A fall on a cracked Flushing sidewalk or a wet floor in a Jamaica grocery store can put you out of work and buried in medical bills — that’s when you need a Queens slip and fall lawyer who picks up the phone himself. My name is Michael Redenburg. I’ve handled injury cases for Queens residents for more than 15 years, and I still work every case personally, from Astoria to Forest Hills.
When you call my office, you’re not handed off to a case manager or a rotating team of associates. You talk to me. I review your file, I answer your questions, and I’m the one who shows up when it matters — whether that’s negotiating with an insurance adjuster or standing in front of a judge at Queens County Supreme Court in Jamaica.
If you were hurt on someone else’s property in Flushing, Jamaica, Astoria, Forest Hills, or anywhere else in Queens, you have a limited window to act. I can tell you where you stand in a free consultation, and you won’t owe me anything unless I win your case.
Why Queens Residents Choose Michael J. Redenburg
I’ve been practicing law for more than 15 years, and I’ve built my practice around one idea: you deserve to work directly with the attorney handling your case, not a case manager or a junior associate you’ve never met.
As a Queens slip and fall lawyer, I’ve built my caseload one client and one referral at a time — not through a call center or a big-firm marketing budget. When you call my office, you get me. I review the facts, I deal with the insurance company, and I’m the one who represents you if your case goes to court.
That approach has been recognized outside my own office, too. I was named a SuperLawyers NY Metro Rising Star from 2014 to 2017. The National Trial Lawyers named me to their Top 40 Under 40 list, as did the American Society of Legal Advocates.
I handle slip and fall cases on contingency, which means I don’t get paid unless you do. There’s no fee to sit down with me and go over what happened — the first consultation is free, and it costs you nothing to find out where you stand.
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Cases I Handle in Queens
As a Queens slip and fall lawyer, here’s a look at the fall cases I take on most often across the borough.
Falls on City Sidewalks
Sidewalks around Flushing Main Street and Jamaica Center see heavy foot traffic every day, and a cracked or uneven slab can put you on the ground fast. Under NYC Administrative Code § 7-210, the property owner next to that sidewalk — not the City — is usually responsible for keeping it in repair. I investigate who owns and maintains the property to find out who is responsible for the sidewalk fall that hurt you.
Snow and Ice Accidents
Queens winters bring ice that sits on sidewalks and parking lots longer than it should. City law gives property owners and tenants a set window to clear snow and ice after a storm ends, and if they don’t, they can be held responsible for a fall. I look at weather records and maintenance logs to show landlords were responsible for clearing that ice and failed to do it in time.
Falls in Stores and Businesses
Grocery stores, restaurants, and shops around Astoria and Forest Hills owe their customers a safe floor to walk on. A spill, a torn mat, or a wet entryway can lead to a serious fall in seconds. I’ve handled grocery store slip and fall claims across Queens, and I go after the store owner, the tenant, or the management company, depending on who controlled the property when you were hurt.
Falls on NYCHA and Public Property
If you fell on property owned by the New York City Housing Authority or another public entity, your case comes with a strict deadline: a Notice of Claim within 90 days, and a lawsuit generally within one year and 90 days. Missing that window can cost you your right to recover, and suing the City of New York comes with its own set of rules most people never see coming. I move fast on these cases to protect your claim from day one.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
If you were hurt in a Queens slip and fall, New York law allows you to recover for more than just your emergency room bill. Here’s what that can include. As your Queens slip and fall lawyer, I make sure every category you’re entitled to gets accounted for in your claim, not just the obvious one.
Medical bills. This covers your treatment at Elmhurst Hospital Center, Jamaica Hospital, Flushing Hospital, or wherever you were treated — plus follow-up care, physical therapy, and any future treatment your injury requires.
Lost wages. If your injury kept you out of work, you can seek compensation for the income you lost. If your injury affects your ability to earn going forward, that loss counts too.
Pain and suffering. New York law recognizes that a serious injury costs you more than money. Physical pain, emotional distress, and the impact on your daily life are all compensable.
Wrongful death. If a loved one died from injuries suffered in a fall, their family may be entitled to damages for funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, and loss of guidance and companionship. These claims move on their own legal timeline, so it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Every case is different, and what you’re entitled to depends on your injuries, your medical treatment, and how the fall happened. When you call my office, I’ll walk you through what your specific case may be worth — you talk to me directly, not a case manager.
