NYC Airport Injury Attorney

An airport injury in New York City can leave you dealing with pain, travel disruption, medical bills, and immediate uncertainty about who controlled the area where you were hurt. Raphaelson & Levine helps injured airport visitors, passengers, and families investigate what happened, preserve critical proof, and pursue full compensation from the parties responsible.

These cases often involve wet terminal floors, unsafe escalators or elevators, defective jet bridges, baggage claim hazards, shuttle or tarmac vehicle incidents, negligent security, or poorly maintained parking and walkway areas. Because surveillance footage, incident reports, maintenance records, and contractor logs can be difficult to obtain later, acting quickly can help protect your claim.

If you were hurt at JFK, LaGuardia, or another local airport, an experienced New York personal injury attorney at our firm can help you understand whether you may have a claim, what evidence matters most, which deadlines apply to your case, and what steps to take now to protect your case.

Call (212) 268-3222 today for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win your case.

Do I Have an Airport Injury Claim in New York?

If you can answer "yes" to most of these, contact us today to discuss your claim and the legal process with an airport injury lawyer nearby:

• I was injured on the ground at JFK, LaGuardia, or another New York airport.
• My injury was caused by unsafe conditions, faulty equipment, or another party's negligence.
• I received, or plan to receive, medical treatment in an emergency room, urgent care, or from a doctor.
• My injury happened within the last two years, or I am not certain how much time has passed.

• I'm not certain who is actually responsible; the airport, property owner, an airline, a private contractor, or a government agency.

Airport liability is rarely straightforward. A single terminal may involve the Port Authority (as property owner), an airline (as terminal operator), a cleaning company (as contractor), and a federal agency. Each with separate legal duties and different procedural rules.

Not sure if you have a case? An airport injury attorney at Raphaelson & Levine can answer your questions, investigate who controlled the area where you were hurt, and identify every potentially liable party.

Quick Answers About Airport Injury Claims in New York

We help airport injury victims document what happened, avoid common insurance mistakes, and understand what their case may involve.

Here's answers to common questions we hear every day from travelers who've been hurt at one of New York's busy airports.

Who's responsible if I'm injured at an airport in New York?

Responsibility depends on where the injury happened. The Port Authority, an airline, a maintenance contractor, a concessionaire, or a federal agency may all be liable.

At JFK and LaGuardia, a single terminal often involves multiple defendants with separate legal duties and different filing rules. An airport injury attorney can investigate the ownership and control agreements for the area where you were hurt and identify every potentially liable party.

How long do I have to file an airport injury claim?

Deadlines depend on the defendant and can be as short as 60 days for the formal Notice of Claim required against the Port Authority.

Private-party claims (airlines, contractors, restaurants, concessionaires) generally allow up to three years. TSA and federal claims follow a separate two-year administrative track with its own short suit window after denial. Each defendant has its own procedural deadline, and missing one can end the claim entirely — regardless of how strong it is.

How long will my airport injury claim take to resolve?

Most airport injury cases settle in six months to three years, depending on the defendant and the complexity of liability.

Claims against private defendants tend to resolve faster than claims against the Port Authority, which involves notice periods, administrative steps, and crowded government dockets. Cases that go to trial can take two to five years or more. Starting the claim early — and contacting an attorney within days of the injury — preserves the most options and the highest possible recovery.

Why Airport Injury Victims Choose Raphaelson & Levine

Raphaelson & Levine handles airport injury claims at JFK, LaGuardia, and other New York metro airports including multi-party claims against airlines, airport authorities, private contractors, security providers, and federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

For more than three decades, our firm has handled personal injury lawsuits that require fast evidence preservation, careful liability investigation, and the ability to pursue powerful public and private defendants.

Known throughout New York as “The Voice of the Injured,” Raphaelson & Levine brings the results, reputation, resources, and respect airport injury victims need when liability is complex and the stakes are high.

Proven Experience in Complex Liability

Since 1992, our firm has represented injured New Yorkers in claims involving commercial properties, transportation hubs, public authorities, and large corporations. We know how to determine who controlled the area where an injury occurred, what safety obligations applied, and how to uncover the evidence that proves negligence; before it disappears.

We don't approach airport cases as ordinary slip-and-fall claims. We approach them as layered liability investigations, where the outcome depends on identifying every responsible party and the rules that govern each.

