, or a missing handrail
- Any warning signs that were present or, importantly, missing
- Your visible injuries, including bruises, cuts, and swelling
A picture is worth far more than a description when it comes to proving liability. Bruises fade. Wet floors get mopped up. Broken tiles get repaired. The hazard that caused your fall may be gone by the next day, so document it while you still can.
If you are too hurt to take photos yourself, ask someone nearby to take them for you.
4. Collect Witness Information
If anyone saw you fall, ask for their name, phone number, and email address before they leave. Witnesses are neutral third parties who have no personal stake in the outcome of your case. Their account of what happened can carry a lot of weight, whether you are negotiating with an insurance company or presenting your case in court.
This also includes any employees, store managers, or building staff who came to help you after the fall. Anyone present at the scene is a potential witness, so gather contact information from as many people as possible.
5. Preserve Any Available Security Footage
Most businesses, apartment complexes, and public buildings in Queens have security cameras running at all hours. If your accident happened in one of these locations, there may be footage of exactly what happened.
The problem is that many businesses record over their footage within days. Once it is gone, it is gone. To stop that from happening, report your fall to the store or building manager immediately and ask them directly to preserve the footage from the date and time of your accident. Follow that request up in writing so there is a record.
If the business refuses to hand over the footage, an attorney can send a legal demand letter or file a subpoena to obtain it. The sooner you act, the better your chances of securing that evidence.
6. Write Everything Down
Memory fades faster than most people expect, especially after a stressful or physically painful event. As soon as you are able, write down everything you remember about the accident. Include:
- The date, time, and exact location of the fall
- What you were doing when it happened
- What caused the fall
- The weather and lighting conditions
- What you were wearing, including your footwear
- Everything you felt physically right after the accident
Keep a running journal in the days and weeks that follow. Write about your pain levels, how your injuries are affecting your sleep, your ability to work, and your daily activities. If your case goes to litigation a year or two down the road, these notes can serve as detailed, firsthand evidence of how the accident affected your life.
7. Keep All of Your Records
Every expense connected to your accident matters. Start a folder, physical or digital, and keep everything organized. This includes:
- Emergency room and hospital bills
- Follow-up appointment records
- Diagnostic tests such as X-rays and MRIs
- Physical therapy bills
- Prescription costs
- Pay stubs showing missed work
- Any other out-of-pocket expenses tied to the accident
You should also keep records of future losses, including any reduction in your ability to earn income if your injuries prevent you from returning to the same type of work. These records are what allow your attorney to build a full picture of what the accident truly cost you.
8. Do Not Give Statements to Insurance Companies
After a slip and fall, the property owner’s insurance company may contact you quickly. They may sound friendly and sympathetic. Do not be fooled. Their job is to settle your claim for as little money as possible, and anything you say in a recorded statement can be used to do exactly that.
Do not give a verbal or written statement to any insurance adjuster until you have spoken with an attorney. The incident report you filed at the scene is enough information for them to have at this stage.
You should also be careful about what you post on social media. Sharing details about your accident or your injuries online can seriously damage your case. Courts and insurance companies can and do use social media posts as evidence, and doing so can waive the attorney-client privilege. Keep the details of your accident off the internet entirely until your case is fully resolved.
9. Understand the Legal Deadline for Filing
In New York, the statute of limitations for most slip and fall accidents is three years from the date of the accident. That means you have three years to file a lawsuit before your right to pursue compensation expires.
However, if your fall happened on public property or involved a government entity, such as the New York City Transit Authority or a city-owned sidewalk, you may have as little as six months to file an administrative claim. Miss that deadline and you may lose your right to recover anything at all.
These deadlines are firm. Do not assume you have plenty of time. The earlier you speak with an attorney, the better protected you will be.
10. Talk to a Queens Slip and Fall Lawyer
Slip and fall cases are more complex than most people expect. Insurance companies treat these claims with skepticism because fraudulent claims do exist, and that makes things harder for people who are genuinely hurt. It is common for insurers to deny slip and fall claims outright, and many cases require litigation before a fair settlement is ever reached.
To prove negligence in a slip and fall case, you generally need to show two things. First, that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. Second, they failed to take reasonable steps to fix it or warn people about it. Gathering the evidence needed to prove both of these points takes time and experience.
An attorney can help you collect evidence, speak with witnesses, send preservation requests for security footage, meet all legal deadlines, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your attorney can take your case to trial.
One important thing to keep in mind is that slip and fall cases often take longer to resolve than car accident claims. Going into the process with realistic expectations will help you stay patient and make better decisions throughout.
Common Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can cause serious physical harm, especially for older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 95 percent of hip fractures result from falls. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that floors and flooring materials alone cause more than 2 million fall injuries every year in the United States.
Common injuries from slip and fall accidents include:
- Broken bones, including hip fractures that are especially serious for elderly victims
- Sprained ankles or wrists from trying to catch yourself as you fall
- Knee damage, including torn ligaments, ACL or MCL injuries, and kneecap fractures
- Shoulder and neck injuries, including dislocations, torn nerves, and spinal damage
- Back injuries ranging from muscle strains to herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and in serious cases, spinal cord damage that can cause paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, skull fractures, and hematomas that can affect brain function long term
- Cuts, bruises, and scrapes that often accompany more serious injuries
These are not minor inconveniences. Many slip and fall injuries require surgery, extended physical therapy, or long-term care.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Queens
Slips and falls do not only happen because someone was not paying attention. They often happen because a property owner failed to maintain a safe environment. Common causes include:
- Wet or slippery floors without proper warning signs
- Uneven flooring, broken tiles, or damaged pavement
- Icy or unsalted sidewalks and walkways during winter
- Loose or unsecured carpet, especially on stairs
- Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, or parking areas
- Elevator malfunctions where the elevator does not line up evenly with the floor
- Tree roots that have grown into sidewalks or walkways
- Grease spills in commercial kitchens or restaurants
- Workplace hazards where safety protocols were not followed
In most of these situations, the victim is not at fault. A property owner who knew about a hazard and did nothing about it can be held responsible for the injuries that result.
Ready to Talk About Your Case?
If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident in Queens, Poltielov Law Firm P.C. is here to help. We represent injured people throughout Queens and New York City, and we fight to get our clients the full compensation they deserve for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
You should not have to pay for someone else’s negligence out of your own pocket. Call us today at 718-880-2911 for a free consultation. We are available to speak with you and give you an honest assessment of your case so you can move forward with confidence.