Three generations of personal injury attorneys serving Queens and all of New York City.

If you have been seriously injured because of someone else’s negligence in Queens, the decisions you make in the weeks and months ahead will affect your recovery, your finances, and your family for years to come. Medical bills pile up fast, insurance companies push for quick settlements, and the legal deadlines in New York are not forgiving.

A Queens, NY personal injury lawyer at Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has been representing injured New Yorkers since 1937 and handles every personal injury case on a contingency fee basis. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.

Personal Injury Lawyer Queens, NY

When choosing a personal injury lawyer, results matter, but so does preparation. The firms that get the best outcomes are the ones that build every case as though it is going to trial, even when settlement is the more likely result. Insurance companies know which firms are willing to go to court and which ones are not, and they adjust their offers accordingly.

A personal injury attorney in Queens also needs to understand the specific procedural rules that apply in this borough, from no-fault insurance requirements for car crashes under Insurance Law § 5102 to the 90-day notice-of-claim deadline for accidents involving city or state property. Getting any of these details wrong can cost you your case entirely.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Queens

Queens is the largest borough in New York City by area and one of the most densely populated. Between the highways, commercial corridors, residential neighborhoods, construction sites, and public transit infrastructure, accidents happen here in many different forms. Our attorneys handle a wide range of personal injury matters, including:

Car accidents. Collisions on the Long Island Expressway, Queens Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, and throughout the borough’s residential streets cause serious injuries every day. New York’s no-fault system covers up to $50,000 in basic economic losses, but if your injuries meet the serious injury threshold, you can pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for full compensation.
Truck accidents. Commercial trucks traveling through Queens on their way to and from the city’s ports, airports, and distribution centers are involved in devastating crashes. These cases involve multiple potential defendants and federal regulatory requirements that standard auto claims do not.
Motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists are not covered by New York’s no-fault system, which means injured riders proceed directly to a liability claim. The injuries tend to be severe, and insurance adjusters frequently try to shift blame to the rider.
Pedestrian accidents. Queens has consistently high rates of pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Drivers who fail to yield, run red lights, or speed through crosswalks strike pedestrians in neighborhoods like Flushing, Jamaica, Astoria, and Jackson Heights with alarming frequency.
Construction accidents. Queens has seen significant development activity in recent years, and construction sites remain one of the most dangerous work environments in the city. Falls from heights, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and equipment malfunctions injure and kill workers every year.
Slip and fall accidents. Wet floors in stores, cracked sidewalks, icy walkways, broken stairs in apartment buildings, and poorly lit hallways all cause fall injuries throughout Queens. These premises liability cases require proving that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
Medical malpractice. Surgical errors, misdiagnoses, delayed treatment, and medication mistakes at Queens hospitals and medical facilities cause preventable injuries and deaths. These cases require testimony from qualified medical professionals and carry their own procedural requirements.
Wrongful death. When someone dies because of another party’s negligence, the personal representative of the estate can bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving family. New York gives families just two years from the date of death to file.

Why Choose Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP for Personal Injury Cases in Queens, NY?

Over $131 Million in Recoveries

Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has secured over $131 million in verdicts and settlements for injured clients and their families. That includes a $36 million settlement for a construction worker who sustained catastrophic injuries, the largest personal injury settlement ever reported in New York State. It also includes a $22 million settlement for a professional boxer who suffered a brain injury due to medical negligence, a $9 million recovery for a pedestrian struck by a drunk driver, and dozens of other significant results across car accidents, truck crashes, falls, and workplace injuries. Each case required a different approach, but the preparation behind every one of them was the same.

85 Years on the Plaintiff’s Side

Our firm has been representing injured New Yorkers since 1937. Three generations of the Edelstein family have practiced law here, and the founding principle has never changed: prepare every case as if it is going to trial. The firm has been recognized by both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, and our attorneys are members of the American Bar Association and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. We only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk in reaching out to us.

What Is Important to Understand About a Personal Injury Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Personal Injury Cases

New York law allows personal injury victims to seek compensation that covers both the immediate and long-term consequences of their injuries. The types of damages recoverable depend on the nature of the case and the severity of the harm, but they generally include:

Medical expenses, from emergency treatment and surgery through rehabilitation, physical therapy, and any future care your doctors anticipate
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity, covering income already missed and any permanent reduction in what you are able to earn going forward
Pain and suffering, which compensates for physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and the ways the injury has affected your quality of life
Property damage, including vehicles, personal belongings, and other property destroyed or damaged in the incident

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule under CPLR Section 1411. Even if you were partly at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation. Your total award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility, but you are not shut out entirely. Insurance companies use this rule aggressively, assigning as much blame to the injured person as possible to drive down the payout.

What Are Important Aspects of a Personal Injury Case?

Every personal injury case is different, but a few factors consistently affect the outcome. Getting these right from the beginning makes a real difference.

