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In Queens, unsafe conditions are everywhere—from cracked concrete on a sidewalk in Jamaica to wet floors in a Jackson Heights grocery store. One slip, and now you’re dealing with pain, missed work, and medical bills—all because someone failed to address a known hazard.

New York law requires property owners to keep their spaces safe for visitors. When they don’t, and someone gets hurt, they can be held responsible.

If you’ve been harmed on someone else’s property through no fault of your own, a Queens slip and fall lawyer at the Law Offices of Supriya Kichoo, P.C., can help you understand your rights and options to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence.

When Can a Property Owner in Queens Be Held Liable for Unsafe Conditions?

In New York, property owners must keep their buildings, walkways, and public areas in reasonably safe condition for lawful visitors. This duty applies to store owners, landlords, commercial tenants, and even the City when it comes to public sidewalks and transit stations. The law doesn’t expect perfection. However, owners are required to take reasonable care to warn visitors about known hazards and repair them within a reasonable amount of time. If they don’t, and someone is hurt as a result, property owners can be held liable.

To show that a property owner’s negligence in a slip and fall claim, you’ll need to show:

  • There was a hazardous condition on the property,
  • The owner knew—or should have known—about the hazard,
  • They didn’t fix it or warn others in time, and
  • That failure caused your injury.

Importantly, to have a successful slip and fall claim, you must generally have had permission—explicit or implied—to be on the property. Property owners don’t owe the same duty of care to trespassers, although they may still be liable in some situations.

Hazards That Often Lead to Slip and Fall Injury Claims in Queens

You may not have seen the danger before the fall, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. Many property owners fail to fix known hazards or take steps to make their spaces safe for visitors.

Here are some of the most common causes of slip and fall injuries across Queens:

  • Unindicated wet floors in restaurants, supermarkets, and stores;
  • Broken or uneven sidewalks in areas like Flushing, Astoria, or Woodhaven;
  • Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, or apartment lobbies;
  • Ice and snow left on walkways long after storms pass; and
  • Loose rugs or damaged carpeting in high-traffic entryways and elevators.

Inside apartment buildings, you may also face broken steps, missing handrails, or leaks that make the floor slippery. When landlords fail to correct these problems—especially after past complaints or housing violations—they may be responsible for your injuries.

Queens slip and fall attorney Supriya Kichloo can work to investigate whether the property owner had time to fix the problem—or should have known about it—before you got hurt.

Common Injuries from Slip and Falls in Residential and Commercial Areas

You might walk away from a fall, but the pain often sets in later. Even if you don’t see a bruise or break right away, injuries from falls may show up in the hours or days that follow—and stay with you much longer.

Here are some injuries that people often face after a slip and fall:

  • Broken wrists, ankles, or hips;
  • Torn ligaments in the knees or shoulders;
  • Back injuries, including herniated or slipped discs; and
  • Concussions or head injuries, even without a visible bump or bruise.

These injuries may keep you from working, driving, or caring for your daily needs. Many people need physical therapy, pain medication, or surgery after a fall—and those costs can add up fast. 

What to Do After a Slip and Fall in Queens

Taking certain steps immediately after a slip and fall can help you protect your health and potential claim. These include:

  • Getting medical attention as soon as possible, even if the injury feels minor;
  • Taking photos of where you fell, what you were wearing, and any visible injuries;
  • Informing the manager, landlord, or property staff about the fall and documenting your report;
  • Getting names and contact information of anyone who saw the fall or the hazard;
  • Asking about video footage right away, before a store or building deletes it; and
  • Tracking all expenses related to the injury, including doctor visits, prescriptions, and lost wages.

Finally, one of the most important steps you can take is contacting a Queens slip and fall lawyer—especially if your injury prevents you from taking these other steps yourself. The sooner you reach out, the more time there is for a legal professional to help you gather valuable evidence of potential liability.

What Compensation Can a Slip and Fall Claim Include?

When you’re recovering from a fall, the bills don’t wait. You may be missing work, attending medical appointments, and struggling with everyday tasks while trying to figure out what to do next.

In a slip and fall claim, you may be able to recover compensation for:

  • Medical care, hospital bills, and physical therapy;
  • Paychecks you missed while healing;
  • Pain or reduced mobility that affects your routine; and
  • Out-of-pocket costs for other help you’ve needed, like rides to appointments or home support.

Even if you were partly at fault in the accident, you still have the right to seek these damages. New York law lets you recover compensation even if you were partly responsible for an accident. For example, if you were distracted and didn’t see the hazard or wore shoes that lacked good traction and contributed to your fall, you might still have a claim.

Be aware, though: You have a limited time to take legal action. Most slip and fall claims in New York must be filed within three years of the incident. Some cases have shorter deadlines—especially when public property is involved. A Queens slip and fall accident lawyer can help review your timeline and advise whether you’re still within the legal window to file a claim.

Talk to Someone Who Knows How Queens Slip and Fall Claims Work

Supriya Kichloo has spent a decade helping injured Queens residents find their feet again after a devastating slip and fall accident. As a boutique law firm, our office takes the time to understand how the injury has affected your health, your job, and your family. That includes helping sort out medical bills, deal with insurance, and identify who’s legally responsible.

Our office offers services in English, Hindi, and Kashmiri so clients can explain what happened in the language they’re most comfortable using.

There’s no cost to talk to a Queens slip and fall lawyer and no pressure to move forward. Call the Law Offices of Supriya Kichoo today.