Personal Injury

Personal Injury Lawyers Serving New York & New Jersey

If you’ve been hurt in an accident in New York or New Jersey, you are likely dealing with medical bills that keep arriving, wages you are not earning, and an insurance adjuster who wants to settle for as little as possible. The combination of physical pain and financial pressure makes it difficult to think clearly about your legal options, and that is exactly what the insurance company is counting on.

At Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C., our New York and New Jersey personal injury lawyer has represented injured individuals and families since 1975. We offer free consultations and handle cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Trusted personal injury lawyers with over 51 years of experience.

What does it actually mean to have a personal injury case?

A personal injury claim arises when someone suffers harm because of another person’s or company’s negligence, which in legal terms means a failure to act with reasonable care. A driver who runs a red light and hits your car, a property owner who ignores a broken staircase for months, a surgeon who operates on the wrong site are all situations where negligence may form the basis of a legal claim. The injured person can seek compensation from the responsible party for medical treatment, lost income, and the physical and emotional toll of the injury. Personal injury law in New York and New Jersey is governed by state-specific statutes that affect filing deadlines, how fault is determined, and what types of damages are available.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in New York and New Jersey

Our firm handles a wide range of injury claims across both states, and every case is different in terms of how the injury occurred, how severe it is, and which parties bear responsibility. Below is an overview of the practice areas we serve.

• Car accidents. Collisions on highways and local roads cause thousands of injuries across NY and NJ every year. According to NHTSA crash data, approximately 39,345 people died in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024.
• Truck accidents. Commercial vehicle crashes often produce catastrophic injuries, and our attorneys hold carriers accountable for violations tracked by the FMCSA.
• Construction accidents. Falls from scaffolding, equipment failures, and electrocutions remain common on job sites. OSHA safety standards require employers to maintain safe conditions.
• Slip and fall accidents. Property owners in both states have a legal obligation to maintain safe premises, and failure to address known hazards can create liability.
• Medical malpractice. Surgical errors, delayed diagnoses, and medication mistakes caused by substandard care fall under malpractice law.
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders face heightened risk because motorcycles offer far less protection than enclosed vehicles.
• Pedestrian accidents. Being struck by a vehicle while crossing the street or walking on a sidewalk can produce life-altering injuries.
• Birth injuries. When medical professionals fail to monitor fetal distress or perform a necessary cesarean section in time, the consequences can last a lifetime.
• Dog bites. New York and New Jersey each have specific laws governing animal owner liability.
• Rideshare accidents. Uber and Lyft accidents raise unique insurance questions because multiple policies may apply.
• Wrongful death. When negligence results in a fatality, surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim.

Why Choose Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. for Personal Injury in New York and New Jersey?

A Record of Results for Injured Clients

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients across New York, NY and New Jersey, NJ in cases ranging from construction site fatalities to medical malpractice to motor vehicle collisions. A $9.2 million jury verdict in a Rockland County construction accident case remains one of the largest of its kind in the region. We have also obtained a $1.1 million medical malpractice recovery, a $1 million structured settlement for a pedestrian struck by a delivery van, and numerous six- and seven-figure verdicts in premises liability matters. These outcomes required thorough preparation, aggressive advocacy, and a refusal to accept lowball offers from insurance carriers.

Attorneys Who Know These Courts

Barry S. Kantrowitz has been practicing law for more than 40 years and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-review rating for legal ability and ethics. He is a member of The National Trial Lawyers and has been recognized repeatedly as a Super Lawyer in New York. Barry is licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, and he earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1985.

Kate Carballo focuses on personal injury and medical malpractice litigation in New Jersey and New York and has been practicing for over 14 years. Kate was one of the youngest attorneys in New Jersey to earn the Certified Civil Trial Attorney designation from the New Jersey Supreme Court. She has been selected to the Super Lawyers list for New Jersey from 2024 through 2026 and is a member of the American Association for Justice.

Our personal injury lawyer in New York and New Jersey benefits from the combined trial experience of attorneys who have handled injury matters across both jurisdictions.

