Manhattan Personal Injury Lawyer

Were you seriously injured by someone else’s negligence in Manhattan, NY?

At The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP, we represent people hurt across Manhattan and pursue full compensation in every kind of injury claim.

If someone else’s carelessness left you hurt in Manhattan, the days after an accident often bring pressure from insurers and uncertainty about what comes next. A Manhattan, NY personal injury lawyer at our firm can take that weight off you, deal with the carriers, and press for the compensation the law allows. For three generations, The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has represented injured New Yorkers, with a record that reaches back to 1937. Reach out for a free consultation to find out whether you have a claim.

Personal Injury Lawyer Manhattan, NY

A personal injury case arises when one party’s negligence causes harm to another, and the injured person seeks compensation for the losses that follow. A Manhattan personal injury attorney handles the full arc of that claim, from proving who was at fault to putting a dollar figure on what the harm has cost.

New York City recorded 47,557 traffic injuries in 2025, and Manhattan’s dense streets keep it among the busiest areas for these collisions. Nationwide, injuries are among the leading causes of death for people aged 1 to 44. A personal injury attorney in Manhattan turns that reality into a claim built on evidence, medical proof, and a clear account of who is responsible. That work covers gathering the proof, valuing the injury, and standing between you and the insurance company.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Manhattan

Our firm takes on the full range of injury claims. Motor vehicle crashes are the largest single source of traffic injuries in the city, though falls, medical errors, and job-site accidents fill much of our docket too. Our Manhattan personal injury attorneys match the approach to the type of case, because a truck claim and a hospital claim call for very different proof.

• Car accidents. Collisions on Manhattan’s crowded streets and avenues cause whiplash, fractures, and worse. We deal with the insurers and pursue the driver whose negligence caused the crash. Coverage disputes are common, so we look hard at every applicable policy.
• Truck accidents. Commercial trucks carry heavier insurance and more potential defendants than an ordinary car crash. We investigate the carrier, the driver, and anyone who loaded or maintained the vehicle. Some of the records that decide these cases can disappear within days.
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders face severe injuries and unfair blame from adjusters who assume the rider was at fault. We counter that bias with a careful reconstruction of the crash. The physical evidence usually tells a different story than the insurer’s first theory.
• Construction accidents. Falls, falling objects, and machinery injure workers on job sites across the borough. We look past workers’ compensation to the negligent parties who owe more. That often means a claim against an owner, a general contractor, or an equipment supplier.
• Slip and falls. A spill, a broken stair, or an icy entrance can leave lasting harm when an owner ignores a known hazard. We prove the owner had notice and failed to act. Evidence like surveillance video is easy to lose, so we move to preserve it early.
• TBIs. A blow or jolt to the head can change memory, mood, and the ability to work. These injuries often need long-term treatment, and we document that full course. Symptoms are not always obvious at first, which makes the medical proof central.
• Wrongful death. When negligence takes a life, the surviving family may recover for their losses. We handle these claims with care for both the case and the people behind it. The law limits who may bring the action and what the recovery covers.
• Medical malpractice. A missed diagnosis or a surgical error can turn a treatable condition into permanent harm. These claims require medical records, independent review, and qualified opinion. We take them on only when the proof supports a real departure from the standard of care. When it does, we work with the qualified physicians these claims require.
• Pedestrian accidents. People on foot have no protection when a driver fails to yield. Crosswalk and intersection crashes produce some of the most serious injuries we see. Liability can extend beyond the driver to a poorly designed or poorly maintained roadway. Our attorneys pursue every source of coverage available to an injured pedestrian.

Why Choose The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP as My Personal Injury Lawyer in Manhattan, NY?

Recoveries Across the Full Range of Injuries

The firm has recovered more than $131 million for injured clients, and those recoveries cut across the case types listed above:

• $36,000,000 settlement for a construction worker struck by a utility pole, the largest personal injury settlement reported in New York State
• $22,000,000 for a professional boxer who suffered a brain injury after medical staff failed to diagnose his condition in time
• $9,000,000 for a pedestrian struck on the sidewalk by a drunk driver
• $8,250,000 for a child who sustained head and brain injuries in an off-road vehicle accident
• $7,208,000 for the family of a worker killed by a company truck

Plaintiff-Side Trial Lawyers Since 1937

We represent injured people, never insurance companies, and that plaintiff-side focus goes back to the firm’s founding in 1937. A willingness to take a case to verdict, built over more than 85 years, is what moves an insurer off a low offer. Our personal injury attorneys have handled matters at every level, from single-car crashes to record-setting catastrophic claims. If a claim lacks merit, we will tell you directly rather than raise false expectations.

What Is Important to Understand About a Personal Injury Case?

What Are Important Aspects of a Personal Injury Case?