What to Do After a Fall in Queens
1. Get medical care right away. If you’re near Flushing, Jamaica, or Elmhurst, Elmhurst Hospital Center is a common destination for emergency treatment, and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center are nearby options as well. Go even if you feel okay. Some injuries, like a concussion or a soft tissue injury, don’t show symptoms right away, and your medical records become part of the proof connecting your fall to your injuries.
2. Report the fall. If you fell in a store or building, tell the manager or owner and ask for a written incident report. If you fell on a public sidewalk or NYCHA property, note the exact location and take down the address, building name, or precinct — this matters for filing a Notice of Claim.
3. Document the scene before it changes. Take photos of what caused the fall: the crack in the sidewalk, the ice, the spill, the missing warning sign. Get close-up shots and wider shots so the hazard is clear. Property conditions get fixed or cleaned up fast, so do this as soon as you safely can.
4. Get contact information for any witnesses. Anyone who saw you fall can support your case later. Ask for their name and phone number before they leave.
5. Be careful what you say and sign. Don’t give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster, and don’t sign anything from the property owner’s insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.
6. Call a Queens slip and fall lawyer right away. Some claims — especially against the City, NYCHA, or another public entity — have a 90-day deadline to file a Notice of Claim. The sooner I know about your case, the sooner I can start protecting it. You’ll speak directly with me, not a case manager.
How New York Injury Law Affects Your Case
You have 3 years to file. Under CPLR § 214, you generally have three years from the date of your fall to file a lawsuit against a private property owner — after that, you lose your right to sue, no matter how strong your case is.
If the City or NYCHA is involved, you have 90 days. If your fall happened on a sidewalk maintained by the City, in a NYCHA building, or on other public property, you must file a Notice of Claim under General Municipal Law § 50-e within 90 days of your injury, and generally start your lawsuit within one year and 90 days — miss that window and your claim can be barred before it starts.
Being partly at fault doesn’t end your case. New York follows pure comparative negligence under CPLR § 1411, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially responsible for your own fall — your compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.
Every case runs on its own clock. The sooner you talk to me, the sooner I can tell you exactly which deadlines apply to your situation.
Serving Queens and Nearby Areas
I represent injured clients throughout Queens, including Flushing, Jamaica, Astoria, and Forest Hills. I also handle cases for residents of Long Island City and Kew Gardens.
If your case doesn’t settle, it’s filed in Queens County Supreme Court, Civil Term at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd in Jamaica — I know that courthouse well, and I’m ready to take your case there if that’s what it takes to get you fair compensation.
No matter where in Queens your fall happened, you work directly with me from your first call to the resolution of your case. That’s what you get when you hire a Queens slip and fall lawyer who keeps his caseload small enough to give every client that kind of attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in New York?
You generally have three years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit against a private property owner, under CPLR § 214. If the City of New York, NYCHA, or another public entity is involved, that window is much shorter — you’ll need to file a Notice of Claim within 90 days. Don’t wait to find out which deadline applies to you.
Does no-fault insurance cover my slip and fall injury?
No. No-fault insurance applies to car accidents, not slip and falls. Your slip and fall claim is a premises liability case, and it runs on the three-year statute of limitations, not the no-fault system.
I fell on a city sidewalk. Is the City responsible?
Usually not — under NYC Administrative Code § 7-210, the property owner next to the sidewalk is typically responsible for its repair, not the City. If the City does turn out to be the right party, you’re on a strict 90-day Notice of Claim deadline, so it’s important to find out quickly who owns and maintains the property where you fell.
What if I was partly to blame for my fall?
You can still recover compensation. New York follows pure comparative negligence under CPLR § 1411, meaning your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but a partial fault finding doesn’t wipe out your case.
Where would my case be filed if it goes to court?
If your case doesn’t settle, it would be filed in Queens County Supreme Court at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd in Jamaica. I’ve handled cases there, and I’m ready to take yours to trial if the insurance company won’t offer you what your case is worth.
Do I have to pay anything upfront to hire you?
No. I work on contingency, which means you don’t pay any attorney’s fees unless I win your case. Your first consultation is free, and there’s no obligation to hire me after we talk.