One moment changes everything. A distracted driver runs a red light on Queens Boulevard. A construction scaffold collapses at a Manhattan high-rise. A broken staircase in a Westchester apartment building gives way without warning.
In the seconds it takes for an accident to happen, your entire life can shift, leaving you facing medical bills, lost wages, and an uncertain future.
When someone else's carelessness causes you harm, a New York personal injury lawyer shields you from insurance companies fighting to pay you as little as possible.
The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler represents injured New Yorkers throughout White Plains, Queens, Manhattan, and the surrounding boroughs, bringing strength and strategy to every case while treating each client like family.
Begin Your Journey Toward Justice
Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler will meet with you, at no cost, for a full consultation and evaluation of your case. If you hire us, you will pay no fees unless, and until you receive money in a settlement.
Call Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 833-92-AYUDA today to speak to an attorney.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler for Your New York Personal Injury Case?
Choosing legal representation after an injury is one of the most important decisions you will make during your recovery. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler offers dedicated advocacy built on a deep understanding of New York personal injury law and a genuine commitment to client well-being.
When you work with Jason B. Kessler, you receive:
- Direct attorney communication throughout your case, not hand-offs to paralegals or assistants
- Thorough investigation and evidence gathering to build the strongest possible claim
- Aggressive negotiation with insurance companies that often undervalue legitimate injuries
- Trial preparation and courtroom readiness if a fair settlement cannot be reached
- Compassionate guidance during what may be the most difficult chapter of your life
With offices in White Plains, Corona, and Manhattan, the firm serves clients across Westchester County and all five boroughs of New York City. Whether your injury happened on a construction site near the Cross Bronx Expressway or in a slip and fall at a Queens shopping center, you deserve representation that understands both local conditions and the complex legal framework that governs New York injury claims.
What Types of Cases Does a New York Personal Injury Lawyer Handle?
Personal injury law covers a wide range of accidents and incidents where someone suffers harm due to another party's negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
Negligence simply means that someone failed to act with reasonable care, and that failure caused your injury. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler handles numerous types of personal injury cases across the New York metropolitan area, including:
- Motor vehicle accidents involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles, rideshare vehicles, and drivers striking pedestrians
- Commercial vehicle and truck accidents caused by 18-wheelers, delivery trucks, and other large vehicles operating on highways like I-287, I-95, and the Hutchinson River Parkway
- Construction accidents where workers suffer injuries from falls, falling objects, scaffold collapses, or equipment malfunctions
- Premises liability cases such as slip and fall injuries, inadequate security, and dangerous property conditions
Each type of case involves its own set of challenges, liable parties, and applicable laws. A truck accident, for example, may involve the driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, or even a vehicle manufacturer, depending on what caused the crash.
Construction accidents often trigger specific protections under New York Labor Law that do not apply to other workplace injuries. An experienced personal injury lawyer understands these distinctions and builds your case accordingly.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in New York?
Every legal claim has a deadline, and missing that deadline typically means losing your right to seek compensation entirely. In New York, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is three years from the date of the accident, as established under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules Section 214.
While three years may sound like plenty of time, several factors can affect this deadline:
- Claims against government entities such as the City of New York, MTA, or state agencies typically require you to file a notice of claim within just 90 days of the incident
- Cases involving minors may have extended deadlines, but specific rules apply
- Medical treatment gaps can create problems if too much time passes between your accident and your ongoing care, as insurance companies may argue your injuries were not serious or were caused by something else
Beyond the legal deadline, practical concerns also favor acting quickly. Evidence disappears over time. Witnesses forget details or become difficult to locate. Surveillance footage gets deleted. Accident scenes change. The sooner you begin building your case, the stronger your position becomes.
Starting the legal process does not mean you need to be fully healed or know exactly how your injuries will affect you long-term. A personal injury lawyer can begin investigating and preserving evidence while you focus on your recovery, then help you understand the full value of your claim once your medical situation becomes clearer.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a New York Personal Injury Case?
When you suffer an injury due to someone else's negligence, New York law allows you to seek compensation for the full range of losses you have experienced. These losses fall into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the measurable financial costs of your injury. They include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, medications, and assistive devices
- Lost wages from time missed at work during your recovery
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or working at the same level
- Property damage such as vehicle repairs or replacement after a crash
- Out-of-pocket costs related to your injury, including transportation to medical appointments and home modifications
Non-economic damages compensate for losses that do not come with a receipt but deeply affect your quality of life.
