When You Sit Down With Us: What Really Happens in a Slip-and-Fall Consultation

Most people who call us about a fall have already talked themselves out of it twice. They decide the case is too small. They worry they'll be judged for not filing an incident report, or for waiting a couple of weeks. They assume that booking a consultation means signing something. So they don't call — and the clock keeps running.

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But you don't walk into our office as a case number. You walk in as you — shaken, maybe limping, carrying a folder of medical bills and a head full of “what-ifs.” Here's the reassurance you came for.

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A slip and fall consultation is a free, no-obligation conversation — usually 30 to 45 minutes, in person, by phone, or by video. You'll tell us what happened, we'll ask about the property, your injuries, and any evidence you have, and we'll tell you honestly whether you have a case.

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You'll usually sit down with Alla Kleban and Lana Aronov. Kleban Law Group is based in Valley Stream and handles falls across Nassau County, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, and NYC, and we take personal injury cases across New York on contingency — so the consultation costs nothing, and we only get paid if you win.

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Below: what to bring, what we'll ask, what it costs, and what happens next.

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If you'd rather just ask us directly, call (866) 263-4529 / (866) CME-4-LAW — the call is free and you're not committing to anything.

What Actually Happens at a Slip and Fall Consultation

The meeting has a shape, and knowing it in advance takes away most of the nervousness.

You Tell Your Story First

We start with what happened, not with paperwork. We'll slide the intake forms aside and say: tell us what happened, in your own words, no rush. Some people need ten minutes, some need thirty — we give you the space. You walk us through the fall moment by moment: where you were, what the floor looked like, whether there was a warning cone, who came over afterward. The small details are often the ones that decide a case, so there are no wrong answers here.

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And we sit beside you, not across a desk. No mahogany barrier — just chairs angled toward each other and a box of tissues that's usually half-empty. You're a person to us before you're a file.

We Ask About the Property and Who's Responsible

Where you fell matters enormously in New York. A private store, a public sidewalk, an apartment building, and a city-owned property are four different cases with four different sets of rules. The central legal question is notice — did the owner know, or should they reasonably have known, about the hazard and fail to fix it? Our New York slip, trip and fall lawyers work through it with you in plain English.

We Ask About Your Injuries — Including the Ones That Don't Show on an X-ray

We'll ask about your medical treatment, any gaps in that treatment, ongoing pain, and time missed from work. Then we ask about the injuries that don't show on an X-ray. Yes, the scan shows the fractured wrist — but the real pain is often the birthday party you missed, the grocery trips a neighbor now runs for you, and the dread of walking past that same sidewalk. We write those down too, because they belong in the fight.

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We'll also gently name the things you might be afraid to say out loud: that you have every right to be angry, that it's okay to feel guilty about leaning on your kids, that the nightmares about falling again don't mean you're overreacting. Most people have never had someone tell them that.

We Tell You Honestly What We Think

We speak like neighbors, not lawyers. At the end, you get a straight answer — even if that answer is “you may not have a case.” An honest read is the entire point of the meeting; we'd rather tell you plainly where you stand than sign you up for something that isn't there.

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And we end with a promise and a clear plan: you focus on healing, and we'll handle the insurance company, the paperwork, and the stress. This is your life we're protecting — and before you leave, you'll know exactly what happens next.

What to Bring to a Slip and Fall Consultation

Bring what you have. Nothing on this list is a requirement, and no one is turned away for arriving empty-handed. That said, the more of this you can gather, the more precisely we can assess your case:

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• Photos or video of the hazard, the scene, and your injuries

• The incident or accident report, and the name of whoever you reported it to

• Names and contact details for any witnesses

• The shoes and clothing you were wearing — genuinely useful, and almost nobody thinks of it

• Medical records, discharge papers, prescriptions, and bills

• Your health insurance details

• Proof of lost income — payslips or a letter from your employer

• Any letters, emails, or texts from the property owner, their manager, or an insurance company

• A note of anything you've already said to an insurer, especially a recorded statement

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One reason not to wait: some evidence disappears on its own. Surveillance footage of the fall is frequently overwritten within 24 to 72 hours — once it's gone, it's gone, which is why moving early can matter.

