Hill & Moin LLP represents people living with traumatic brain injuries caused by crashes, falls, construction accidents, and other acts of negligence. If you need a Queens NY Brain Injury Accident Lawyer, Hill & Moin lawyers can investigate how the trauma occurred, identify the parties that may be responsible, and pursue compensation that accounts for both today’s medical needs and the potential long-term effects of the injury.
Queens presents a distinctive mix of injury risks. Major corridors such as Queens Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Jamaica Avenue, and the Grand Central Parkway carry substantial traffic, while construction and redevelopment continue in neighborhoods including Long Island City, Jamaica, Flushing, and Astoria. A serious accident in any of these settings can cause head trauma with consequences that are not immediately apparent.
What Causes Brain Injuries in Queens?
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can occur when an impact or sudden movement disrupts normal brain function. A person does not necessarily have to lose consciousness to sustain a brain injury.
Common causes include:
- Car and truck crashes
- Pedestrian and bicycle collisions
- Motorcycle accidents
- Construction falls
- Falling construction materials
- Slip and fall accidents
- Elevator or escalator incidents
- Unsafe premises
Traffic accidents remain an important local concern even as fatalities have declined. NYC DOT reported 57 traffic deaths in Queens during 2025, down 23% from 74 in 2024. Citywide, 205 traffic deaths were recorded in 2025, the lowest annual total since NYC began keeping records in 1910.
Queens Boulevard also illustrates the importance of street design. NYC DOT reported in late 2024 that traffic deaths along the corridor had fallen 68% and injuries 35% since its Vision Zero redesign began in 2015.
What Are the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Brain injuries can affect memory, concentration, movement, communication, behavior, and emotional health.
Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, sensitivity to light or noise, and balance problems.
More severe TBIs can cause seizures, speech difficulties, cognitive impairment, paralysis, loss of independence, or permanent inability to work.
A person may initially believe they are simply shaken up after a Queens crash or fall. Because symptoms can evolve, obtaining appropriate medical evaluation and documenting changes after an accident can be important for both health and a potential legal claim.
Who May Be Responsible for a Queens Brain Injury?
The liable party depends on how the injury occurred.
A driver may be responsible for a collision. A trucking company could face liability for a commercial vehicle crash. A property owner or business may be responsible for an unsafe condition. Construction cases can involve property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, or equipment manufacturers.
New York uses a comparative negligence system. Even when an injured person is found partly responsible for an accident, recovery may still be possible, with damages generally reduced according to the person’s assigned share of fault.
Hill & Moin can investigate the underlying accident rather than focusing only on the resulting diagnosis.
Brain Injuries on Queens Construction Sites
Construction workers face a significant risk of head and brain trauma from elevation-related accidents, falling objects, equipment, and structural hazards.
NYC Department of Buildings data shows that 320 construction-related injuries occurred at NYC building worksites during 2025, a 34% reduction from 482 in 2024 and the lowest annual injury total in more than a decade. However, construction-related fatalities increased from seven to 10. DOB continues to identify falls as the leading cause of construction injuries and fatalities.
Queens recorded 31 construction-related injuries and two fatalities through August 2025, according to DOB’s borough-level data for that period.
A worker who falls from scaffolding in Long Island City or is struck by material during a Flushing renovation can suffer a concussion, skull fracture, brain bleed, or permanent neurological injury.
New York Labor Law and Brain Injury Claims
Labor Law §200 addresses general workplace safety. Labor Law §240(1) provides protections for qualifying elevation-related work, while Labor Law §241(6) can support claims involving applicable Industrial Code violations during construction, excavation, or demolition.
Depending on the circumstances, an injured worker may receive workers’ compensation while also pursuing a separate claim against a property owner, contractor, manufacturer, or another legally responsible third party.
If a Queens construction accident caused a serious head or brain injury, contact Hill & Moin LLP to discuss the legal protections that may apply.
What Compensation Can a Brain Injury Claim Include?
TBI compensation should account for how the injury affects the person’s future, not only the treatment received immediately after the accident.
| Potential Loss | Examples |
| Medical expenses | Hospitalization, neurological care and medication |
| Rehabilitation | Physical, occupational, cognitive or speech therapy |
| Lost earnings | Income lost during recovery |
| Future losses | Reduced earning ability or long-term treatment |
| Pain and suffering | Physical and cognitive effects of the injury |
Severe brain injuries can also require home assistance, mobility equipment, vocational rehabilitation, or modifications to living arrangements.
Hill & Moin lawyers can examine medical records, employment history, and evidence of functional limitations when documenting these losses.
Evidence Can Be Especially Important in a TBI Case
Some brain injuries are difficult for other people to see. Objective evidence and detailed documentation can therefore become critical.
Evidence may include:
- CT scans and MRIs
- Neurological evaluations
- Cognitive testing
- Medical and rehabilitation records
- Crash or incident reports
- Surveillance and dash-camera footage
- Witness statements
- Employment records
- Construction safety documentation
Statements from relatives and coworkers can also help document changes in memory, personality, concentration, communication, or independence following an injury.
How Long Do You Have to File a Queens Brain Injury Lawsuit?
New York CPLR §214 generally establishes a three-year limitation period for personal injury actions.
Other deadlines may apply. A claim involving New York City or another public entity can carry special notice requirements. Workers’ compensation and medical malpractice cases also operate under different rules.
Evidence may disappear long before a legal deadline expires. Traffic video can be overwritten, construction equipment moved, and witnesses can become difficult to locate.
Don’t wait to determine which deadlines apply. Contact Hill & Moin LLP for a confidential review of a Queens brain injury claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Queens Brain Injury Claims
Can I have a brain injury without losing consciousness?
Yes. Loss of consciousness is not required for every traumatic brain injury. Symptoms after head trauma should be evaluated by an appropriate medical professional.
Can a car accident cause a TBI without a direct blow to my head?
Yes. Sudden acceleration and deceleration can create forces that affect the brain even when the head does not directly strike an object.
What if my brain injury symptoms appeared later?
Some symptoms may not become obvious immediately. Seek medical attention and accurately explain when the accident happened and when symptoms began.
Can I sue after suffering a brain injury at a Queens construction site?
Potentially. Workers’ compensation may provide benefits, while a separate claim may exist against an owner, contractor, equipment manufacturer, or another third party. New York Labor Law may also provide protections depending on the accident.
What if my brain scan does not show an obvious injury?
Imaging is only one part of a neurological evaluation. Doctors may also consider symptoms, examinations, cognitive testing, medical history, and other clinical evidence.
How much compensation is available for a brain injury?
There is no predetermined amount. Compensation depends on factors including liability, medical costs, lost income, future care, permanence of symptoms, functional limitations, pain and suffering, and available insurance.
Contact Hill & Moin LLP About a Queens Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury can affect far more than a medical chart. It can change someone’s ability to work, communicate, live independently, and participate in everyday family life. Hill & Moin LLP can investigate what caused the injury, preserve evidence, identify responsible parties, and document its short- and long-term consequences.
Call Hill & Moin LLP today to schedule your confidential, no-obligation consultation with a Queens brain injury accident lawyer. Your case. Your future. Our priority.