These include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life and inability to participate in activities you once loved
- Loss of consortium, which refers to the impact on your relationship with your spouse
New York does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, meaning there is no arbitrary limit on what you can recover for pain and suffering.
However, calculating these damages requires experience and an understanding of what juries in Westchester County, Queens, or Manhattan typically award for similar injuries.
Insurance companies almost always start with lowball offers that fail to account for the true scope of your losses. A skilled personal injury lawyer knows how to document your damages, present them persuasively, and push back against inadequate settlement proposals.
How Can a New York Personal Injury Lawyer Help After a Serious Accident?
Dealing with insurance companies while recovering from an injury puts you at a significant disadvantage. Insurers have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job is to minimize payouts.
They review your medical records looking for reasons to deny or reduce your claim. They may ask you to provide recorded statements hoping you will say something that hurts your case. They often make early settlement offers before you understand the full extent of your injuries, hoping you will accept far less than you deserve.
A personal injury lawyer levels this uneven playing field. From your first consultation through the resolution of your case, an attorney handles the legal burden so you can focus on healing.
Legal representation includes:
- Investigating your accident thoroughly and identifying all potentially liable parties
- Gathering and preserving evidence including police reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and video footage
- Communicating with insurance companies on your behalf and protecting you from tactics designed to undermine your claim
- Consulting with medical professionals, accident reconstructionists, economists, and other authorities who can support your case
- Calculating the full value of your claim including future losses you may not have considered
- Negotiating aggressively for a fair settlement or taking your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer reasonable compensation
Many people hesitate to contact a lawyer because they worry about costs. Personal injury attorneys typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and no attorney fees unless you recover compensation. This arrangement makes quality legal representation accessible regardless of your financial situation.
FAQs: New York Personal Injury Lawyer
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in New York?
Most personal injury lawyers, including the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler, work on contingency, which means you pay no fees unless your case results in a settlement or verdict in your favor. The fee is typically a percentage of your recovery, and you can discuss the specific terms during your free consultation.
What should I do immediately after being injured in an accident?
Seek medical attention first, even if your injuries seem minor. Follow your doctor's treatment recommendations and keep all appointments. Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies before speaking with an attorney. Document everything you can, including taking photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, and any property damage.
Can I still file a claim if the accident was partially my fault?
Yes. New York's comparative negligence law allows you to recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident. Your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you do not lose your right to compensation entirely.
How long does a personal injury case take to resolve?
Every case follows a unique timeline. The length of a case depends on the complexity of your injuries, the time it takes to reach maximum medical improvement, and whether the insurance company offers a fair settlement without the need for litigation. A lawyer manages the legal process and aims for the most favorable outcome efficiently.
What if the insurance company denies my claim or offers too little?
An insurance denial or lowball offer is not the final word. A personal injury lawyer can appeal denials, negotiate more aggressively, and file a lawsuit if necessary to pursue the compensation you deserve. Many cases settle during litigation once insurance companies recognize that you are prepared to go to trial.
Does New York's no-fault law affect my ability to file a personal injury lawsuit?
New York requires no-fault insurance for all registered motor vehicles in New York. If you suffer an injury in a car accident, you typically must first use your no-fault coverage for medical bills and lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash.
You can only file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver if your injury meets the state's serious injury threshold. A lawyer assesses your medical evidence to determine if your injury qualifies under the serious injury definition.
If a loved one died in an accident, can I file a wrongful death claim in New York?
Yes. When someone dies because of another party's negligence, surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim to recover damages on behalf of the deceased's estate. This claim compensates the estate for losses such as medical expenses, funeral costs, and the financial support and services the deceased provided. The statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim in New York is typically two years from the date of the person's death.
Contact the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler Today
When an accident turns your life upside down, you deserve a legal advocate who will fight for your rights while treating you with dignity and respect. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler has helped injured New Yorkers throughout White Plains, Queens, Manhattan, and the surrounding areas recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and the pain that comes with a serious injury.
You do not have to face the insurance companies alone. You do not have to accept a settlement that fails to cover your losses. You do not have to figure out New York's complex injury laws by yourself.
Contact the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler today for a free consultation. With convenient office locations in Westchester County, Corona, and Manhattan, help is closer than you think. Take the first step toward protecting your future and holding the responsible parties accountable for the harm they caused.
Begin Your Journey Toward Justice
Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler will meet with you, at no cost, for a full consultation and evaluation of your case. If you hire us, you will pay no fees unless, and until you receive money in a settlement.
Call Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 833-92-AYUDA today to speak to an attorney.