New York Personal Injury Guide
NY personal injury case & accident info
Driving through the insane gridlock New York is a car accident waiting to happen. This state is a hotbed of negligence and personal injury cases, and finding out where to pin liability is like playing "Pin the Tail on the Donkey."
Maybe it was you who was injured, or maybe it was a friend or relative. Whatever happens during your New York adventures, if you need guidance for your personal injury case, Enjuris has the answers.
New York personal injury law: the basics
New York statutes online
This is where you’ll find New York's consolidated laws. The website has details about how long you have to bring a case, monetary limits on personal injury cases (which are also known as damage caps), and other important information.
To read:New York's car accident statutes of limitation
In New York, you have three years to bring both a personal injury and a property damage claim. That means you have three years to file your paperwork with the court, not that your case has to be completed in that time frame.
To read:Accidents & injuries in New York
Need a lawyer?
Accident worksheets
Your First Meeting with an Attorney
A worksheet to prepare for your first meeting with a personal injury attorney – what to bring, what they'll ask
Download in PDF format
Documents & Evidence Checklist
Checklist of 30 items to help you prepare for making a personal injury or accident claim
Download in PDF format
Personal Injury Attorney Interview Sheet
Worksheet with questions to ask a personal injury attorney to help determine if he or she will be a good fit for your case
Download in PDF format
Damages/Expenses Worksheet
Damages worksheet to track expenses for your injury claim (medical treatment, property damage, lost wages, prescriptions)
Download in PDF format
Post-Accident Journal Form
Sample accident journal/diary to help you document the effect on your daily life
Download in PDF format
Accident Report Form
Sample post-accident report form to keep in your glove box - fill out at the scene or as soon as you can after a car accident
Download in PDF format
Hiring a lawyer in New York
The first meeting with a personal injury attorney is normally free of charge. (Note that other legal specialties, such as real estate law or taxation law, are different.) After that, lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that they will take a third of the eventual reward, plus whatever office expenses they incur along the way.
If your case goes to trial, that percentage could rise to 40% of the eventual reward or judgment. These numbers aren't determined by law, so don't be surprised if your lawyer suggests something else.
Want to hire a lawyer and need some help?
Check out some of our best articles:
Examples of personal injury cases and accidents
Personal injury cases (also know as a tort lawsuit) come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Auto accidents, medical malpractice and premises liability (slip/fall) are a few examples of the most common types of personal injury cases, but there are many more. In fact, torts are among the most common legal actions in the United States. Read more
Read our complete guide to finding the right injury attorney for your case. Read insights from Enjuris attorneys and lawyers across the USA on when and why you need to hire a car accident attorney. Learn more
Need a lawyer?
Law libraries in New York
There are many issues you can solve without the help of an attorney. If you don't know where to start, a law librarian can help you. They are usually legally trained, and they can help you both with texts or online research engines like LexisNexis or Westlaw.
- New York Public Access Libraries
- New York Law School: Mendik Law Library
- New York Public Library
- New York University Law School: Law Library
- Library of the New York City Bar Association
- New York Law Institute
- New York County Access Law Library
- Columbia Law School: Arthur W. Diamond Law Library
- CUNY School of Law: Law Library
- Essex County, New York: Law Library
- New York State Supreme Court Library Locations
- University at Buffalo School of Law: Charles B. Sears Law Library
- Cornell University Law School: Law Library
- Albany Law School: Schaffer Law Library
- Yeshiva University: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Library
- Maurice A. Deane School of Law: Hofstra Law Library
- Brooklyn Law School: Law Library
- Touro College: Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
- Fordham Law School: The Maloney Library
- St. John's University School of Law: The Rittenberg Law Library
- Syracuse University College of Law: Law Library
- Pace Law Library