A serious injury changes everything. Dealing with New York's legal system while you're recovering from one is more than most people can manage alone. Our Bronx personal injury attorneys have helped injured residents throughout Fordham, Mott Haven, Tremont, Soundview, and every corner of the borough recover compensation since 1982. Our office at 903 Sheridan Avenue is in the Bronx, for you, where you are.
Call (646) 647-3398 for a free consultation | Se Habla Español
What's in this video?
Brian and Adam Orlow explain what sets The Orlow Firm apart, including the firm's history, attorney credentials, and commitment to treating every client like family.
The Bronx sees thousands of serious accidents every year. According to NYC DOT data, the borough recorded 54 traffic fatalities in 2024 alone. Those numbers don't capture the far greater number of people left with broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and lasting pain from crashes on the Cross Bronx Expressway, the Major Deegan, and the Bronx River Parkway.
Traffic accidents are only part of the picture. Bronx residents are also injured every day in NYCHA buildings with broken elevators and unsafe conditions, on construction sites governed by New York's strict Labor Laws, on icy or crumbling sidewalks that property owners failed to maintain, and in incidents involving negligent security. The Bronx has one of the highest concentrations of pre-1978 housing stock in the city, making lead paint poisoning an ongoing harm for children and families.
When someone's negligence causes a serious injury, New York law gives you the right to seek compensation. But those rights come with deadlines, procedural requirements, and legal nuances that insurance companies understand far better than most injured people do. We work to level that gap.
Bronx Accident Data: Why These Cases Are Complex
Knowing the local accident picture matters for anyone bringing a personal injury claim in the Bronx.
According to NYC DOT Vision Zero data, the Bronx recorded 54 traffic fatalities in 2024. The borough's serious injury rate per capita consistently runs higher than the citywide average. The borough's injury burden clusters along its most congested corridors. The Major Deegan Expressway and West Fordham Road corridor ranks among the highest-crash stretches in the borough. Other high-injury locations include the Cross Bronx Expressway near Jerome Avenue, the Grand Concourse at 183rd Street, East 170th Street at the Grand Concourse, and White Plains Road near East Gun Hill Road.
The top contributing factors are consistent year after year: distracted driving ranks first, speeding second, and failure to yield third. Many of these incidents happen in neighborhoods where pedestrian volumes are high and crossings are long. The Grand Concourse corridor, for example, poses real risk at multiple signalized intersections.
Beyond motor vehicle accidents, the Bronx has specific injury risks tied to its housing stock and built environment. NYCHA developments across the borough have been the subject of repeated litigation over elevator failures, poor lighting, and inadequate maintenance. Older buildings throughout Mott Haven, Tremont, and Highbridge carry lead paint liability. The Bronx's active construction market means Labor Law claims for scaffold falls, falling objects, and electrocutions arise regularly.
Our Bronx office team knows how these cases develop locally, which city agencies are typically involved, what the Bronx Supreme Court at 851 Grand Concourse expects from litigants, and how to handle the specific procedural requirements that come up when the city itself is a defendant.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in the Bronx
Our attorneys represent injured Bronx residents across the full range of personal injury matters:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents, truck collisions, bus crashes, rideshare incidents, taxi accidents, and pedestrian knockdowns all fall within our practice. The Bronx's highway grid and dense surface streets create conditions for serious multi-party accidents. We handle the investigation, insurance negotiations, and litigation so you can focus on recovery.
Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents
Property owners, including landlords, commercial businesses, municipalities, and the city itself, have legal obligations to maintain safe conditions. When a broken sidewalk, wet floor, poor lighting, or unmarked hazard causes a fall, you may have a valid premises liability claim. Proving negligence in a slip and fall case requires showing the owner knew or should have known about the condition. We know how to gather and preserve that evidence.
Construction Accidents
New York Labor Law §§ 240 and 241 impose strong protections on construction workers injured in height-related falls and certain other site hazards. These laws place absolute liability on owners and general contractors in many circumstances, regardless of whether the worker was partially at fault. Our attorneys have represented construction workers injured throughout New York City, and we understand how these statutes work in practice.
Workplace Injuries and Third-Party Claims
Workers' compensation covers injuries on the job, but it is not the only avenue for recovery. If a third party, such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or building owner, contributed to your workplace injury, you may be able to pursue a separate personal injury claim in addition to workers' comp. Many injured workers don't know this option exists. We can evaluate whether a third-party claim applies to your situation.