Every injury claim rests on the same foundation: proof that another party owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injury. Liability is often contested, and the defense will look for any gap in that chain. Causation is where many claims are tested, since a defendant will argue the injury came from something other than the accident. The record you build early, from the accident scene through the first medical visit, tends to decide how strong the claim becomes. Insurers move fast to lock in statements and float low offers, so having counsel who deals with them directly protects both your health and your case. The strongest claims pair solid liability proof with a clear medical picture of the harm.

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Personal Injury Cases

Compensation is meant to restore what the injury took, both the measurable costs and the harder-to-quantify toll. The damages you can pursue include medical expenses and future care, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the loss of the activities that filled your days. How far those damages reach depends on the severity of the injury and how long its effects last. New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so being partly at fault does not end a claim. It reduces the award by your percentage of fault. When more than one party shares the blame, the case works out how much each of them owes.

What Is the Personal Injury Case Timeline?

No two cases move at the same speed. A straightforward claim can resolve within a year, while disputed fault or a severe injury pushes it well past that. Most still follow a recognizable case timeline:

• Medical treatment until your condition stabilizes
• Investigation and preservation of the evidence
• Filing the claim and formal discovery
• Settlement negotiation or mediation
• Trial, when the offer does not reflect the harm

New York sets a three-year limit on most personal injury suits, and claims against a city agency run on much shorter notice deadlines. Because that window can close fast, it helps to confirm the deadline to sue before it does.

What Should You Bring to Your Personal Injury Consultation?

Bring whatever you already have to the first meeting, and we will track down the rest. Helpful items include:

• Any police or accident report
• Medical records and bills connected to the injury
• Photographs of the scene and your injuries
• Letters or messages from any insurer
• Names and contact details for witnesses

The consultation is free and confidential. We walk through what to expect, answer your questions, and give an honest read on the claim before you decide anything. If you are still treating, we can begin while your care continues.

Reach Out to The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP to Schedule a Consultation

The weeks right after an injury are often when a claim is won or lost, because evidence fades and deadlines run while you are still trying to heal. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our firm. We will review how the accident happened, explain your options in plain terms, and move quickly to protect the evidence your claim depends on. You pay no fee unless we win, so there is no cost to learn where you stand.

Personal Injury Statistics in Manhattan

Manhattan’s streets, job sites, and buildings produce a steady volume of injury claims each year, and the numbers behind them shape how a Manhattan personal injury lawyer values a case. Citywide traffic deaths are at their second-lowest level since record keeping began in 1910, according to NYC DOT traffic data released in October 2026. That progress includes Manhattan corridors such as Ninth Avenue, where a 2026 redesign between West 34th and 50th Streets widened the sidewalk and the protected bike lane.

Falls and workplace injuries fill out the rest of the picture. The BLS fatal injury data for New York City lists falls, slips, and trips as the most common fatal event on the job, tied with exposure to harmful substances. Falls are also the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and in Manhattan, NY many of those happen on sidewalks, stairs, and building entrances. A personal injury attorney in Manhattan uses figures like these to show that a hazard was foreseeable and that a defendant should have planned for it.

• 67 pedestrians died in New York City traffic through September 30, 2026, 15% fewer than at the same point in 2025.
• 21 motor vehicle occupants died citywide over the same period, a record low, down from 24 in 2025.
• New York City recorded 69 fatal work injuries in 2023, and the construction sector accounted for 24 of them.
• More than one in four adults aged 65 and older report falling each year, according to CDC fall data.

Factors That Affect the Outcome of Your Personal Injury Case

Two people can suffer the same fracture in the same kind of accident and end up with very different results. The difference usually comes down to a handful of factors that shape the value of a case long before anyone discusses a number. We review each of them at the first meeting.

1. The strength of the liability proof. A claim needs evidence that someone else caused the harm. Photographs, incident reports, and witness names carry more weight than a description given weeks later. Video footage from a Manhattan storefront or building lobby can be overwritten within days, so we send preservation letters early.
2. Your medical records. Insurers read treatment records closely. A gap in treatment, a missed follow-up, or a delay in seeing a doctor gives the defense an opening to argue the injury was minor or came from something else.
3. How serious and lasting the injury is. A sprain that heals in six weeks and a spinal injury that requires surgery are valued on different scales. Permanent limitations, future care needs, and lost earning capacity drive the largest awards.
4. Your share of fault. New York reduces an award by the injured person’s percentage of fault. A pedestrian who crossed mid-block or a worker who skipped a safety step can still recover, but the defense will press that argument hard.
5. Available insurance coverage. Policy limits often set the practical ceiling on a claim. Early in every case we identify each policy that may apply, including coverage held by a building owner or a contractor.
6. Your credibility. Jurors and adjusters weigh whether an account holds together. Social media posts showing activity inconsistent with a claimed injury have reduced settlement offers in cases we have handled. Candor with your attorney about prior injuries matters for the same reason.
7. Whether a government entity is involved. Claims against the City, the MTA, or a public hospital follow shorter notice deadlines and a separate procedure. Missing that window can end an otherwise strong case.
8. Your lawyer’s willingness to try the case. An insurer offers more when it expects a Manhattan personal injury attorney to take the case to verdict.

