Table of Contents
Personal Injury Attorney in NYC
Table of Contents
A serious accident in New York City reaches well past the day it happens. The bills begin arriving while you are still healing, the missed paychecks add up, and an insurance adjuster has likely already called. For an injured New Yorker, or for a family grieving someone lost in a crash or a fall, a personal injury lawyer in NYC is often the first steady hand in a situation that feels out of control.
The first few weeks after an accident carry more weight than they appear to. A recorded statement or an early settlement offer can lock in far less than the full cost of an injury that is still developing, and New York sets firm deadlines that keep running whether or not you have help. Acting without guidance is where many strong cases quietly lose value.
We are Cerchione Hurowitz Law Group, a New York City personal injury firm built to carry serious injury and wrongful death cases across the five boroughs. We handle the claims that take real resources to prove, from construction and motor vehicle collisions to pedestrian, premises, and fatal-accident cases, and we explain each step in plain language so you are never guessing about where your case stands.
What a New York Personal Injury Lawyer Does and When You Have a Case
Many injured people wonder whether their situation is serious enough to involve a lawyer at all. A New York personal injury lawyer answers that question for you, then builds the case if you have one. In practice, that means investigating how the accident happened, gathering medical and financial records, putting a value on what the injury has cost, and dealing with the insurance company so you can focus on recovery.
What Counts as Negligence in a New York Injury Claim
Most personal injury claims in New York come down to negligence, which has three basic parts. Someone owed you a duty to act with reasonable care; they failed to meet it, and that failure caused your injury. A driver who runs a red light, a property owner who ignores a known hazard, or a contractor who skips a safety measure can each fall short of that duty. Whether the facts support each part is something a lawyer can assess early in the process.
Is Your Case Worth Pursuing
A case is usually worth pursuing when someone else’s carelessness caused real harm and a real cost. That cost can include medical treatment, time away from work, and the longer effects an injury leaves behind. You do not need to know the answer before you reach out. A free consultation is meant to give you an honest read on whether you have a claim and what it could involve, with no obligation to move forward.
Why Injured New Yorkers Choose Cerchione Hurowitz Law Group
Deciding who handles a serious injury case is its own kind of pressure, especially when the stakes are high and the other side already has lawyers of its own. What most people want at that point is a firm with the resources to carry the case and the willingness to keep them informed while it does.
Built to Handle Complex, High-Value New York Injury Cases
Serious injury cases often require expert witnesses, deep investigation, and the patience to push through long litigation. Our resources are structured for that work, including a dedicated construction team for the cases that draw the heaviest defense pressure.
A Family Legal Lineage Four Generations Deep in New York City
Our practice grows out of a family legal lineage four generations deep in New York City personal injury work. That history shapes how we approach a case, even as we build it on today’s law and today’s evidence.
Communication That Keeps You Informed
You should not have to chase your own lawyer for an update. We keep clients informed through proactive updates and an automated text-message system, and our Client Relations Team helps you coordinate care with your medical providers.
Client Testimonials
“I had an excellent experience working with Cerchione Hurowitz Law Group. From the very beginning, they were professional, knowledgeable, and responsive. They took the time to explain the process clearly and kept me informed every step of the way. I truly felt supported and confident that my case was in good hands. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of legal representation.” — Lauren M.
“I had an excellent experience with this attorney’s office from start to finish. The entire team was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about helping me through my situation. They were always responsive, kept me informed throughout the process, and made everything feel much less stressful. I truly appreciate their dedication, honest, and professionalism. I highly recommend this office to anyone looking for reliable and outstanding legal representation.” — Crysbel F.
Meet Your NYC Personal Injury Lawyers
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in New York City
How a claim is built depends on the kind of accident behind it. We handle the main categories of serious injury and wrongful death cases that happen across the five boroughs.
Car and Motor Vehicle Accidents
New York’s no-fault rules and injury thresholds shape almost every car and motor vehicle accident claim, which affects what you can recover and from whom. We represent people hurt in collisions involving cars, rideshares, and commercial vehicles throughout the city.
Truck Accidents
A crash with a tractor-trailer or box truck often involves federal safety rules, several insurers, and evidence that can disappear quickly. Our truck accident work focuses on preserving that evidence and identifying every party that shares responsibility.