Negligent Security
When assault, robbery, or sexual violence occurs on a property because the owner failed to provide adequate security, victims have legal recourse. Broken locks, poor lighting, and a lack of security personnel in areas where danger was foreseeable can all support a claim. We have handled negligent security cases from NYCHA buildings, hotels, commercial properties, and correctional facilities.
Lead Paint Poisoning
Children in the Bronx continue to be exposed to lead paint in older rental housing. Landlords are required by law to disclose and address lead paint hazards. Failure to do so can give rise to a civil claim for neurological damage, developmental delays, and other injuries caused by elevated blood lead levels. Our firm has secured multi-million-dollar recoveries for lead-poisoned children and their families.
Wrongful Death
When a family loses someone to a negligent act, whether a car accident, a workplace injury, or a preventable fall, the surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for lost financial support, funeral expenses, and more. We handle wrongful death claims with the care these cases require.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
New York law allows recovery for injuries caused by dog attacks when the owner knew or should have known of the animal's dangerous tendencies. We handle these claims and work to recover compensation for medical treatment, scarring, and psychological harm.
We focus on the personal injury cases described above. We do not handle medical malpractice or product liability matters.
What's in this video?
The attorneys at The Orlow Firm discuss the wide range of personal injury cases they handle, including car accidents, construction injuries, slip and falls, and negligent security.
New York Law: What Bronx Injury Victims Need to Know
Three legal rules shape what you can recover and whether you can recover at all. Knowing them early matters.
The Statute of Limitations: You Have Three Years, Usually
Under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 214, you generally have three years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. That clock starts on the day of the accident, not the day you felt pain or received a diagnosis. Miss it, and courts will almost certainly dismiss your case regardless of how serious your injuries are.
There are important exceptions. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. Medical malpractice claims carry a two-and-a-half-year deadline. And for many Bronx cases, claims against government entities have much shorter requirements.
The 90-Day Notice of Claim Rule
If your injury involved a New York City agency, including the MTA, NYPD, NYCHA, the Department of Education, the Department of Transportation, or any other city body, you must file a Notice of Claim with the NYC Comptroller's office within 90 days of your injury. This comes from New York General Municipal Law § 50-e.
This rule catches many injured Bronx residents off guard. A potholed city street, a broken staircase in a NYCHA building, an MTA bus driver's negligence: all of these involve city defendants, and all require prompt action. Missing the 90-day deadline can permanently end your case. The formal lawsuit can then be filed within one year and 90 days of the incident, after the city has had its opportunity to investigate.
Our firm has handled Notice of Claim cases against NYCHA, the City of New York, the MTA, and other municipal defendants. Steven Orlow, our founder, previously served as Counsel to the County Executive of Queens and as a New York City Council Member-At-Large. That background gives us a practical understanding of how the city responds to these claims and how to build cases that hold city agencies accountable.
Comparative Negligence: You Can Still Recover Even If You Were Partly at Fault
New York follows pure comparative negligence under CPLR § 1411. Even if you were partially responsible for your own injury, you can still recover compensation, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you 25% at fault and your damages are $400,000, you recover $300,000.
Insurance companies know comparative negligence well. Their adjusters often argue that you bear more responsibility than you actually do, aiming to reduce what they pay. An attorney who knows how to counter those arguments protects your recovery.
View text version of this infographic
New York Personal Injury Filing Deadlines for Bronx Cases
Injury Date (Day 0): The clock starts on the date of your injury.
90 Days: Notice of Claim deadline for injuries involving city agencies (NYCHA, MTA, NYPD, DOT). Required under General Municipal Law § 50-e.
2 Years: Deadline for wrongful death claims, measured from the date of death.
3 Years: Standard personal injury deadline under CPLR § 214 — applies to most car accidents, slip and falls, and assault cases.
Deadlines may vary. Contact The Orlow Firm at (646) 647-3398 immediately to protect your rights.
What's in this video?