Manhattan Personal Injury Lawyer FAQs

How much does a personal injury lawyer in Manhattan cost?

The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win. Before anything is signed, we walk through how the arrangement works in writing and answer every question about it. If the case has merit, we explain the next steps. If it doesn’t, we tell you that too.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in New York?

Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the accident. Claims against the City of New York and other public entities carry notice deadlines measured in months rather than years. Because the clock depends on who is responsible, it is worth confirming the deadline early.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?

Usually, yes. New York applies comparative negligence, so an award is reduced by your share of the blame rather than eliminated. Being partly at fault does not end a claim on its own. Some motor vehicle claims are treated differently after a 2026 amendment, so tell us exactly what happened and we will explain how the rule applies to you.

Who pays my medical bills while the case is pending?

It depends on how you were hurt. After a car crash, no-fault coverage pays initial medical costs regardless of who caused the collision. In other cases, health insurance or treatment on a lien can cover care until the case resolves. We help clients sort out medical bills before settlement so treatment never stops for financial reasons.

How long will my personal injury case take?

Simple claims with clear fault can settle within a year. Cases with disputed liability, serious injuries, or a government defendant often take two to three years. Waiting until your doctors can say how permanent the injury is usually produces a larger recovery than settling early.

Will I have to go to court?

Most cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as though it will be tried. That preparation is what produces fair offers. If the insurer refuses to pay what the injury is worth, we take the case to a jury in New York County Supreme Court.

What is my personal injury case worth?

No honest attorney can answer that at the first meeting. Value depends on medical costs, lost income, the permanence of the injury, and pain and suffering, measured against fault and insurance limits. We give a range once the medical picture is clear, and we update it as the case develops.

Can I sue the City of New York or the MTA?

Yes, with conditions. Claims against the City and its agencies require a notice of claim within a short period and a sworn hearing before a lawsuit can be filed. The procedure is strict, and the deadlines are far shorter than for private defendants. Our personal injury lawyers in Manhattan handle these claims regularly.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?

Rarely. Early offers arrive before the full extent of an injury is known and are priced accordingly. Once you accept and sign a release, the claim is over, even if your condition worsens. Have a Manhattan, NY personal injury attorney review any offer before you respond to it.

What if the person who hurt me has no insurance?

Options vary. After a car crash, your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply. In a premises or construction case, a building owner’s or contractor’s policy often exists even when the individual has none. We investigate every potential source of coverage before advising you on how to proceed.

Important Resources for Manhattan Personal Injury Cases

What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Personal Injury Cases?

The rules on deadlines, fault, and damages in a Manhattan, NY personal injury claim come from state statute. The sources below are where those laws can be read in full.

• The New York State Senate publishes the full CPLR online, which contains the procedural rules for injury lawsuits.
• CPLR 214 sets the three-year filing deadline for most personal injury actions.
• CPLR 1411 sets the comparative fault rule that reduces damages by the injured person’s share of responsibility.

What Are Important Local Resources for Manhattan Personal Injury Cases?

These Manhattan resources handle emergency care and accident records. Our firm has no affiliation with any of them and does not endorse one over another. They are listed for convenience only.

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, (212) 562-1000. A Level I trauma center at 462 First Avenue serving Midtown and Lower Manhattan.
• NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, (332) 456-8249. A trauma center on the Upper East Side at 525 East 68th Street.
• NYPD Collision Reports, 311 for non-emergency inquiries. Reports are available from the precinct where the crash occurred or through the online retrieval portal.

About The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

Paul J. Edelstein and Glenn K. Faegenburg are the Manhattan personal injury attorneys who handle injury cases at our firm. Both earned their law degrees at Brooklyn Law School, and both were named to Best Lawyers in 2025, with Glenn also recognized by Super Lawyers for ten years. Paul is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and volunteered with the Trial Lawyers Care 9/11 Project. Results include a $1,725,000 settlement for a client whose knee was injured by a misleveled elevator and $2,000,000 for the family of a brain injury victim harmed by medical malpractice during an endoscopy.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“I am very grateful I worked with Arthur and Paul on my case. They were very attentive and took the time to explain each step that took place over the five years my case was open. I never felt pressured into any decision or made to feel rushed into anything. They handled my case with the utmost care and professionalism and I am so thankful!” — Clare Zaytoun

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Additional Resources for Manhattan Personal Injury Cases

• Five Mistakes to Avoid Making During Your Personal Injury Case
• Should I Settle My Case or Go to Trial?
• What is a Deposition in a Personal Injury Case?
• Surveillance: How Video Can Help (or Harm) Your Personal Injury Case

Contact The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

If you were hurt in Manhattan because someone else was careless, talk to a personal injury lawyer before you talk to the insurance company. The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win. At that first meeting, we review how the injury happened and tell you plainly whether the claim is worth pursuing. Our staff responds to new inquiries promptly and sets up the meeting with an attorney. Contact us to schedule a free consultation about your Manhattan, NY personal injury claim.