Personal Injury Attorney in Manhattan
If you were hurt in Manhattan, you’re already dealing with medical bills, missed work, and insurance adjusters pushing a quick settlement. Frekhtman & Associates has recovered over $900 million for injury victims, including a $69.25 million verdict and a $30 million malpractice settlement. We handle car accidents, construction, medical malpractice, and wrongful death throughout Manhattan, and prepare every case for trial. No fee unless we win.Â
If you were hurt in a collision on the FDR Drive, a construction fall in Midtown, or a pedestrian knockdown at a Manhattan crosswalk, you are already dealing with something no one prepares you for. The injury is immediate. So is the pressure: medical bills, missed paychecks, and insurance adjusters who begin building a case against you from day one. The decisions you make in these first days will shape everything that follows.
At Frekhtman & Associates, our Manhattan personal injury attorneys, led by Arkady Frekhtman, help injury victims establish negligence, identify every liable party, and recover the full damages they are entitled to. We handle car accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases throughout New York, and prepare every case for trial.
- $900M+ recovered for injured clients across documented cases
- 25+ years representing New York injury victims
- $69.25M largest single recovery in a motor vehicle accident case
- 300+ five-star Google reviews from real clients
- Fluent in English and Russian
- 9.9 Avvo rating and National Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Featured in the NY Post, Daily Mail, and CBS New York
New York law gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. But waiting costs you evidence, witness memory, and negotiating power. Our New York City personal injury lawyer takes over from your first call, preserving evidence, dealing with insurance companies, and building your case for maximum compensation.
No upfront cost. No fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Proven Results in NYC Personal Injury Cases
At Frekhtman & Associates, our personal injury attorneys handle complex injury cases across New York, building the evidence needed to pursue full compensation.
Below are verdicts and settlements we have secured for injured clients.
*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. These results represent our commitment to maximizing compensation for our clients. While we cannot promise specific outcomes, we fight for every dollar you deserve.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle In Manhattan
Our Manhattan personal injury attorneys handle every type of accident case. If you were hurt because someone else was careless, our team investigates, identifies who’s responsible, and goes after maximum compensation.
Car Accidents
Manhattan drivers cause crashes by speeding, texting, running red lights, and driving drunk. New York’s no-fault insurance covers initial medical bills, but when injuries are serious, such as broken bones, permanent limitations, scarring, victims can sue for full compensation, including pain and suffering. Insurance companies push early settlements before injury victims know how bad their injuries are. Our experienced car accident lawyers prove fault and fight for every dollar they’re owed.
Premises Liability
Property owners in Manhattan have a legal duty to keep their buildings safe. When a wet lobby floor, a broken staircase, or a structural failure causes a slip and fall or other injury, the property owner is legally responsible. Landlords routinely deny knowing about the problem or claim the condition appeared without warning. Our team builds premises liability claims through building violation records, maintenance logs, and inspection histories that show exactly what the owner knew and when.
Truck Accidents
Delivery trucks and 18-wheelers cause accidents in Manhattan’s narrow streets with tight turns and blind spots. Liability in truck accident claims extends to trucking companies, maintenance contractors, and cargo loaders. Our team investigates federal safety violations and driver logs to identify every responsible party. Trucking companies bring experienced defense lawyers, and our team is prepared to meet that challenge at every stage of litigation.
Pedestrian Accidents
Drivers fail to yield at crosswalks and don’t check before turning. When they hit pedestrians, they’re liable for broken bones, head trauma, and internal injuries. Victims can pursue pedestrian accident claims even when insurance companies try to assign blame to the pedestrian. Our attorneys use traffic cameras and witnesses to prove driver fault.
Bicycle Accidents
Drivers open car doors into bike lanes without checking, cut cyclists off with unsafe lane changes, and force them into road hazards. New York law gives cyclists the same rights as other road users, and drivers who violate those rights are liable for the injuries they cause. Insurance companies routinely treat cyclists as partly at fault even when the driver was entirely responsible. Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers document driver negligence through traffic camera footage, witness accounts, and physical evidence from the scene.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists in Manhattan face a specific danger: drivers who don’t check mirrors before changing lanes, or who fail to see a rider in their blind spot, are responsible for many of the most serious motorcycle injuries in the city. Insurance companies treat riders as inherently reckless even when the car driver was entirely at fault. Our team challenges that assumption in Manhattan motorcycle accident claims through crash reconstruction analysis, traffic camera footage, and vehicle records.