This video explains how liability is established in New York personal injury cases, including the evidence attorneys use and the role comparative negligence plays in determining your final recovery.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
New York law allows injured people to seek two broad categories of damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses your injury caused:
Medical expenses — emergency room treatment, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, ongoing care, and future medical costs related to the injury
Lost wages — income you were unable to earn while recovering
Reduced earning capacity — if your injury limits your ability to work long-term
Out-of-pocket costs — transportation to appointments, home modifications, medical equipment
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the human impact of the injury:
Pain and suffering — physical pain, both past and ongoing
Emotional distress — anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychological harm
Loss of enjoyment of life — the inability to engage in activities and relationships you valued before the injury
Disfigurement — scarring or permanent physical changes
Wrongful Death Damages
When a family member dies because of someone else's negligence, surviving family members may recover:
Funeral and burial expenses
Lost financial support the deceased would have provided
Loss of parental guidance and services
The deceased's pre-death pain and suffering (as part of a survival claim)
A Note on Motor Vehicle Cases
New York is a no-fault insurance state. For motor vehicle accidents, your own insurance policy's Personal Injury Protection coverage pays the first $50,000 in medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. No-fault does not cover pain and suffering, though. To bring a pain and suffering claim, your injury must meet New York's "serious injury" threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d). Serious injuries include fractures, significant limitation of use of a body part, and permanent consequential limitations. Our attorneys can assess whether your injuries meet this threshold.
View text version of this infographic
Types of Compensation Available in Bronx Personal Injury Cases
Economic Damages (measurable financial losses):
Medical expenses — ER, surgery, rehab, therapy, future care
Lost wages — income lost while recovering from injury
Reduced earning capacity — long-term limits on ability to work
Out-of-pocket costs — transport, home modifications, equipment
Non-Economic Damages (human impact of the injury):
Pain and suffering — physical pain, past and ongoing
Emotional distress — anxiety, depression, PTSD
Loss of enjoyment of life — loss of activities and relationships
Disfigurement — scarring, permanent physical changes
Wrongful Death Damages (for surviving family members):
Funeral and burial expenses
Lost financial support the deceased would have provided
Loss of parental guidance and services for dependents
Pre-death pain and suffering (survival claim on behalf of estate)
Free consultation — (646) 647-3398 — The Orlow Firm — No fee unless we win.
What's in this video?
This video walks through the types of compensation available under New York law after a car accident, including the role of no-fault insurance and what it takes to pursue a pain and suffering claim.
How Insurance Companies Handle Bronx Injury Claims
After an injury in the Bronx, one thing matters to understand early: the insurance company on the other side of your claim is not your ally.
Insurance carriers are businesses. Their goal is to pay as little as possible on every claim. They employ claims adjusters and defense attorneys who work these cases every day. You, dealing with a serious injury for the first time in your life, are at a real disadvantage in that negotiation without experienced representation.
The most common tactics adjusters use against unrepresented claimants:
Recorded statements. Adjusters often call injured people in the days right after an accident and ask for a recorded account of what happened. What sounds like a routine conversation is actually evidence-gathering designed to capture anything that can minimize your claim. You have no obligation to give a recorded statement to the other party's insurer.
Early settlement pressure. Insurers sometimes offer a settlement fast, before your medical treatment is complete and before you know the full extent of your injuries. Accepting that offer typically means signing away your right to pursue further compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be worse than initially apparent.
Fault shifting. Under New York's comparative negligence rules, an insurer can reduce its payout by arguing you were partially responsible. Adjusters look for anything, an unclear intersection, a moment of distraction, a preexisting condition, to shift blame onto you.
Delay. In cases where liability is less clear, insurance companies sometimes use delay as a tactic. Evidence goes stale. Witnesses become harder to locate. Medical records and surveillance footage get lost. A prompt investigation by an attorney helps prevent this.
Our attorneys have been handling New York insurance disputes for over four decades. We know these tactics and how to counter them. When you retain The Orlow Firm, an experienced partner, not a junior associate, is responsible for your case.
What to Do After an Injury in the Bronx
The steps you take in the hours and days after an injury can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation.
Get medical attention immediately. Even if you feel fine at the scene, see a doctor. Adrenaline masks pain, and many serious injuries, including spinal trauma, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries, present delayed symptoms. A gap in medical care early on can be used by insurance companies to argue your injury wasn't serious.
Report the incident. Call 911 for car accidents. Report a fall to the building manager, property owner, or supervisor. Get the incident documented while conditions are still fresh.