Results That Reflect Serious Cases

Our firm has recovered over $1 billion for injured clients, including:

• $6.3 million premises liability settlement at a commercial fitness facility (Bronx Supreme Court). We obtained maintenance logs and incident reports showing prior knowledge of the hazard — the same investigative framework that applies to airport operators, concessionaires, and contractors at JFK and LaGuardia.
• Confidential six-figure slip-and-fall settlement against a major commercial retailer (Suffolk County Supreme Court). We argued the property failed to warn of a foreseeable hazard and recovered for our client.

We build cases designed to withstand aggressive defense strategies using critical documentation, maintenance records, incident reports, and prior hazard complaints to establish notice and responsibility.

Learn more: Recent airport & aviation injury settlements and verdicts

Resources Built for Complex Litigation

Airport injury claims demand more than basic investigation. We prepare every case for trial and retain the specialists these claims require, including:

• Accident reconstruction engineers for escalator, walkway, and jet bridge failures
• Aviation safety consultants familiar with regulations enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration
• OSHA and workplace safety experts for ground crew and service-area injuries

This level of preparation lets us present concrete evidence of fault and damages, whether in negotiation or in court.

Reputation Backed by Credentials

Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm is a Tier 1 firm in New York City for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms." We maintain a 99% client satisfaction rate across hundreds of verified reviews.

Direct Access. No Fee Unless We Win.

We represent clients on a contingency fee basis which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. From your first call through resolution, you work directly with an experienced attorney, supported by a dedicated legal team that handles your case with clarity and accountability.

Our Focus in Airport Injury Cases

We handle complex airport injury litigation across New York’s major airports. When you contact our firm, we immediately assess the factors that determine the strength and value of your claim:

• Accident location and cause: precisely where and how the incident occurred, and what conditions led to it
• Liable parties: whether responsibility lies with an airline, airport authority, contractor, concessionaire, or government entity
• Evidence preservation: securing surveillance footage, incident reports, maintenance logs, and witness statements before they are lost
• Expert case development: working with medical and technical experts to establish causation and long-term impact
• Legal deadlines and jurisdiction: meeting strict notice requirements for claims involving public or federal entities
• Damages and compensation: pursuing full recovery for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and permanent limitations

Injured at JFK, LaGuardia, or another metro-area airport? Call Raphaelson & Levine for a free, confidential consultation. We'll tell you plainly where your case stands, and what to do next to protect it.

What Happens After You Call

1. Free initial consultation. We listen, ask the right questions about where and how you were hurt, and identify the likely responsible parties — Port Authority, airline, concessionaire, contractor, or federal agency.
2. Investigation. We move quickly to obtain CCTV security footage from terminal cameras, request maintenance and incident records, locate witnesses, and preserve evidence before it cycles out of retention.
3. Notice and claim filing. We serve the required Notice of Claim within the applicable deadline. For the Port Authority that means 60 days. For TSA, that's a federal administrative claim. For private actors, we open the file and prepare for litigation within the three-year window.
4. Negotiation or litigation. We pursue settlement where the case warrants it and try the case where it doesn't. You don't pay unless we recover.

Free consultation — call (212) 268-3222. No fee unless we win.

What Is My Airport Injury Claim Worth?

The value of an airport injury claim in New York depends on the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, who is legally responsible, and the procedural deadlines that apply.

Airport injury settlements can range from tens of thousands of dollars for soft-tissue injuries to well over $1 million for severe injuries, spinal damage, traumatic head injury, broken bones or permanent disability.

Compensation typically reflects:

• Medical expenses: emergency department care, surgery, physical therapy, and projected future medical costs.
• Lost wages and earning capacity: time away from work and any long-term effect on your ability to earn.
• Pain and suffering: non-economic damages recoverable under New York law.
• Severity of injury: fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and soft-tissue injuries each carry different value ranges.
• Comparative fault: New York uses pure comparative negligence, so your award may be reduced by your share of responsibility.
• Defendant identity: claims against the Port Authority, federal agencies under the FTCA, and private actors carry different procedural rules and recovery dynamics.

For context, a New York firm obtained a $450,000 settlement for a claimant who slipped on a wet terminal floor at JFK International Airport and suffered disc herniations in her neck and back.

Severe construction or ramp accident cases at airports have resulted in multi-million-dollar verdicts, with some exceeding $40 million in cases involving catastrophic injury.

These figures are general illustrations, not guarantees. Your personal injury case may settle for more or less depending on facts specific to your situation.