Bus Accidents
Bus accidents in Manhattan involve MTA city buses, private carriers, charter buses, and tour vehicles, each with different liability rules. When an MTA bus causes an injury, an urgent deadline applies that most passengers don’t expect: victims have only 90 days to file a notice of claim with the NYC Comptroller’s Office, and missing it permanently closes the case. Our Manhattan bus accident attorneys handle accident claims involving all bus operators, including the notice filings, government procedures, and strict deadlines that city transit cases require.
Construction Accidents
Construction workers injured on Manhattan job sites have legal protections that go beyond workers’ compensation. Under New York Labor Law 240 and 241, known as the Scaffold Law, property owners and general contractors are strictly liable for falls and falling object injuries, meaning they are responsible regardless of any fault attributed to the worker. Our attorneys build construction accident claims on these protections, pursuing compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and long-term disability.
Medical Malpractice
Most patients who experience medical malpractice don’t recognize it immediately. A misdiagnosis, a surgical error, or a medication mistake at a Manhattan hospital, specialist’s office, or outpatient clinic may not reveal its full impact until weeks or months later. Proving that a doctor or hospital deviated from accepted standards of care requires medical experts who can establish exactly where the treatment fell short. Our attorneys handle medical malpractice claims with specialists who review records, identify deviations from standard care, and provide the expert testimony these cases require.
Catastrophic Injuries
Some injuries go beyond recovery. A traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, severe burns, or amputation means permanent disability, decades of specialized care, and a future that looks entirely different from before the accident. Insurance companies move quickly to settle these cases before the true lifetime cost is established. Our attorneys approach catastrophic injury cases with life care planners, medical economists, and vocational experts who calculate lifetime costs, not just immediate ones.
Wrongful Death
No legal outcome reverses the loss of someone you love. But when negligence causes a death, surviving family members face real financial consequences on top of grief: lost income, funeral costs, and the absence of a provider or caregiver. New York law gives families two years from the date of death to pursue a wrongful death claim. Our attorneys handle the entire legal process, including insurance negotiations and court procedures, so families can focus on each other rather than on deadlines.
Serious Injuries in Manhattan Personal Injury Cases
Life-altering injuries require extensive medical care, cause permanent disability, and destroy your ability to work. These cases regularly result in multi-million dollar settlements, and our personal injury team pursues every dollar your injuries and long-term losses warrant.
Concussions, skull fractures, cognitive impairment, and memory loss prevent victims from working. Manhattan TBI cases come from pedestrian accidents, construction falls, and subway incidents. Moderate to severe brain injuries generate significant settlements due to lifetime medical costs and lost earning capacity.
Partial or complete paralysis requires wheelchairs, home modifications, and 24/7 care. Spinal cord cases generate Manhattan’s highest verdicts because of lifetime medical costs and total loss of income.
Amputations
Loss of limbs from construction accidents, subway incidents, and crush injuries requires prosthetics, rehabilitation, and vocational retraining. Manhattan construction cases benefit from Scaffold Law strict liability protections.
Thermal, chemical, and electrical burns require skin grafts and reconstructive surgery. Permanent scarring significantly impacts damage.
Internal Organ Damage
Punctured lungs, ruptured spleens, liver damage, and kidney failure require emergency surgery and long-term monitoring.
Complex Fractures
Broken bones requiring surgical hardware and multiple surgeries cause permanent mobility limitations. Hip, pelvis, and femur fractures in elderly victims result in higher settlements.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Severe whiplash, torn ligaments, knee injuries, and herniated discs requiring surgery cause permanent pain and disability that affects work and daily life.
Psychological Trauma
PTSD, anxiety, and depression following traumatic accidents are compensable under New York law.
Common Causes of Manhattan Accident Injuries
Manhattan’s density and infrastructure create accident risks unlike anywhere else in New York. Each cause links directly to legal responsibility and negligence standards.
- Traffic Congestion and Aggressive Driving: Gridlock on Broadway, Canal Street, and the FDR Drive causes rear-end collisions and unsafe lane changes. Drivers who speed, tailgate, follow too closely, or run red lights are liable for resulting crashes.
- Distracted Driving: Phone use, GPS navigation, and eating behind the wheel cause frequent accidents in stop-and-go Manhattan traffic. New York law prohibits handheld device use while driving; violations establish negligence and driver fault.
- Construction Sites: Active construction sites create hazards from falling debris, sidewalk scaffolding, and blocked walkways. New York Labor Law 240 and 241 impose strict liability on property owners and contractors for construction-related injuries.
