Serving Staten Island / Richmond County
Staten Island Personal Injury Lawyers
How you file a Staten Island injury claim depends on who was responsible. A claim against a private driver or owner often involves an insurer and generally a three-year lawsuit deadline, subject to exceptions. The City usually gets a notice of claim within 90 days.
We serve Staten Island from our Brooklyn office, by phone and by video. Over 40 years of injury practice.
Step by step
How to file a personal injury claim on Staten Island
1
Get care and keep records
Emergency, follow-up and therapy records, often from Staten Island University Hospital or Richmond University Medical Center, connect the injury to the incident.
2
Identify who was responsible
Who drove or owned the vehicle, or who owned, managed or repaired the place where you fell? That decides where the claim goes.
3
Start the right claim
An insurance claim for private parties, a notice of claim for the City, and prompt no-fault eligibility review after a vehicle crash (PIP guide).
4
Sue before the deadline
Many local injury lawsuits can be filed in Richmond County state courts; the proper court and venue depend on the parties and claim. The deadline depends on the claim and the defendant.
Public property
Who gets notice?
Much of Staten Island's road, sidewalk and transit network is public. Ownership alone does not establish liability. Identify the responsible entity and applicable notice law promptly; ferry injuries can raise separate maritime rules, so do not assume this table supplies their deadline.
City streets, sidewalks, parks or City vehicles
Potential recipient: City of New York
For an ordinary injury tort claim, notice with the NYC Comptroller is generally due within 90 days; suit generally within one year and 90 days. Exceptions and death claims need separate review.
MTA buses or the Staten Island Railway
Potential recipient: The transit authority
Authorities have their own notice statutes. See our bus accident page and act early.
Bridges run by a public authority
Potential recipient: The authority that runs the crossing
Different, shorter rules can apply. Tell us which crossing.
Private driver, store, landlord or contractor
Potential recipient: The owner, operator or their insurer
No municipal notice of claim is ordinarily required against a private party; insurance notice requirements still matter. Suit is generally due within three years, subject to exceptions.
More on claims against public bodies: suing a city or municipality in New York.
After a road crash, check no-fault eligibility and insurance deadlines promptly; mandatory no-fault generally excludes motorcycle riders. See also our Staten Island auto accident and Staten Island pedestrian accident pages.
Deadlines
Deadlines we check first
Shared fault. Generally, your own share of fault reduces the damages in proportion but does not bar the claim (CPLR 1411).
One exception: in a personal-injury action subject to Insurance Law article 51 (New York's no-fault law) that is commenced on or after May 26, 2026, recovery is barred if the claimant's culpable conduct is greater than that of the defendant, or greater than the combined culpable conduct of the defendants (DFS Circular Letter No. 3 (2026)). See our car accident page for details.
- Most injury claims against a person or business
- Generally three years (CPLR 214).
- A city, county, town, village or school district may be responsible
- A notice of claim is usually due within 90 days where one is required (GML 50-e), and suit generally within one year and 90 days (GML 50-i).
- Medical malpractice
- Two years and six months, with exceptions (CPLR 214-a).
- Injury from exposure to a substance that shows up later
- Three years from discovery of the injury, or from when it reasonably should have been discovered, whichever is earlier (CPLR 214-c). This applies to latent exposure injuries, not to every product case.
- A death
- A wrongful death action generally within two years after the death (EPTL 5-4.1).
- The injured person is a child
- CPLR 208 can extend the time to sue, but notice deadlines still need attention.
Case types
Staten Island personal injury cases we handle
All case types: New York personal injury lawyer.
Questions
Staten Island personal injury FAQs
Office details: serving Staten Island and Brooklyn office.
Get treated and keep the records, then work out who controlled the vehicle or place where you were hurt. A claim against a private driver or owner goes to their insurer, and a lawsuit is generally due within three years. If the City may be responsible for an ordinary injury tort claim, notice is generally filed with the NYC Comptroller within 90 days of the incident. Exceptions and claims involving death require separate review.
Car and truck crashes, pedestrian and bicycle injuries, bus injuries, falls on sidewalks and private property, construction and work injuries, dog bites, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims from anywhere on Staten Island.
The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless there is a recovery. The fee agreement is explained in writing before we start.
Staten Island follows New York State law. Most injury lawsuits are due within three years. Medical malpractice is generally two years and six months, and wrongful death two years after the death. If the City may be responsible, the notice of claim is usually due within 90 days and the lawsuit within one year and 90 days.
Through the evidence: the police report, photos, video, witnesses, vehicle damage and medical records. Your share of fault usually reduces damages rather than barring the claim. One exception: in a personal-injury action subject to Insurance Law article 51 (the no-fault law) commenced on or after May 26, 2026, recovery is barred if the claimant’s culpable conduct is greater than the defendant’s, or greater than the defendants’ combined.
Depending on the claim, medical costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. When New York no-fault coverage applies, benefits can cover some losses first, and a pain-and-suffering claim may be subject to serious-injury requirements. Motorcycle riders generally are outside mandatory no-fault. We do not quote values before reviewing the records.
Not always. Many claims resolve without a trial, but you may need to give a deposition or attend a medical examination if a lawsuit is filed. A City claim may also involve a hearing before suit. We handle the court filings.
No. Staten Island clients are served from our Brooklyn office at 3857 Kings Highway, #1f. Many clients start by phone at (516) 227-2662 or by video, and we can meet at the Brooklyn or Uniondale office.
Staten Island neighborhoods we serve
St. George · Stapleton · Port Richmond · West Brighton · Mariners Harbor · Graniteville · Willowbrook · New Dorp · Great Kills · Eltingville · Annadale · Tottenville · South Beach · Rosebank · Huguenot · Charleston, and the rest of Richmond County.
Injured on Staten Island? Talk to us today
Tell us where it happened and who was involved, and we will tell you whether a notice of claim is needed and which deadline applies. Free consultation; no fee unless there is a recovery.
What to bring
- The exact location (street and cross street)
- Police or incident report number
- Medical records and bills
- Photos and witness names
Photo credits: St. George Ferry Terminal by Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized; South Avenue from the Staten Island Expressway by Tdorante10, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.