What Reduces the Value of an Airport Injury Claim?

Several factors can reduce, or eliminate, your financial compensation:

• Comparative fault. New York follows pure comparative negligence (CPLR Article 14-A). If you're found 30% at fault (e.g., looking at your phone instead of where you were walking), your award is reduced by that amount.
• Late or inconsistent medical treatment. Delays in seeking care give defendants grounds to argue your injuries weren't serious or were caused by something else.
• Missing procedural deadlines. A claim against the Port Authority that misses the 60-day notice or 1-year suit deadline can be dismissed entirely — no recovery, regardless of merit.
• Weak evidence of notice. For premises liability, you generally must prove the defendant knew or should have known about the hazard. Without evidence of how long a condition existed, claims fail at trial.
• Pre-existing conditions. Defendants will argue prior injuries to the same body part reduce their liability — though New York's "eggshell plaintiff" rule means defendants take you as they find you.

We Handle Airport Injury Claims at JFK, LaGuardia, and New York City Airports

Since 1992, Raphaelson & Levine has handled complex injury claims across New York. Airport injury cases often require fast investigation into who controlled the area, what evidence exists, and which filing rules apply. Our legal team moves quickly to preserve critical proof and protect your claim before deadlines are missed.

We represent injured passengers, visitors, and families in claims involving major New York airports, including JFK, LaGuardia, New York Stewart, Westchester County Airport, Long Island MacArthur Airport, Albany International, Buffalo Niagara, Syracuse Hancock, and Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International.

Terminal Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Wet floors, food and drink spills, uneven flooring, worn carpeting, poor lighting, and unsafe walkways can cause serious falls in airport terminals. These claims often depend on who controlled the area, how long the hazard existed, and whether surveillance footage, cleaning logs, or incident reports can prove notice.

Learn more: NYC slip and fall injury lawyer

Escalator, Elevator, and Moving Walkway Injuries

Airport escalators, elevators, and moving walkways can injure passengers when they stop suddenly, malfunction, have broken components, or are not properly inspected or maintained. These cases may involve the Port Authority, an equipment maintenance company, a contractor, or another party responsible for repair and safety.

Learn more: Escalator and elevator accident lawyers

Jet Bridge Falls During Boarding or Deplaning

Falls can happen when a jet bridge has uneven flooring, gaps, wet surfaces, poor lighting, missing handrails, or unsafe boarding conditions. These claims often require a close review of airline operations, jet bridge maintenance, incident reports, and any video or witness evidence from the gate area.

Tarmac, Shuttle, and Ground Vehicle Accidents

Airport shuttles, buses, baggage tugs, fueling trucks, service vehicles, and other airport grounds equipment can injure passengers, visitors, and airport workers. These cases may involve an airline, ground-handling company, shuttle operator, contractor, vehicle owner, or maintenance provider.

AirTrain JFK Platform Injuries

Falls on AirTrain platforms, escalator or elevator failures inside AirTrain stations, and gap-related injuries between the train and platform may involve the Port Authority or a maintenance contractor. These claims can be subject to strict public-authority notice and filing rules.

Restaurant, Retail, Lounge, and Concession-Area Injuries

Slips, falls, falling merchandise, broken furniture, unsafe flooring, and negligent maintenance inside airport restaurants, coffee shops, lounges, retail stores, and food courts may involve a concessionaire, property operator, cleaning company, or maintenance contractor.

Important: Airport injury claims can involve multiple defendants, public-authority rules, and evidence that disappears quickly. Speak with an airport injury lawyer before giving a recorded statement or accepting a settlement offer.

Filing Deadlines for Airport Accident Victims in New York

Filing deadlines for airport injury claims depend entirely on who is responsible. Personal injury claims involving the Port Authority, private-actor negligence, and federal government each follow a separate procedural track.

Who you are suing determines which procedural rules apply, and missing a deadline can eliminate your claim entirely, regardless of its merit.

Learn more: NYC construction accident lawyer

Port Authority of NY/NJ (Operator of JFK and LaGuardia)

If you were injured in a terminal common area, on an escalator, on the AirTrain, or anywhere else under Port Authority management, your claim is governed by NY Unconsolidated Laws § 7107. A formal Notice of Claim must generally be served on the Port Authority at least 60 days before any lawsuit is commenced, and the lawsuit itself must be commenced within one year from the date the cause of action accrues. Because these requirements are conditions of the Port Authority's consent to be sued — rather than a standard statute of limitations — failure to comply may result in dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

Airlines, Retailers, Restaurants, and Private Contractors

Claims against private parties (like as a restaurant where you slipped, a contractor who left a hazard, or a ground-handling company) are governed by CPLR § 214(5), which generally provides a three-year statute of limitations from the date of your injury.