- Sidewalk Defects and Building Maintenance: Cracked pavement, uneven surfaces, ice, elevator malfunctions, broken stairs, and ceiling collapses result from deferred maintenance. Property owners and landlords are responsible for unsafe conditions that cause injuries.
- Crowded Pedestrian Areas: Times Square, Herald Square, and Midtown intersections have heavy foot traffic. Drivers who fail to yield at crosswalks or turn without checking for pedestrians violate right-of-way laws and are liable for injuries.
- Delivery Vehicle Traffic: Amazon, FedEx, and UPS trucks operating under tight deadlines cause frequent accidents in narrow Manhattan streets. Commercial vehicle employers are liable for driver negligence under vicarious liability rules.
- Public Transit Accidents: MTA bus crashes, subway accidents, and platform falls result from negligent operation and maintenance failures. Train accident claims against the city require a 90-day notice of claim filed with the NYC Comptroller’s Office.
- Medical Errors: Surgical mistakes, misdiagnosis, and medication errors at Manhattan hospitals constitute malpractice when providers deviate from accepted medical standards.
How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Case in Manhattan, NY?
A personal injury case exists when someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct causes you physical or emotional harm, and that harm results in real losses – medical bills, lost income, or lasting disability. To bring a successful claim in New York, four legal elements must all be present.
1. Duty of Care
The other party had a legal responsibility to act safely. Drivers must follow traffic laws, property owners must keep their buildings safe, and doctors must follow proper medical procedures.
2. Breach of Duty
They ignored that responsibility. A driver ran a red light on the FDR Drive or was texting. A Midtown property owner failed to fix broken stairs. A surgeon made an avoidable mistake. An MTA bus driver caused a collision through careless operation.
3. Causation
What they did directly caused your harm. The red light violation caused the crash that broke your bones. The broken stairs caused the fall that hurt your back. The surgical mistake caused permanent damage. The bus driver’s carelessness caused whiplash and internal injuries.
4. Damages
Actual harm occurred with real costs: medical bills, lost wages, ongoing pain, or permanent disability.
If all four elements are present, you likely have a viable personal injury claim. New York gives you three years to file, but claims against the city or the MTA require a notice of claim within 90 days. Minor injuries that resolve without medical treatment rarely support strong cases. Serious injuries with lasting effects and documented financial losses do.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Injury Claim?
In Manhattan personal injury cases, multiple parties are often responsible for what happened to you. Identifying every liable party matters; it directly affects how much compensation you can recover and from which sources.
- Negligent Drivers: Drivers who cause Manhattan accidents through speeding, texting, and running red lights. Vehicle owners who lend cars to unfit drivers are also liable.
- Employers: Companies are responsible for employee actions on the job. This includes delivery drivers in Midtown, trucking companies, rideshare employers, and businesses whose workers cause accidents while working.
- Property Owners and Managers: Manhattan landlords, building owners, and property managers are liable for unsafe conditions, broken stairs, poor security, cracked sidewalks, elevator failures, and ceiling collapses.
- Contractors and Developers: General contractors, subcontractors, and developers are fully responsible under New York Labor Law 240 and 241 for Manhattan construction injuries. They’re liable for falls, falling objects, and scaffolding failures regardless of fault.
- Product Manufacturers: Companies that make or sell dangerous products are liable for injuries. This includes defective car parts, unsafe medical devices, and faulty construction equipment.
- Hospitals and Medical Providers: Manhattan hospitals, and NewYork-Presbyterian are liable for surgical mistakes, misdiagnosis, medication errors, and birth injuries when doctors fail to follow proper procedures.
- Government Entities: New York City and the MTA are liable for accidents involving public roads, Manhattan parks, municipal buildings, buses, and subways. Claims against the city require a 90-day notice filed with the NYC Comptroller’s Office.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Manhattan Personal Injury Case?
In a personal injury case, you may be entitled to seek three categories of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive (rare cases). The total value depends on the severity of your injuries, medical costs, lost income, and how the injuries affect your daily life.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover every dollar you’ve lost and will lose:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Additional Costs: Transportation to Manhattan medical appointments, home modifications, and property damage
Our lawyers work with medical economists and vocational experts to calculate your full past and future losses, then demand complete payment.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for harm that can’t be measured in dollars:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life and reduced independence
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of companionship in fatal cases
New York no-fault insurance does not cover pain and suffering. You can only recover non-economic damages if your injuries meet the serious injury threshold under §5102(d).