“KGG Law is a phenomenal law firm. Barry and Kate handled my case with tenacity, expertise and professionalism. They are very responsive and hard working. They achieved a great result for me and I’m very grateful. Their office is lovely and their support team is top notch (shout out to Gladys). All around, a fantastic group- highly recommend!!” — Risa Askenas

Understanding Personal Injury Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Personal Injury Cases

When someone else’s negligence puts you in the hospital, the financial fallout starts immediately and does not stop when you leave. There are the bills you can count: the ambulance ride, the ER visit, the MRI, the follow-up appointments, the physical therapy sessions twice a week for months. Then there is the income you are not earning while you recover. If your injuries prevent you from going back to the same job you had before, the lost earning capacity over your remaining working years can dwarf the medical bills.

But the law also recognizes that an injury costs you things that do not show up on a statement. The pain you live with daily, the anxiety that follows you into the car every time you drive through the intersection where it happened, the activities you used to enjoy but physically cannot do anymore. These are real losses, and New York and New Jersey courts allow juries to assign a dollar value to them.

How fault is allocated between the parties matters in both states. New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so even if you were 30% at fault, you can still recover 70% of your damages. New Jersey uses a modified standard that cuts off recovery if your share of fault exceeds 50%. Both states allow recovery for pain and suffering in qualifying cases.

Important Aspects in Your Personal Injury Case

The single biggest mistake we see clients make before they come to us is giving a recorded statement to the other side’s insurance company. The adjuster sounds friendly. They say they just want to understand what happened. But every question is designed to get you to say something that undermines your claim, whether it is minimizing your pain, admitting you were not paying attention, or agreeing that you feel “fine” when you actually have not been to a specialist yet.

Medical documentation matters more than almost anything else in a personal injury case. If you were hurt on a Tuesday and did not see a doctor until the following Monday, the defense will point to that five-day gap and argue that your injuries could not have been that serious. Insurance companies use gaps in treatment the same way. If you attend physical therapy for six weeks, skip three weeks because you are busy, and then go back, the adjuster will argue that you must have recovered during those three weeks and that the later treatment was unnecessary.

Evidence from the scene also has a shelf life that most people do not realize. Surveillance cameras at stores and intersections typically record on loops that overwrite within 48 to 72 hours. Witnesses who saw what happened remember details vividly for the first few days and then start forgetting. The sooner your attorney sends preservation letters and conducts interviews, the stronger your case will be when it comes time to negotiate or go to trial.

Personal Injury Case Timeline

Every case moves at a different pace, but most personal injury claims in New York, NY and New Jersey, NJ follow a general sequence.

• An initial consultation and case evaluation, during which an attorney reviews the facts of your accident and advises you on your legal options.
• Investigation and evidence gathering, including medical records, police reports, witness statements, and any available video evidence.
• Filing the claim or lawsuit within the statute of limitations, which is three years in New York and two years in New Jersey.
• Discovery, where both sides exchange information and take depositions.
• Settlement negotiations, which often intensify after discovery.
• Trial, if the parties cannot reach a fair agreement.

What to Bring to Your Personal Injury Consultation

Coming prepared to your first meeting with an attorney makes the process more efficient and helps us evaluate your case accurately.

• Any police reports or incident reports related to your accident
• Medical records and bills from all treatment providers you have seen since the injury
• Photos of the accident scene, your injuries, or property damage
• Insurance correspondence, including any written offers or denial letters
• A summary of how the injury has affected your daily life and ability to work

We will review everything and give you a straightforward assessment, and there is no obligation to proceed.

New York and New Jersey Legal Resources for Personal Injury

New York

The following resources can help you research New York personal injury laws, court procedures, and filing requirements:

• New York State Unified Court System provides information on statutes of limitations, filing deadlines, and court procedures for civil cases across the state
• New York State Legislature allows you to search and read the full text of the Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) and other New York statutes that govern personal injury claims
• New York State Department of Financial Services publishes information on auto insurance requirements, no-fault coverage, and insurance regulations that apply to motor vehicle accident claims

New Jersey

These resources cover New Jersey personal injury law, court rules, and insurance requirements:

• New Jersey Courts provides guidance on statutes of limitations and civil court filing procedures across the state
• New Jersey Legislature maintains searchable access to New Jersey statutes including Title 2A, which governs civil actions and personal injury claims
• New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance provides information on Personal Injury Protection coverage, no-fault insurance requirements, and automobile insurance regulations

Reach Out to Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation

If you or someone in your family has been injured in an accident in New York or New Jersey, Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. is ready to help. Contact us for a free consultation.