TSA and Federal Government Employees (Federal Tort Claims Act)

If your injury was caused by a TSA security screener or another federal employee, your claim falls under the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. § 2675). You must first file an administrative claim — generally on Standard Form 95 (SF-95) — directly with the responsible federal agency within two years of the date of injury. Only after the agency issues a final written denial, or fails to act within six months, may you file a lawsuit in federal district court, and that suit must be commenced within six months of the date the agency's denial is mailed.

"What makes airport cases hard is that you can have four different responsible parties on completely different procedural tracks — the Port Authority on a 60-day notice, an airline on a 3-year window, the TSA on a federal administrative claim, and a concessionaire on its own insurer. Get the rule right for each defendant, or you lose the claim." — Howard Raphaelson, Founding Partner

FAQs About Airport Injuries in NYC

Can I sue the Port Authority of NY/NJ for an airport injury?

Yes, in many cases. JFK and LaGuardia are operated by the Port Authority of NY/NJ, which can be sued for negligent maintenance, dangerous conditions, escalator and elevator failures, and AirTrain incidents. The catch is procedure: you must serve a formal Notice of Claim within 60 days of the injury and commence suit within one year, under NY Unconsolidated Laws § 7107. These are conditions of the Port Authority's consent to be sued (not standard statute-of-limitations rules), so missing the window typically means dismissal regardless of the merits.

Can I sue the airline if I was hurt during boarding or deplaning?

Yes, in many cases. Airlines owe a duty of care during boarding, deplaning, and operations on the jet bridge. Federal preemption rules can limit certain types of claims, but premises and negligence claims often proceed in state court under the standard three-year statute of limitations.

Can I sue the TSA if a TSA agent injured me at an airport?

Possibly. TSA injuries fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. §§ 2675 and 2401(b)), which requires filing a Standard Form 95 administrative claim with the TSA within two years of the injury. Only after the agency issues a final denial — or fails to act within six months — can you file a federal lawsuit, and that suit must be commenced within six months of the agency's denial. Because the FTCA process is procedural and outcome-specific, an attorney experienced with federal tort claims should handle it.

What if I was hurt on the AirTrain at JFK?

AirTrain JFK is operated by the Port Authority of NY/NJ, so the same notice and deadline rules apply: a 60-day Notice of Claim and suit commenced within one year. This covers slip-and-fall, escalator, elevator, platform, and gap-related injuries on the AirTrain system, as well as falls inside AirTrain stations.

Is the airline responsible or is the airport responsible for my injury?

It depends on where you were hurt. Common-area injuries — terminal floors, escalators, baggage claim, AirTrain platforms — usually involve the Port Authority and its contractors. Injuries at the gate, on the jet bridge, or during boarding often involve the airline. Injuries inside a restaurant, lounge, or store typically involve the concessionaire and its insurer. A free consultation can map your specific facts to the right defendant and the right procedural track.

Can I file a claim if I was injured outside the terminal, such as on a Port Authority road or parking structure?

Yes. The Port Authority of NY/NJ controls the roadways, parking facilities, AirTrain stations, and terminal curb areas at JFK and LaGuardia — not just the interior terminals. Injuries in these locations may give rise to a claim under NY Unconsolidated Laws § 7107, subject to the same 60-day notice and one-year filing requirement.

Who's at fault if I was injured by airport construction or a contractor's equipment?

Construction-related injuries at airports often involve multiple defendants. The Port Authority (as property owner), the general contractor, subcontractors, and equipment manufacturers. New York Labor Law § 240 and § 241 provide additional protections for workers injured in elevation-related and construction-site accidents, and may significantly increase the value of a claim. Learn more: Understanding Labor Law § 240 and § 241

Next Steps: Speak With an Airport Injury Attorney Today

If you were injured at JFK, LaGuardia, or another New York-area airport, the steps you take early can directly affect your case.

Contact Raphaelson & Levine to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney near you and get clear, immediate guidance on your legal rights and next steps. No pressure, no fees.

Call (212) 268-3222 for a free airport injury case evaluation.