Document what you can. Photograph the scene, your injuries, any hazardous conditions (broken pavement, wet floors, defective equipment), and any vehicles involved. Collect names and contact information for witnesses.
Don't give recorded statements. Contact us before speaking with the other party's insurance carrier.
Stay off social media. Even innocuous posts can be taken out of context and used to challenge the severity of your injuries.
Keep all documentation. Preserve medical records, bills, pay stubs showing lost income, and any correspondence with insurance companies.
Contact a Bronx personal injury attorney early. Evidence preservation, witness interviews, and in cases involving the city, the 90-day Notice of Claim deadline all argue for acting quickly. The sooner we are involved, the more we can do to protect your case.
If you cannot come to us, we can come to you. Our attorneys have visited clients in hospitals and at home throughout the Bronx and across New York City.
Call (646) 647-3398 — our consultation is free, and there is no obligation.
View text version of this infographic
7 Steps to Take After a Personal Injury in the Bronx
Get Medical Attention Immediately — Even if you feel fine; adrenaline masks pain.
Report the Incident — Call 911 for accidents; report falls to building management.
Document Everything — Photos of scene, injuries, hazards, and vehicles.
Decline Recorded Statements — Contact us before speaking with the other insurer.
Stay Off Social Media — Posts can be used to challenge your injury claim.
Keep All Documentation — Medical records, bills, pay stubs, and correspondence.
Contact a Bronx Personal Injury Lawyer — Act early; deadlines can end your case.
Free consultation — call (646) 647-3398 — The Orlow Firm — Se Habla Español.
Our Bronx Personal Injury Case Results
$2,875,000 — A legally blind man fell more than 16 feet into an open elevator shaft, suffering serious back and heel injuries. Our attorneys secured this result after establishing the building's failure to properly maintain and safeguard the elevator.
$2,850,000 — A corrections counselor was assaulted by an inmate at a correctional facility, suffering multiple injuries requiring several surgeries. This result reflects our experience with negligent security claims against institutional defendants.
$1,250,000 — A wrongful death case in which a diabetic man in custody died after being denied insulin for 40 hours. Our firm secured compensation from the parties responsible for a preventable death.
$1,200,000 — An 83-year-old pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and suffered multiple fractures. We secured this recovery for the injured client's family, reflecting the serious harm pedestrian accidents cause to vulnerable road users.
$997,997 — A taxi driver was struck head-on by a truck and required back surgery. Our attorneys worked through the multiple insurance issues common in commercial vehicle claims to recover this result.
$750,000 — A passenger in a work vehicle suffered neck and back injuries requiring surgery following a collision. This case shows the recovery available to injured passengers even where employer vehicles are involved.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Why Choose The Orlow Firm for Your Bronx Personal Injury Case
Several hundred personal injury firms serve New York City. Here is what distinguishes ours.
We are actually in the Bronx. Our office at 903 Sheridan Avenue, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10453 is a working office, not a directory listing. When a case requires local knowledge, court appearances at the Bronx Supreme Court, or a visit to a client who cannot travel, we are already here.
Four decades of New York personal injury experience. The Orlow Firm was founded in 1982. Steven S. Orlow, our founder, graduated from Cornell Law School, served as an Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, and spent years as Counsel to the County Executive of Queens County. That background, prosecutorial and government-side, shapes how we build cases. He later served as a New York City Council Member-At-Large representing Queens County, a district of approximately two million people.
Leadership in the legal community. Adam Orlow, Managing Partner, served as President of the Queens County Bar Association from 2022 to 2023 and remains on its Board of Managers. Steven Orlow is also a past QCBA President (2008-2009). Both Brian and Adam Orlow are admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, giving clients access to federal court when relevant.
A family firm. The Orlow Firm is a father-and-sons practice. Your case will not be handed off to a junior associate six weeks after you retain us. You will work directly with a named partner throughout.
Bilingual representation. We serve Spanish-speaking clients in the Bronx and across New York City. Se Habla Español is not a footnote here. It reflects who we are and who we serve.
No fee unless we win. We represent personal injury clients on a contingency basis, typically one-third of the net recovery. There are no upfront fees and no out-of-pocket costs while your case is active.
Recognized for results. The Orlow Firm holds a 4.9/5 Google rating and has been recognized by Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell (AV Rated), and Expertise.com as among the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in New York City (2025).