Medical treatment should start immediately and continue without interruption. Gaps between the accident and your first doctor visit, or breaks in treatment along the way, give the insurance company ammunition to argue your injuries are not as serious as you claim
Documentation matters. Police reports, incident reports, photographs from the scene, medical records, and witness contact information all form the foundation of your case. The sooner this evidence is collected and preserved, the stronger the claim
Do not give recorded statements to the other side’s insurance company without first speaking to an attorney. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to get you to say things that undermine your case
Deadlines are strict. The general statute of limitations for personal injury in New York is three years, but claims against government entities require a notice of claim within 90 days. No-fault applications must be filed within 30 days of a car accident

What Is the Personal Injury Case Timeline?

Personal injury cases in Queens follow a general progression, though timelines vary widely depending on the type of accident, the severity of the injuries, and the number of parties involved.

The first days and weeks are about getting medical treatment, reporting the incident, and consulting with a personal injury lawyer in Queens before speaking with any insurance adjuster or signing anything
Over the next several months, your attorney investigates the accident, collects records, interviews witnesses, and identifies all potentially liable parties
Treatment continues until you reach maximum medical improvement. Settling before that point means you are accepting a number before either side knows the full cost of your injuries
Once treatment stabilizes, your attorney puts together a demand and presents it to the insurer. Negotiation can take weeks or months depending on how far apart the two sides are
If no fair settlement is offered, the case goes to litigation. In Queens, trial timelines vary depending on the court’s calendar

What Should You Bring to Your Personal Injury Consultation?

Bring whatever documentation you have. Even a partial file gives your attorney a head start:

Police reports, accident reports, or incident reports
Photographs of the accident scene, any hazard or vehicle damage, and your injuries
Medical records and bills from treatment so far
Insurance correspondence, including any no-fault claim paperwork
Contact information for witnesses

We will review the facts with you, explain how New York law applies to your situation, and give you an honest assessment of your case.

What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Personal Injury Cases?

New York has specific statutes governing personal injury claims. These resources provide a starting point for understanding your rights:

CPLR Section 214 sets a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases. Wrongful death claims have a two-year deadline. Claims against government entities require a notice of claim within 90 days
CPLR Section 1411 establishes New York’s pure comparative negligence rule, allowing injured people to recover damages even when they share some fault for the accident
Insurance Law § 5102 defines the no-fault framework and the serious injury threshold that applies to motor vehicle accident claims
The NHTSA publishes national motor vehicle crash statistics and safety research through its National Center for Statistics and Analysis
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee coordinates statewide traffic safety campaigns and publishes annual crash data

Reach Out to Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP to Schedule a Consultation

If you were injured in Queens because of someone else’s negligence, our firm is ready to review your case at no cost. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Queens personal injury attorney.

Personal Injury Statistics in Queens, NY

Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the leading sources of serious harm across the borough, and even as street safety has improved, the toll stays significant. NYC DOT reported that Queens recorded 24 traffic deaths in the first half of 2025, down from 39 during the same stretch a year earlier, and Queens Boulevard carried the grim nickname “Boulevard of Death” for decades. Falls are another major source of injury claims, especially for older residents. National CDC falls data counts roughly 3 million emergency department visits each year tied to older-adult falls, and falls rank as the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. Pedestrians face some of the harshest outcomes, and the pedestrian injuries seen on Queens streets often involve fractures, head trauma, and long recoveries.

What Are the Most Common Injuries in a Queens Personal Injury Case?

No two injuries carry the same weight. The harm we see in a personal injury case in Queens ranges from wounds that heal within weeks to conditions that reshape the rest of a person’s life. Between the borough’s highways, construction sites, and dense housing, the same categories of injury come up again and again. Knowing the type of injury involved helps set honest expectations about treatment, recovery, and the value of a claim. These are the injuries our Queens personal injury attorneys handle most often.

Traumatic brain injuries. A blow or jolt to the head can cause lasting cognitive and emotional changes, sometimes with no visible wound at all. Proving a traumatic brain injury takes careful medical documentation, because symptoms like memory loss, headaches, and mood swings are easy for an insurer to wave away. These rank among the most serious cases we handle.
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Damage to the spinal cord can bring partial or total loss of function below the site of the injury. The different types of paralysis carry lifelong costs for medical care, mobility equipment, and home modifications, which places these claims among the highest in value.
Broken bones and fractures. Fractures happen in car crashes, falls, and workplace accidents throughout Queens, NY. Some bone fractures heal cleanly. Others demand surgery, hardware, and months of physical therapy before a person regains full use of the limb, and the recovery often keeps them out of work for a long stretch.
Back and neck injuries. Herniated discs, pinched nerves, and chronic pain frequently follow a collision. Many back injuries do not reveal their full severity for days, so we urge injured people to get evaluated even when they feel able to walk away from the scene.
Soft tissue injuries. Sprains, strains, and torn ligaments may never appear on an X-ray, yet they can restrict movement and cause pain for months. Insurance companies tend to undervalue these injuries, which makes consistent medical treatment and clear records especially important to the outcome.
Emotional and psychological trauma. Serious accidents leave marks that are not physical. Psychological trauma such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress is a recognized part of many personal injury claims in Queens, and New York law allows recovery for that suffering alongside the physical harm.

The injury at the center of a case shapes almost everything that follows, from the medical proof required to the compensation a person can reasonably seek. That is why we start every claim by understanding the full medical picture, not just the parts an insurer is willing to acknowledge.