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages punish extreme wrongdoing, not compensate you. They’re only available in rare cases like drunk driving, intentional assault, nursing home abuse, or knowingly dangerous products. New York doesn’t allow punitive damages in medical malpractice or wrongful death cases. We pursue them whenever the law allows.
Do I Still Recover Compensation If I'm Partly at Fault?
Yes. New York uses pure comparative fault. You can still recover compensation even if you’re partly to blame, but your payout is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re 30% at fault, you recover 70% of the total damages.
For example, $100,000 award × 30% fault = $70,000 recovery. Some states don’t let you recover if you’re 50% or more at fault. New York lets you recover as long as you’re not 100% at fault.
Insurance adjusters aggressively blame victims to reduce payouts. They’ll claim you were texting or acting carelessly even when the other party was primarily at fault. Our lawyers fight back against unfair insurance tactics and prove the other party’s greater fault. Never admit fault at the accident scene or to insurers.
Deadlines for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Manhattan, NYC
New York imposes strict deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. Missing these deadlines means losing your right to compensation forever; no exceptions.
Standard Deadlines:
- Personal Injury: 3 years from the date of the accident
- Wrongful Death: 2 years from the date of death
- Medical Malpractice: 2.5 years from the date of malpractice or the end of continuous treatment
Claims Against NYC (Critical for Manhattan):
Cases involving the MTA, subway, city buses, sidewalk defects, or other city-owned property have much shorter deadlines. You must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days with the NYC Comptroller’s Office. If you miss this step, you may lose your right to sue entirely. After filing notice, you have 1 year and 90 days to file a lawsuit, much shorter than the standard 3-year period.
For example, if you trip on a broken city sidewalk in Manhattan, you generally have only 90 days to notify the city, not 3 years.
Exceptions (Rare):
- Minors: The deadline may be paused until the child turns 18
- Mental Incapacity: The deadline may be paused during the period of incapacity
- Discovery Rule: In some medical malpractice cases, the clock starts when the injury is discovered, not when it occurred
Note: Don’t wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and deadlines approach quickly. Our lawyers handle all filing requirements and never miss deadlines.
What Does a Manhattan Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
A personal injury lawyer takes over every aspect of your case from the moment you make contact. For most injured clients, that means three immediate priorities: preserving evidence, handling all insurance communications, and documenting injuries before the full extent is known.
- Preserve evidence: Secure surveillance footage, traffic camera recordings, MV-104 accident reports, and witness accounts before they disappear or are overwritten.
- Handle all insurance contacts: Take over communications with adjusters so nothing is said that can be used to reduce your claim.
- Identify every liable party: Determine whether responsibility extends beyond the primary at-fault driver to employers, property owners, contractors, or government entities.
- Document your injuries: Work with medical experts to establish causation and prove New York’s serious injury threshold for no-fault cases.
- Calculate complete damages: Partner with life care planners, vocational experts, and economists to quantify current and future losses, not just immediate medical bills.
- Prepare the case for trial: Build every case as if it will go before a jury, which directly affects what insurance companies are willing to offer in settlement.
What to Do Immediately After an Injury Accident in Manhattan
The steps you take immediately after an accident affect your health, safety, and legal claim. Here’s what to do:
Why Choose Frekhtman & Associates for Your Manhattan Personal Injury Case?
Choosing the right attorney determines how much compensation you actually recover. Insurance companies track which firms are prepared to take cases to trial and which ones settle quickly at any price. Our lead attorney, Arkady Frekhtman, built this firm on the principle that every case gets prepared for a jury and insurers know it.
- Proven Results: Since 2000, our attorneys have recovered more than $900 million for injured clients across New York. Our results include a $69.25 million motor vehicle verdict, a $4 million construction accident settlement, and a $3 million construction site injury settlement. These outcomes reflect a commitment to building complete cases rather than accepting early, inadequate offers.
- Multi-Expert Trial Team: We work with medical specialists, life care planners, vocational experts, accident reconstructionists, and economists who calculate the full impact of your injuries and support your claim in court.
- Manhattan Court Experience: Our attorneys have extensive experience in the New York County Supreme Court. We understand local procedures, know how defense firms operate, and have successfully handled cases against some of the toughest opponents in the city.
- No Upfront Costs: You pay nothing unless we win your case. We cover all litigation expenses upfront, so you can focus on recovery without financial stress.
- We Come to You: We maintain six offices across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. If your injuries prevent travel, our attorneys will meet you at home or in the hospital.
