Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but we bring the same level of preparation, tenacity, and personal attention to every matter we accept.
From our Garden City office, we handle the full spectrum of New York negligence and accident claims, from everyday falls to complex motor vehicle collisions. Our practice areas include:
- Car accidents, truck collisions, and commercial vehicle crashes
- Motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian knockdowns
- Premises liability claims, including slip and fall accidents, snow and ice injuries, negligent security, and elevator and escalator accidents
- Dog bites and dog attacks
- School and playground injuries
- Wrongful death claims
Different types of cases follow different rules. For example, injured motorcyclists are not eligible for no‑fault benefits, and their claims are evaluated under a separate set of standards from typical car accidents. Premises liability, school injuries, and wrongful death matters all carry their own deadlines, proof requirements, and insurance considerations.
If you’re unsure how your accident fits into New York’s system, a brief conversation with a lawyer can bring clarity about fault, coverage, and next steps, before you make any decisions with the insurance company.
New York rewrote key pieces of its motor vehicle law in May 2026, and the changes apply to lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, even when the accident happened earlier.
Start with no-fault. After a crash, your own insurer pays your basic economic loss, up to $50,000 per person, covering necessary medical treatment and lost earnings of up to $2,000 per month for up to three years, largely without regard to who caused the crash. The law does let insurers deny benefits in limited situations, such as driving drunk or being injured while committing a felony. You must give the no-fault insurer written notice within 30 days of the accident unless you can show a clear and reasonable justification for the delay, so do not wait to act.
Pain and suffering is different. To recover it after a car accident, your injury must meet New York’s serious injury threshold. The law defines a serious injury as:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Significant disfigurement
- A fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function or system
- Permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member
- Significant limitation of use of a body function or system
The 2026 amendments removed the older category based on 90 days of disability during the first 180 days, so lists you may see elsewhere are out of date.
Fault also matters more than it used to. The jury now decides who was at fault before deciding whether an injury is serious. And in lawsuits arising from motor vehicle accidents, New York now bars any recovery when your share of fault is greater than the other side’s. Other injury claims, such as falls on dangerous property, still follow the older rule that reduces your award in proportion to your fault instead of barring it.
Most New York personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the injury, and wrongful death claims generally must be brought within two years of the death. Claims against a city, county, town, village, fire district, or school district run far shorter. You generally have ninety days to serve a sworn notice of claim and one year and ninety days to start the lawsuit. Stack the 30-day no-fault notice on top of that, and the safest move after any serious accident is simple. Talk to a lawyer early.
If you’re unsure how your accident fits into New York’s system, a brief conversation with a lawyer can bring clarity about fault, coverage, and next steps, before you make any decisions with the insurance company.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With a Garden City Personal Injury Lawyer
Evidence fades, camera footage gets overwritten, and every deadline above is already running. Contact The Saul Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation. We will assess your claim, explain your options under the current law, and start protecting your rights immediately. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Let our family help your family.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York?
Most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the date of injury, and wrongful death claims generally within two years of the death. Claims against municipalities generally require a sworn notice of claim within ninety days and suit within one year and ninety days. Some claims carry different periods, so confirm your deadline with a lawyer promptly.
Can I still recover money if I was partly at fault?
Often, yes. In most New York negligence cases, your award is reduced in proportion to your share of fault rather than eliminated. In lawsuits arising from motor vehicle accidents that are filed on or after May 26, 2026, you are barred from recovery if your share of fault is greater than the other side’s, which makes proving fault correctly more important than ever.
What does it cost to hire The Saul Law Firm?
Nothing up front. We handle all personal injury matters on a contingency basis, which means our fee comes out of the recovery we win for you. If we do not recover compensation, you owe us no attorney fee, and your first consultation is always free.