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Not sure whether what you have is enough? That's exactly what the consultation is for.

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‍Call (866) 263-4529 / (866) CME-4-LAW and we'll help you figure out what's worth gathering.

Questions to Ask a Slip and Fall Lawyer

A consultation runs both ways. These are questions you should be asking us — and a sense of what a straight answer sounds like:

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• Have you handled falls like mine, in this county? Look for specific premises experience in your area, not a vague yes.

• Who will actually be working on my case? You should know whether the person you meet is the person handling your file.

• What do you think this case is worth — and what could change that? A good answer is a range tied to facts, never a guaranteed number.

• How long is this likely to take? Expect an honest “it depends,” with the factors that speed things up or slow them down.

• What are the fees, and what happens if we lose? On contingency, the answer is simple: no fee unless you win.

• What do you need from me, and how often will I hear from you? You deserve to know how you'll be kept in the loop.

Is a Slip and Fall Consultation Really Free?

Yes — free and no-obligation. Personal injury cases here are handled on contingency, which means no fee unless we win. There's no charge for the meeting whether or not you decide to hire us.

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And what you tell us stays confidential, even if you walk away and never call again. You can lay out your situation, get our honest read, and think it over with nothing owed.

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What Happens After the Consultation

So the unknown stops being a reason to delay, here's the next few weeks:

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• If we take your case, you sign a retainer, we send evidence-preservation letters, we notify the insurers, and you stop speaking to insurance adjusters directly — we handle that.

• Your medical treatment continues, and we gather your records as you go.

• We present the claim. Most cases settle; some are filed in court. Understanding how personal injury claims work in New York can help you picture the road ahead.

• We set expectations honestly. Slip and fall cases commonly run months, and can run longer when injuries are still resolving. We won't promise a timeline we can't control.

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New York Deadlines You Should Know Before You Wait

A few facts are worth knowing before you decide whether to call:

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• Three years from the date of the fall for most negligence claims against a private party (CPLR 214).

• Claims involving New York City or another municipality are far shorter. A Notice of Claim is generally required within 90 days, with suit within one year and 90 days (GML §50-e / §50-i). This is the one genuinely time-critical deadline on this page.

• Being partly at fault does not bar you from recovering. New York follows pure comparative negligence (CPLR 1411) — your award is simply reduced by your share of fault. “It was partly my fault” is the single most common reason people never call, and it's usually not a good one.

• In NYC, most sidewalk falls are the abutting property owner's responsibility, not the city's (Administrative Code §7-210) — with a notable exception for owner-occupied one-, two-, and three-family homes, where the city can remain responsible.

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Deadlines shift with the facts of your case — which is exactly what the consultation is for.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a slip and fall consultation take?

Usually 30 to 45 minutes — in person at our Valley Stream office, by phone, or by video, whichever is easiest for you.

Do I have to hire you after the consultation?

No. It's a conversation, not a commitment. Take our honest assessment and think it over, with no fee and no pressure either way.

What if I didn't report the fall or there's no incident report?

You may still have a case. A report helps, but its absence doesn't automatically end a claim — photos, witnesses, and medical records can carry it. Tell us what you have.

How long do slip and fall settlements take?

It depends on the injuries and how clearly fault can be shown. Straightforward cases may resolve in several months; serious or still-healing injuries can take longer.

What's the average payout for a slip and fall injury?

There's no reliable “average,” and anyone who quotes a figure before reviewing your case isn't being straight. Value depends on your injuries, your medical costs and lost income, the liability evidence, and your share of fault.

A Consultation Is a Conversation — Nothing More

A slip and fall consultation is free, it's confidential, and it commits you to nothing. You tell us what happened; we tell you honestly where you stand. We help people injured in falls across Valley Stream, Nassau County, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, and New York City — and if we take your case, you pay nothing unless we win.

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You've talked yourself out of calling twice already. Call (866) 263-4529 / (866) CME-4-LAW or fill in the “What is my case worth?” form below — not just for a free consultation, but for a safe place to tell your story. You don't have to carry this alone.

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— With you every step of the way, Kleban Law Group

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