- Multilingual Support: Our team serves clients in both English and Russian, making communication clear and accessible.
Serving Manhattan and All New York City Boroughs
Frekhtman & Associates handles personal injury cases throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and the greater metropolitan area, including Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.
Manhattan Neighborhoods We Serve:
Chelsea, Chinatown, East Harlem, Financial District, Greenwich Village, Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen, Hudson Yards, Inwood, Lower East Side, Midtown East, Midtown West, SoHo, Tribeca, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Washington Heights, West Village
If your injuries make travel difficult, we will meet you at your home or hospital. Call (212) 222-1111 for a free consultation.
Common Questions About Manhattan Personal Injury Claims
What Are The Most Common Mistakes People Make After a Personal Injury Accident?
Common mistakes include not seeking immediate medical attention. Gaps in treatment let insurers claim your injuries aren’t serious. Admitting fault at the scene, even saying “I’m sorry,” gives insurers ammunition. Posting on social media lets insurance companies monitor Facebook and Instagram to undermine your claim. Giving recorded statements to adjusters without an attorney means they twist your words against you. Waiting too long to hire a lawyer means evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and filing deadlines approach.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in Manhattan?
Nothing upfront. Personal injury lawyers in Manhattan, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. The standard contingency fee in New York personal injury cases is one-third (33.33%) of what we recover for you. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. We advance all case costs, including expert fees, court filing fees, and investigation expenses. If we don’t recover, you owe us nothing.
How Long Does It Take To Settle A Personal Injury Case In Manhattan?
Every case is different. Simple cases with clear liability can settle within months. Complex cases involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or multiple defendants take longer. Trials in the New York County Supreme Court can take 2 to 3 years or more. We fight for full compensation, not fast settlements.
What If The Other Party Doesn't Have Insurance in Manhattan?
You can recover through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage if you purchased it. If the at-fault driver has some insurance but not enough to cover your damages, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage fills the gap. If you have no UM/UIM coverage and the defendant has no assets, recovery becomes difficult. We explore all options, including identifying other liable parties.
Can I Sue If My Accident Happened on City Property in Manhattan?
Yes, but you must file a notice of claim with the NYC Comptroller’s Office within 90 days of the accident. This applies to accidents on city sidewalks, in parks, on MTA buses and subways, and in city buildings. After filing the notice, you have 1 year and 90 days to file a lawsuit. Missing the 90-day notice deadline means losing your right to sue the city forever.
How Does New York's Comparative Negligence Rule Work?
New York uses pure comparative negligence. You can recover compensation even if you were partly at fault. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re 30% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you recover $70,000. Unlike some states that bar recovery at 50% fault, New York allows recovery at any fault level below 100%. Insurance companies aggressively blame victims to reduce what they pay.
What If I Had a Pre-Existing Condition Before My Manhattan Accident?
A pre-existing condition does not bar you from recovering compensation in New York. If an accident aggravated or worsened a condition you already had, you are entitled to recover for that aggravation. Insurance companies routinely argue that your injuries predated the accident, and our attorneys counter this with medical testimony that distinguishes the pre-accident baseline from the new harm caused. Being honest with your doctors and attorney about your medical history strengthens your case by preventing the defense from using omissions against you.
Will My Manhattan Personal Injury Case Go to Trial or Settle?
Most personal injury cases settle before trial, often through pre-trial negotiations or mediation. Cases involving disputed liability, serious injuries, or government defendants are more likely to proceed to trial in New York County Supreme Court. At Frekhtman & Associates, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial, which is often what compels insurers to offer settlements that reflect the actual value of your claim. Whether your case settles or goes to a jury, you will not face pressure to accept an offer that does not cover your losses.
Contact Our Manhattan Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Insurance companies investigate your accident immediately. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Witnesses disappear. Adjusters push settlements before you understand what you’re owed. The sooner you contact an attorney, the stronger your case becomes.
If you or a loved one suffered a personal injury in a Manhattan accident, Frekhtman & Associates can step in right away to take over communication with insurance adjusters, secure critical evidence, and coordinate with medical experts to support your case.
We are available 24/7, serve clients in English and Russian, and work on a contingency fee basis with $0 upfront costs and free case reviews.
Contact For A Free Case Review
While it’s possible to handle a personal injury case on your own, having an experienced attorney by your side significantly increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome. According to studies, victims represented by a personal injury lawyer receive higher settlement amounts compared to those who handle their cases independently. For a free case evaluation: