Bronx Personal Injury Lawyers

Filing a Personal Injury Claim in New York City

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If you were injured as a result of someone else’s careless, reckless, or wrongful conduct, you have the right to take legal action. By filing a personal injury claim, you can seek financial compensation for economic and non-economic losses associated with your injuries, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Since 2003, the Harris Firm, LLC has been representing victims of negligence throughout New York City’s five boroughs. With nearly 30 years of experience, our Queens personal injury lawyers are prepared to advocate for you and your rights. We fight for maximum compensation for our clients, and we are known for making insurance companies pay every last cent they owe to the injured.

If you were injured and believe someone else was to blame, contact the Harris Firm, LLC today at (718) 487-8669 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Is Personal Injury?

Personal injury is an area of civil law (as opposed to criminal law) that allows victims of negligence and misconduct to recover monetary compensation from at-fault and liable parties. The purpose of filing a personal injury claim is twofold: first, to secure financial recovery for economic and non-economic damages, and second, to hold the liable party accountable. Although the defendant in a personal injury lawsuit does not face criminal penalties, a successful settlement or verdict can allow the injured party (known as the “plaintiff”) a much-needed sense of justice, as well as the financial resources needed to manage unexpected expenses.

At the Harris Firm, LLC, we handle all types of complex personal injury cases, including claims involving:

• Car accidents
• Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Wrongful death

We have two offices, conveniently located in Queens and the Bronx, both with open-door policies. However, if your injuries prevent you from traveling to us, we can come to you. We frequently meet clients in their homes or at the hospital and are happy to accommodate your injuries and/or disability.

What Damages Are Available in Personal Injury Claims?

When a person is involved in an accident or injury-causing event, they are likely to experience numerous economic and non-economic losses. Collectively, these are referred to as “damages.”

There are three types of damages that may be available in personal injury cases:

• Special Damages: Also known as “economic damages,” special damages in New York are losses that have a set monetary value. In other words, these are financial expenses the victim suffers as a result of their injuries. Examples of special damages include medical bills, future care costs, and lost income, wages, and future earnings.
• General Damages: General damages are also known as “non-economic damages.” These include intangible losses that do not have a set monetary value associated with them. Examples of common general damages in personal injury cases include “pain and suffering,” which encompasses both physical pain and mental suffering, mental health disorders, and trauma.
• Punitive Damages: Unlike special damages and general damages, which are both compensatory damages, punitive damages are not intended to compensate victims for specific losses. Rather, they are meant to punish defendants who are found to have acted with extreme negligence and/or wanton or willful disregard for others.

At the Harris Firm, LLC, we fight to ensure negligent people, companies, and other parties are held accountable for the immense harm they cause. Our Queens personal injury lawyers develop personalized and innovative legal strategies aimed at securing maximum compensation for our clients’ damages, including their current and future medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, trauma, and more.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in New York?

Like other states, New York has a deadline when it comes to filing personal injury lawsuits. Known as the “statute of limitations,” this deadline is three years from the date of injury in standard personal injury cases. If you do not bring a lawsuit within three years, you will most likely lose your right to sue the liable party for damages.

There are some exceptions to the three-year statute of limitations. One common one is when the victim does not discover the injury right away. When this occurs, the three-year timeframe begins on the date the injury was discovered or reasonably could have been discovered. Another common exception occurs when the injured party is a minor, meaning they are under the age of 18. For cases involving injuries to minors, the three-year statute of limitations does not begin running until the injured party’s 18^th birthday; in other words, they have until their 21^st birthday to file the lawsuit.

Note that the statute of limitations applies to personal injury lawsuits, not claims. Most insurance policies require claimants to file within a “reasonable period of time.” The exact length of this time period may differ depending on the language of the policy. We encourage you to act quickly if you think you may have a personal injury case, as you may need to file an insurance claim right away.

Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

New York law does not require you to hire a personal injury lawyer in order to file a claim. However, there are many benefits to working with an experienced team. Countless studies have shown that people who hire personal injury lawyers nearly always recover higher settlements than those who attempt to resolve their claims on their own. Additionally, if the insurance company refuses to settle or does not offer a fair settlement, your attorney will be ready to represent you at trial.

After a serious accident or injury, the insurance company is not on your side. Whether you are filing a personal injury protection (PIP) claim with your own auto insurance provider or seeking compensation from a property owner’s insurance company, you are likely to face disputes. The insurance adjuster assigned to your claim may argue that you were at fault for the incident, or that the policy does not cover your damages. They may offer an initial settlement to help offset some of your medical costs—but this offer will likely be far below what you need and deserve.

We strongly recommend that you do not speak to any insurance adjusters after the accident without first consulting an experienced personal injury attorney. You should never sign anything or accept a settlement from the insurance company without discussing your options with a lawyer.

When you hire the Harris Firm, LLC, you get:

• An experienced and aggressive attorney dedicated to you and your case
• Direct, one-on-one attention and communication from your lawyer
• Compassionate, personalized legal counsel and support
• Nearly 30 years of experience on your side

We offer free initial consultations and contingency fees, meaning you do not pay any out-of-pocket expenses when you hire our firm. Instead, we only collect legal fees if we successfully recover a settlement or verdict for you.

Injured? Contact the Harris Firm, LLC for the Reliable Legal Representation You Need

We are proud to have earned a reputation as one of New York City’s leading personal injury law firms. We are ready to discuss your potential case with you at no cost, either in one of our offices or at a place that is most convenient for you. Appointments are not necessary, but if you would like to set up a free initial consultation, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team today to learn how we can help.

Call (718) 487-8669 or reach us online using our secure contact form.