New York Municipal Liability Attorney
The New York municipal liability lawyers of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris & Falick has been representing injured individuals and their families for over 40 years. Our NY City injury attorneys have a comprehensive understanding of New York laws and know how to successfully obtain rightful compensation for clients involved in serious accidents.
We represent clients in any of the five boroughs of New York City, including Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. We also practice in the courts in Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
NY City Accident Lawsuit Lawyer
Our New York municipal liability lawyers guide clients through the complexities of municipal liability claims. We handle an array of municipal accidents, such as:
- Public swimming pool accident
- Subway or Bus Accident
- Motor vehicle accident involving a city-owned vehicle
- School injury accident
- Medical malpractice occurring in a government-owned hospital
- Sidewalk slip and fall accident
- Government premises accident
- Other injury claims against a municipal or government entity
Guiding You Through the Process to Obtaining Compensation
When attempting to sue a Municipality or Government Agency, one must be aware of the concept of sovereign immunity. A city, county, the State of New York or other agency of government cannot be sued unless they consent to the suit being instituted. The requirement in New York is the filing of a Notice of Claim.
A Notice of Claim must be filed within a specific period of time or a lawsuit cannot be filed. Customarily that time period is 90 days. See the chart below for the exact timing.
A Notice of Claim must at a minimum contain the following:
- name and address of the party filing the claim and of the attorney representing the party filing the claim;
- the nature of the claim (what happened) including the precise time, place, and location of the accident;
- the nature of the injuries;
- the damages sought;
- the document must be verified, that is, sworn to.
A document of this significance should in the first instance be drafted by an experienced attorney. The Notice of Claim serves as the first notice that the Municipality has of the accident and it is designed to give them a heads up on which department or agency is involved and some information about the accident. Too little information may serve to void the document, too much could work to the claimant's detriment at a later stage of the proceeding.
Additionally you must file the Notice of Claim with the right municipality or agency. Filing in the wrong place will make the Notice of Claim void and you would not know until after the 90 day period had run its course. On some rare occasions a Court may permit the filing of a late Notice of Claim, but it is best to comply with the appropriate deadlines immediately after the accident.
Once a Notice of Claim has been filed, the governmental entity will acknowledge the claim and has the right to request a statutory hearing which requires the injured claimant to answer questions under oath at an oral deposition. Additionally, the injured claimant may be required to submit to a physical examination by the entity's physician. This is all BEFORE the commencement of a lawsuit.
Do not confuse the filing of a Notice of Claim with the Statute of Limitations. The Statute of Limitations is the time frame in which a lawsuit must be filed after you meet the minimum requirements of filing the Notice of Claim. Our experienced New York municipal liability lawyers can guide you through this complex and confusing process. Call us toll free at 877.298.3201.
TABLE OF DEADLINES FOR NOTICE OF CLAIM and STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
|
AGENCY |
FILING OF NOTICES OF CLAIM |
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS TO START A LAWSUIT |
|
City of New York |
90 days |
1 year and 90 days from accident |
|
NYC Transit Authority |
90 days |
1 year and 90 days from accident |
|
Counties outside of NYC |
90 days |
1 year and 90 days from accident |
|
MTA |
90 days |
1 year and 90 days from accident |
|
NYC Health and Hospitals |
90 days |
1 year and 120 days from accident |
|
NYC Housing Authority |
90 days |
1 year and 120 days from accident |
|
NYC School Construction Authority |
90 days |
1 year and 30 days from accident |
|
Port Authority of NY and NJ |
At least 60 days before action is commenced |
1 year from accident |
|
TBTA (Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority) |
90 days |
1 year and 30 days from accident |
There are dozens of other Agencies, Authorities, Municipalities Commissions, and Boards which have different requirements. The above limitations apply only to tort cases. Cases involving wrongful death may have other requirements. The above list is meant only as a guide and may change from time to time.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a municipal accident, it is critical that the initial stages of the lawsuit are commenced appropriately and efficiently. Our New York City municipal liability lawyers manage all aspects of your lawsuit and ensure all deadlines are met. Call us toll free at 877.298.3201 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable New York municipal liability lawsuit attorney.
Read our premises liabliity articles below:
Fatal Day Care Accident Leads To Multiple Lawsuits
Inadequate Security In NYC Buildings Is A Big Problem In Summer
If A Golfer Fails To Yell 'Fore,' Does An Injured Person Have A Claim?
The NYC municipal liability law firm of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris & Falick represents clients in all five boroughs of New York: Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, as well as Suffolk County, Nassau County, Westchester County, Rockland County, and the remainder of the State of New York.
The discussion on this page is generic and not specific to NY law and, in fact NY law may be materially different.