Frequently Asked Questions About Bronx Personal Injury Cases
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in the Bronx?
Most Bronx personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the injury date under New York CPLR § 214. However, claims against New York City agencies, including NYCHA, MTA, and the NYPD, require a Notice of Claim within 90 days. Wrongful death claims carry a two-year deadline. Missing any of these deadlines typically ends your right to recover.
What if I was partly at fault for my accident in the Bronx?
New York follows pure comparative negligence under CPLR § 1411. You can recover compensation even if you were partially responsible, but your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. If a jury assigns you 30% of the fault and your damages total $200,000, you recover $140,000. Insurance companies routinely overstate your fault to reduce payouts; an attorney helps counter that.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in the Bronx?
Personal injury attorneys in New York, including The Orlow Firm, work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no legal fees upfront and owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is typically one-third of the net recovery. The initial consultation is free.
Do I have to go to court for a personal injury case in the Bronx?
Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but not all. Whether your case goes to court depends on the facts, the strength of the evidence, and the positions taken by the defense and insurance carriers. Our attorneys prepare every case as though it will go to trial, which strengthens our negotiating position. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to litigate.
What is the 90-day Notice of Claim rule, and does it apply to my Bronx injury case?
Under General Municipal Law § 50-e, you must file a Notice of Claim with the NYC Comptroller within 90 days if your injury involves a city agency, including the MTA, NYPD, NYCHA, or DOT. This applies to accidents on city sidewalks, in public housing, on city buses, or in city facilities. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your claim.
Can I file a personal injury claim if the accident was on an MTA bus or subway?
Yes, but the 90-day Notice of Claim requirement applies. MTA is a public benefit corporation, and claims against it require prompt action. Contact an attorney immediately after any injury involving an MTA bus, subway, or paratransit vehicle so the notice deadline does not lapse.
What if my injury happened in a NYCHA building in the Bronx?
NYCHA is a city entity, so the 90-day Notice of Claim rule applies. Beyond the procedural requirement, premises liability claims against NYCHA often involve documented histories of neglect, broken elevators, defective stairs, inadequate lighting, and known lead paint hazards. That documentation is often central to showing the city had notice of the dangerous condition.
Do I need a police report to file a personal injury claim in the Bronx?
A police report is helpful but not required to file a claim. That said, it documents the incident before memories fade and conditions change, and can be important evidence. If there was no police report, other documentation matters more: photographs, witness contact information, incident reports to a building manager or employer, and medical records from prompt treatment.
Can I still get compensation if I didn't go to the hospital right after my accident?
A gap in medical treatment creates a challenge, but it does not automatically end your claim. You will need to explain why you did not seek immediate care and establish a connection between the accident and your injuries through subsequent medical records and, often, expert testimony. The longer the gap, the harder that connection is to establish, which is why we always advise seeking medical attention quickly.
What if the person who injured me doesn't have insurance or enough coverage?
If the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured, several options may still exist. Your own auto policy may include Supplemental Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (SUM) coverage that can fill the gap. In some cases, additional defendants, a property owner, an employer, a manufacturer, may share liability and carry separate insurance. We look at all potential sources of recovery, not just the most obvious one.
Sources & Official Resources
New York Laws Cited
CPLR § 214 — Personal Injury Statute of Limitations (Three Years)
CPLR § 214-a — Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations (Two Years and Six Months)
General Municipal Law § 50-e — Notice of Claim (90-Day Requirement)
General Municipal Law § 50-i — One Year and 90 Days to File Suit Against Municipality
NY Labor Law § 240 — Scaffold Law (Height-Related Construction Injuries)
NY Insurance Law § 5102 — No-Fault Definitions and Serious Injury Threshold
EPTL § 5-4.1 — Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations (Two Years)
Official Court Resources
Traffic Safety Data
Contact a Bronx Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a family member has been injured by someone else's negligence in the Bronx, time matters. Evidence fades, witnesses move, and legal deadlines are real. The sooner you speak with an experienced attorney, the better positioned you are to protect your rights and get fair compensation.
The Orlow Firm has served injured New Yorkers from our Bronx office at 903 Sheridan Avenue, and from our offices in Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, for over 40 years. We work on contingency. We offer free consultations. And if you cannot come to us, we will come to you.
Call (646) 647-3398 for your free consultation.
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Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
