New York Personal Injury
Personal Injury Lawyers in New York
With more than 30 years of experience, Sullivan & Brill, LLP has secured maximum compensation for injured New Yorkers — including an $18.5 million brain-injury verdict. Partner-led representation from eight offices across New York State.
- No fee unless we win
- 30+ years · $18.5M top verdict
- Free & confidential · 24/7
A New York personal injury lawyer helps people who have been hurt by someone else's negligence recover money for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. At Sullivan & Brill, LLP, we investigate how your injury happened, prove who is at fault under New York law, deal directly with the insurance companies, and — when they refuse to pay fairly — take your case to trial. For more than two decades our partners have personally handled thousands of injury claims, and we work on a contingency fee: you pay no attorney's fee unless we win. Call us at (212) 566-1000 for a free consultation.
What a New York Personal Injury Lawyer Does
Personal injury law lets someone who is harmed by another party’s carelessness recover financial compensation. If you were hurt in a crash, on a construction site, on someone’s property, or by a defective product, a New York personal injury lawyer builds the proof of fault, values your losses, negotiates with the insurers, and litigates when a fair settlement isn’t offered. At Sullivan & Brill, LLP our partners handle cases personally from start to finish, and we take every case as if it is going to trial so the evidence is ready if the insurance company won’t pay what your claim is worth.
We handle the full range of injury claims: car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, e-scooter accidents, construction accidents, premises liability and slip and fall, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, product liability, and bus and transit accidents.
How Fault and Liability Work in New York
New York’s fault rule now depends on the kind of case. For most injury claims — falls, construction accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, civil rights — New York follows pure comparative negligence (CPLR §1411(a)): you can recover even if you were partly to blame, and your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you 20% responsible and your damages are $100,000, you still recover $80,000. For motor vehicle claims, a new rule applies to lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026: modified comparative negligence (CPLR §1411(b)). Your award is still reduced by your share of fault, but if your share is greater than the defendants’ combined share, you recover nothing. Because insurers use comparative fault to slash payouts — and can now use it to eliminate a car accident claim entirely — having a lawyer who can prove the other party’s share of the blame is critical to the value of your case.
No-Fault Insurance and the Serious-Injury Threshold
Most New York motor vehicle claims first run through the state’s No-Fault system (Insurance Law Article 51). No-Fault pays your basic medical bills and a portion of lost earnings regardless of who caused the crash. But to sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, you generally must clear the serious injury threshold defined in Insurance Law §5102(d) — for example, a fracture, significant disfigurement, permanent loss of use of a body part, or a significant limitation of use of a body function or system. The former 90/180-day category (a non-permanent injury that kept you from your usual activities for 90 of the first 180 days) was eliminated for lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026. Whether an injury meets one of the eight remaining categories is heavily litigated, and it is one of the first things our attorneys evaluate.
Deadlines: The Statute of Limitations
New York gives injured people a limited window to file suit. For most personal injury claims the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the injury. Some claims have shorter or different deadlines, and cases against a city, public authority, or the MTA are especially unforgiving: you typically must serve a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident before you can even sue. Miss these deadlines and your right to compensation can be lost entirely — which is why it is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.
What Damages You Can Recover
Depending on your case, compensation may include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, therapy, and long-term care
- Lost wages and lost future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage, such as repairing or replacing a vehicle
- In fatal cases, damages recoverable through a wrongful death claim for the family’s losses
Our attorneys document both the economic and non-economic impact of your injury — gathering medical records, bills, and expert projections of future costs — so we can demand the full value of your claim.
Our Contingency-Fee Promise
You do not need money up front to hire us. Sullivan & Brill, LLP handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee: there is no attorney’s fee unless we win compensation for you. Your consultation is always free, and you can meet with us at your convenience.
Why Choose Sullivan & Brill, LLP
With more than 30 years of experience, our firm has fought for injured New Yorkers against insurance companies and corporations. Our founding partner began his career defending those same companies before leaving to represent the people they were shortchanging. Today our clients get:
- Partner-led representation — experienced attorneys handle your case personally, not a rotating cast of junior staff
- Eight offices across New York State, including our Manhattan headquarters, so help is close by
- A proven record, including an $18.5 million verdict for a brain-injured client — see more on our case results page
- Full bilingual service and free, flexible consultations
We also handle civil rights and police misconduct claims. However you were hurt, contact us for a free case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, meaning you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you, and your initial consultation is always free.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in New York?
Most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the injury. Claims against a city, public authority, or the MTA usually require a Notice of Claim within 90 days, so it is important to contact a lawyer quickly.
Can I still recover money if the accident was partly my fault?
Usually, yes. For most injury claims New York uses pure comparative negligence, so you can recover even if you share some of the blame; your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than barred. Motor vehicle claims are the exception since May 26, 2026: you can still recover if you were partly at fault, but not if your share of the blame is greater than the other side’s.
What if I was hurt in a car accident — doesn’t No-Fault cover me?
No-Fault pays your basic medical bills and some lost wages regardless of fault, but to sue the other driver for pain and suffering you generally must meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law §5102(d). We evaluate whether your injury qualifies.
Free consultation · No fee unless we win
Injured in New York? Talk to our team today.
We will review your case for free and explain your options — no pressure, no obligation.