Personal Injury Lawyers in New York City

New York City sees a high volume of injuries from car crashes and other preventable incidents. People are hurt in traffic collisions, bus accidents, slip and fall accidents in stores and restaurants, and workplace injuries across the city.

How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Approach Cases in New York County

We start by documenting how your accident happened in New York County and how the injuries affect your daily life, including cases involving transit authority accidents. We then collect the records needed to support the claim, including medical documentation, NYPD reports, and available video from nearby businesses or transit sources when applicable.

We anticipate insurer defenses based on prior defense side experience and build the case for negotiation or trial. We keep you updated on claim status, explain key steps such as independent medical exams, and review settlement offers with you so decisions are based on the full value of your personal injury case.

What Is Personal Injury?

Personal injury is an area of law, not a type of injury. Personal injury law, also called tort law, allows an injured person to seek financial compensation when someone’s negligence or wrongful conduct causes harm.

These cases can involve car crashes, slip and falls, workplace injuries, and other incidents where a person or business failed to act with reasonable care. For example, a driver who texts while driving may be negligent, and if that behavior causes a collision, the injured person may have grounds for a personal injury claim or lawsuit. If you need help filing a personal injury lawsuit in NYC, our attorneys can evaluate your case and explain the next steps.

Proving Negligence in New York

To win your personal injury case, you will need to prove negligence, and our firm is here to help you do just that. We will organize all relevant documents and gather additional evidence, work with insurance companies, and clarify the facts in your case.

Ultimately, we will prove negligence by showing:

• The person who harmed you (the defendant) owed you a duty of care
• The defendant breached this duty (by behaving carelessly)
• You suffered injuries or losses
• Your suffering is a result of the defendant’s breach

According to the American Bar Association, automobile accidents are the area in which most personal injury cases arise and provide a good example of how personal injury lawsuits work.

Example:

• All drivers in New York owe a duty of care to those around them
• Texting behind the wheel is a careless activity
• People get hurt in car crashes
• Texting while driving causes car crashes (and injuries)

Not all cases are this cut and dry, and even when they are, insurance companies may try to muddle the facts and shirk liability. That is why you need experienced, trustworthy legal counsel on your side. That is why you need Restivo & Murphy LLP.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

We provide tailored strategies for each claim, ensuring all angles are covered. We also handle claims involving serious injuries, such as amputations and head injuries, as well as wrongful death claims and cases resulting from fatal car accidents.

Understanding Damages in Personal Injury Cases

After a devastating injury or personal loss, pursuing legal action might be the last thing on your mind. Nevertheless, the financial realities of your accident will continue to stack up whether you are thinking about filing a lawsuit or not.

Personal injury cases balance the scales of justice by helping ensure people like you do not have to face the consequences of other people’s wrongdoings by themselves. A successful lawsuit will lead to damages, in either a settlement or a jury award.

Damages can help you account for:

New York County Personal Injury Laws You Should Know

New York State law governs your claim, and New York County procedures can affect timing and strategy. New York’s no fault system requires many people injured in Manhattan motor vehicle crashes to first seek benefits through their own insurer, but you may still file a personal injury lawsuit if your injuries qualify as a serious injury or if the claim falls outside no fault.

Claims involving public entities follow different rules and shorter deadlines. City and transit authority cases, including MTA bus or subway incidents and sidewalk defects, often require a timely notice of claim. The same applies to department of educations claims involving school property, school vehicles, or related incidents. We identify the correct entity, file required paperwork, and track deadlines so the case is not dismissed for technical reasons.

Getting Started with Restivo & Murphy LLP in New York City

At Restivo & Murphy LLP, every case begins with a free consultation. We have offices in New York City and Garden City, and we can travel if you cannot come to us. We provide direct legal guidance and handle communications with insurance companies while we build the claim. Our firm has recovered millions of dollars in personal injury results.

During the consultation, we review the facts, explain your legal options, and outline next steps. We advise you on evidence preservation, medical documentation, and what to expect if the case moves into settlement negotiations or litigation. We are available 24/7.

Why Should I Choose an Attorney with Local Experience in New York City?

Local New York City experience matters because cases often involve NYC specific procedures, city agencies, local medical providers, and high density traffic evidence such as cameras and transit records. An attorney familiar with New York courts and claim requirements can meet deadlines, follow the correct filing rules, and anticipate how insurers and defendants handle cases in the city.

Working with a local New York City firm offers several practical benefits for your case:

• Familiarity with local courts such as New York County Supreme Court and nearby civil courthouses, which helps anticipate procedures and schedules.
• Knowledge of common accident locations including busy intersections, construction corridors, and subway stations throughout Manhattan.
• Access to local resources like medical providers and investigators, who regularly handle matters arising from incidents in the five boroughs.
• Convenient communication for in-person meetings or site visits when necessary to better understand how your accident occurred.

Common Questions About Personal Injury in NYC

What Should I Do Immediately After an Accident in NYC?

The following steps can help you stay organized after an accident in New York City:

• Keep a written log of your symptoms, medical appointments, and how the injury affects your work or daily routines.
• Save every document you receive, including discharge papers, bills, pay stubs, and letters from insurance companies.
• Store photos and videos from the scene, property damage, and visible injuries in a safe place where they will not be lost or deleted.
• Avoid signing forms or giving recorded statements to insurers until you understand how they may affect a future claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in New York?

In New York, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is generally three years from the date of the accident. This time frame applies to general personal injury claims, including those resulting from car accidents and slips and falls. However, there are exceptions. For instance, if your accident involved a municipal entity, such as a city bus or public transportation, you may have a shorter time to file a notice of claim, typically within 90 days. Therefore, understanding the specific time limits and deadlines for your situation is crucial to preserving your right to pursue compensation.

There are several timing issues you should keep in mind after an accident:

• Mark key dates such as the day of the incident and the deadlines that may apply to your type of claim.
• Seek prompt care so that medical records clearly link your injuries to the accident and not to another cause.
• Contact an attorney early so there is enough time to investigate, collect evidence, and file the proper legal documents.
• Be cautious about delays that might make it harder to locate witnesses or surveillance footage as time passes.

What Types of Compensation Are Available for Personal Injury Claims?

Compensation in personal injury claims can include economic and non economic damages. Economic damages cover medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, and reduced future earning capacity. Non economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. The damages available depend on your injuries and how they affect daily activities, work, and long term health, including in municipal vehicle claims.

Punitive damages may be available in limited cases involving reckless or intentional conduct. Restivo & Murphy LLP evaluates the evidence and records needed to support each category of damages and pursue full compensation.

Can I Pursue a Claim If I Am Partially at Fault for the Accident?

Yes. New York follows comparative negligence, so you can pursue a personal injury claim even if you are partly at fault. Any compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. We review the crash facts, records, and available evidence to challenge unfair blame and limit fault allocations that reduce your recovery.