New York Personal Injury Law Guide

What to verify first in New York

Classify the event, potential defendants, and claim type before calculating time. For matters connected to New York, Buffalo, and Rochester, also confirm the correct court and any local filing rule.

Choose the issue

Filing deadline questionsSeparate ordinary injury, death, professional-negligence, and government time limits in New York. Wrongful deathCheck claimant authority, estate issues, damages, evidence, and timing in New York. Professional negligenceCheck records, experts, pre-suit procedure, discovery, and repose questions in New York. Car accidentsCheck fault, coverage, reports, evidence, and filing questions after a New York crash.

Facts to organize

Record the exact location, dates, people and entities involved, injury and treatment timeline, insurance information, notices, and documents already signed or received.

Venue and local records

For an event in New York, Buffalo, and Rochester or elsewhere in New York, identify the agency that created any report, the court that would hear the matter, and the custodian of short-lived video, logs, or electronic data.

Check the official New York sources

These official New York sources are the safest starting points for checking statutes, procedure, and insurance questions.

New York judiciary — The New York judiciary publishes court structure, rules, forms, locations, and opinions.
New York legislature or official code — The New York legislature or official code portal provides current statutory text and legislative updates.
New York insurance regulator — The New York insurance regulator publishes consumer and insurer information relevant to many injury claims.

Links checked August 29, 2026. Confirm the current text, effective date, and any local rule before relying on a deadline or procedure.