Construction Accidents
New York gives construction workers strong protections under Labor Law sections 240, 241, and 200, which can hold owners and contractors responsible for certain height-related and safety-related injuries. These cases face heavy scrutiny in the current New York defense climate, so our dedicated construction accident team, led by Matthew Hurowitz, handles them with that pressure in mind.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
People on foot and on bikes have little protection when a vehicle fails to yield, and the injuries tend to be serious. We represent injured pedestrians and cyclists hurt at intersections, in crosswalks, and in bike lanes across the boroughs.
Premises Liability
When a property owner lets a dangerous condition persist, a fall or other injury on that property may support a claim. We handle premises liability cases involving unsafe stairs, poor lighting, ice, and other hazards in buildings and public spaces.
Wrongful Death
When an accident takes a life, New York law lets close family pursue a wrongful death claim for the losses that follow. We handle these cases with attention to both the legal proof and the family’s need for clear answers.
How a Claim Works and What You Can Recover
After a serious accident, two worries tend to sit side by side: how this process actually works, and what you might have left to recover at the end of it. Both have clearer answers than they often seem to right now.
What Happens After You Contact Us
Most personal injury cases move through the same stages, even when the timeline varies. Once we take your case, the work usually begins with investigating the accident and collecting evidence, then handling the insurance company so you do not have to. If a fair resolution is not possible, we can file suit, keep negotiating, and prepare the case for trial. Most claims settle before a courtroom, and we build each one as though it will be tried, which strengthens your position at the table. How long all of this takes depends on the severity of the injuries, the disputes over fault, and whether the insurer negotiates in good faith. Some claims resolve in months, while serious injuries that are still healing can take longer to value accurately. Settling before the full picture is clear is one of the most common ways injured people leave money behind.
What Compensation Covers (Economic and Non-Economic Damages)
Compensation in a New York injury case generally falls into two groups. Economic damages cover measurable losses, and non-economic damages cover the human costs that do not come with a receipt.
- Medical care, both past and future
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage tied to the accident
A wrongful death claim can also include funeral expenses and the financial support a family has lost.
How Long Do You Have to File, and What If You Were Partly at Fault?
After an accident, it is easy to assume there is time to deal with a claim later. In New York, most personal injury lawsuits must begin within three years of the accident under CPLR section 214, and that clock starts on the day you are hurt.
Filing Deadlines That Apply to Your Case
Some claims run on a different clock. Wrongful death claims generally must begin within two years of the date of death under EPTL section 5-4.1. Claims against a city or public agency move faster still. You generally have to file a notice of claim within 90 days under General Municipal Law section 50-e, then begin any lawsuit within one year and 90 days under section 50-i. Because the right deadline depends on the facts, it can help to confirm yours early rather than assume.
Recovering When You Were Partly at Fault
You can still recover in New York even if you were partly to blame. The state follows a pure comparative negligence rule under CPLR section 1411, which reduces your recovery by your share of fault rather than barring it. If a jury values your damages at $100,000 and finds you 20% at fault, your award becomes $80,000. Being partly responsible is rarely a reason to walk away from a valid claim.
How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer in New York City
Choosing a firm is easier when you know what to ask. A few questions tend to reveal how a firm will actually handle your case:
- Does the firm have the resources to take a case through trial if needed?
- How will the firm keep you updated as the case moves?
- Who handles the day-to-day work on your file?
- How does the firm get paid, and what happens if there is no recovery?
We organized our practice around those priorities, including litigation-ready resources and steady communication, so a case does not stall in silence.
What a Contingency Fee Means for You
A contingency fee means you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront legal fees and no hourly bills while the case is pending. That structure lets you pursue a claim without adding financial pressure to an already hard moment, and it keeps our interests tied to your result.
Before the Filing Window Closes, Start with a Free New York Injury Consultation
After a serious accident, the deadlines and the insurance calls do not wait for you to feel ready. We can take on the investigation, the paperwork, and the insurer while you focus on healing. Reviewing your options early often makes the difference in what a claim is worth.
Call us at 646-666-3030 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our intake line is open 24/7.
Written By Gregory T. Cerchione
Widely known throughout the legal community, Gregory T. Cerchione is a principal at Cerchione Hurowitz Law Group LLP, and one of the driving forces behind the firm’s growth and success. As an esteemed member of the New York legal community,