Queens Personal Injury Lawyer FAQs

Do I have to go to court, or will my personal injury case settle?

Most personal injury claims in Queens resolve through a settlement rather than a trial. That said, the firms that earn strong settlements are the ones prepared to try the case if the offer falls short. We build every file with that possibility in view, and we talk through whether to settle or go to trial based on the facts, the offer, and what you want out of the case.

How will I pay my medical bills while my case is pending?

A personal injury case can take months or longer, and bills do not wait. After a motor vehicle crash, no-fault benefits often cover early treatment. Beyond that, health insurance, letters of protection, and medical liens can keep care going while the claim moves forward. We help clients sort out medical bills so treatment continues without a lapse, which also protects the strength of the claim.

Do I need a lawyer, or can I handle a personal injury claim myself?

For a minor incident with no real injury, you may not. For a serious injury, having a Queens personal injury attorney matters, because adjusters are trained to limit what they pay. Whether you need a lawyer usually comes down to the severity of the harm and whether fault is disputed. We give an honest read at the consultation, even when that means telling you a lawyer is not necessary.

What is a Queens personal injury case worth?

No honest attorney can name a figure at the first meeting. Value depends on the severity of the injuries, the cost of past and future medical care, lost income, the degree of permanent impairment, and the available insurance. What a case is worth also shifts with how well the evidence is documented. We can give a realistic range once we understand the injuries and the facts of the accident.

What should I expect at a free consultation?

The meeting is a conversation, not a commitment. We review how the accident happened, look at any records or photos you bring, and explain how New York law applies to your situation. You will get a straight assessment of the strong points and the weak spots. A personal injury consultation with our firm carries no obligation and no cost.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in New York?

New York generally allows three years from the date of the accident to file, under CPLR Section 214. That window narrows in important situations. Claims against a city or state entity require a notice of claim within 90 days, and wrongful death claims run two years from the date of death. Miss the deadline that applies to the case, and a court can bar the claim entirely, no matter how strong it is.

What if the insurance company already made me an offer?

Early offers tend to arrive fast and land low, often before anyone knows the full cost of the injuries. Once you accept and sign a release, the case is usually over for good. Speak with a Queens personal injury lawyer before you agree to anything, because trying to handle your own claim against an experienced adjuster rarely ends in a fair number. We can tell you whether the offer is reasonable.

Local Information for Queens Personal Injury Cases

Most Dangerous Locations for Personal Injury in Queens

Queens is the largest borough by area, and a handful of corridors account for a heavy share of serious injuries. These stretches come up repeatedly in the accidents we see:

Queens Boulevard. Once known as the “Boulevard of Death,” this wide, high-speed corridor has been redesigned in recent years but still sees frequent crashes across its many lanes.
Roosevelt Avenue. Running beneath the elevated 7 train, this dense commercial strip mixes heavy foot traffic with turning vehicles and limited sightlines.
Northern Boulevard. A fast, multi-lane route through northern Queens where speeding and pedestrian crossings often collide.
Long Island Expressway. Constant truck and commuter traffic makes high-speed collisions a recurring danger.
Woodhaven Boulevard. One of the borough’s widest streets, with long crossings that leave pedestrians exposed.

What Are Important Local Resources for Queens Personal Injury Cases?

If you were hurt in Queens, a few local contacts can help in the days after an accident, from getting treatment to obtaining a police report or reporting the hazard that caused the injury.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, (718) 883-3000. A Level I Trauma Center that treats the most serious injuries in the borough.
NYPD 110th Precinct, (718) 476-9311. Covers Corona and Elmhurst and can help with a copy of an accident or incident report.
NYC311, dial 311. The city’s line for reporting a sidewalk defect, pothole, or other street condition that may have caused a fall.

Please note that we provide these contacts for convenience only. We do not endorse them and have no affiliation with any of them.

About Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

Our partners, Paul J. Edelstein, Glenn K. Faegenburg, and Arthur Blyakher, personally direct the cases the firm takes on, and Glenn Faegenburg’s standing among the Eight Figure Litigators reflects the results we pursue for injured clients. Those results include a $5.5 million recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk. When you hire a Queens personal injury attorney from our firm, you work directly with the people handling your claim.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“Paul Edelstein and Edelsteins, Faegenburg & Blyakher LLP are exceptional. Paul is incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and truly cares about his clients. He explained everything clearly, was always available to answer questions, and handled my case with professionalism and precision from start to finish.

The entire team was organized, supportive, and committed to achieving the best possible outcome. Working with Paul made a stressful situation feel manageable and gave me complete confidence that my case was in the right hands.

I highly recommend Paul Edelstein and this firm to anyone looking for outstanding legal representation.” — Jeffrey Frank

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Contact Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

If you were injured in Queens because of someone else’s negligence, our attorneys are ready to review what happened and explain your options. The consultation is free, and during our first meeting, we will look at the facts, answer your questions, and give you an honest read on the claim. Our attorneys are reachable when you need them, and we respond promptly to new inquiries. Contact us to speak with a Queens, NY personal injury lawyer about your case.

Queens Personal Injury Lawyer