Buffalo New York Personal Injury Lawyers

Serving clients throughout the State of New York

Situated on the shores of Lake Erie, Buffalo, New York, is a city of resilience, growth, and iconic charm. As New York's second largest city, Buffalo has a population of over 250,000, showcasing a diversity that infuses the city with rich cultural experiences. It's not just famous for its spicy chicken wings, but also as the "City of Good Neighbors," embodying a spirit of hospitality and community that runs through the city.

With a vibrant history as a key player in the Industrial Revolution, Buffalo now enjoys a renewed vibrancy with a bustling arts scene, innovative culinary landscape, and a growing tech sector. Its strategic location on the Canadian border makes it an important hub for trade and economic activities.

Whether it's the Art Deco City Hall, or the miles of parks and trails along attracting outdoor enthusiasts, Buffalo is a city that blends the grit of its past with the promise of its future, offering a uniquely compelling place to live and work.

Injured in Buffalo, New York?

If you've suffered a serious injury in Buffalo due to someone's recklessness or a corporation's negligence, the Porter Law Group is here to help. In these instances when your life is turned upside down, an important step you can take for yourself and your family is to hire an excellent personal injury lawyer in Buffalo. Hiring legal assistance is essential in standing up for your rights, seeking justice, and receiving the compensation you deserve.

The legal team at the Porter Law Group brings to the table decades of experience and nearly unlimited resources to hire the very best experts to investigate your case, and build a winning lawsuit to get you and your family the justice you deserve.

How we Help Buffalo Injury Victims

Our Buffalo personal injury team helps local crash and accident victims navigate New York's fault and insurance rules from the first phone call through resolution.

• Thorough investigation of accidents in Buffalo: We gather police reports, 911 records, scene photos, surveillance video, and vehicle data to reconstruct what happened on Buffalo streets and properties.
• Evidence preservation: We move quickly to secure medical records, employment records, incident reports, and witness statements so critical proof is not lost or destroyed under New York record retention policies.
• Insurance claim preparation and negotiations: We prepare detailed claim packages and negotiate with New York auto, property, and liability insurers under state negligence and no-fault rules to pursue fair compensation.
• Litigation in New York courts: When needed, we file lawsuits in Erie County and other New York courts within the statute of limitations and handle all discovery, motion practice, and trial.
• Contingency fee representation: In most personal injury cases, New York lawyers charge a contingency fee (commonly up to one-third) that is only collected if there is a recovery, consistent with New York's rules on contingent fees in personal injury and wrongful death actions.
• Coordination with medical providers: We work with treating physicians and New York health care providers to document diagnoses, causation, and prognosis needed to support injury claims.

Injury cases we handle in Buffalo

Buffalo sees thousands of crashes and other injury-producing events each year. The Porter Law Group handles a wide range of personal injury cases throughout the Buffalo area and Western New York, including:

• Motor vehicle accidents in Buffalo and Erie County, including collisions at high-risk intersections and along busy commuter routes, resulting in injuries to drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
• Slip, trip, and fall incidents on Buffalo properties, where dangerous conditions like snow and ice, broken steps, or wet floors lead to falls and premises liability claims under New York negligence law.
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Buffalo neighborhoods and downtown corridors, often involving turning vehicles, poor visibility, or inadequate infrastructure that put vulnerable road users at risk.
• Construction and work site accidents at Western New York job sites, where falls from height, struck-by incidents, or unsafe equipment can trigger workers' compensation and third-party injury claims.
• Medical malpractice cases involving misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical errors, and birth injuries at Buffalo hospitals and medical facilities.
• Cancer misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis for breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and other common cancers in Buffalo medical centers.
• Dangerous or defective property conditions in apartment buildings, businesses, and public spaces, including inadequate maintenance or security that can cause assaults or other preventable harm.
• Product liability claims involving defective products, including asbestos exposure, talc baby powder-related ovarian cancer, and other harmful products.
• Wrongful death claims arising from fatal crashes, falls, and other incidents in Buffalo, brought under New York's wrongful death statutes on behalf of surviving family members.

Our Practice Areas in Buffalo:

• Asbestos and Mesothelioma Exposure
• Car Accidents
• Cancer Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis
• Construction and Workplace Accidents
• Birth Injuries
• Burn Injuries
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
• Medical Malpractice
• Premises Liability 
• Product Liability
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Surgical Errors
• Talc Baby Powder-related Ovarian Cancer
• Workers' Compensation

Hospital Malpractice in Buffalo

The Porter Law Group specializes in medical malpractice cases. For over 20 years, we've helped clients throughout the State recover compensation for medical negligence, our results speak for themselves. If you or a loved one have been a victim of medical malpractice in any of the following medical institutions in Buffalo, New York, don't hesitate to reach out to us for assistance:

• Community Health Center of Buffalo Malpractice
• Neighborhood Health Center Malpractice
• Buffalo Psychiatric Center Malpractice
• BryLin Hospitals Malpractice
• Buffalo VA Medical Center Malpractice
• Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Malpractice
• Sisters of Charity Hospital Malpractice
• John R. Oishei Children's Hospital Malpractice
• Mercy Hospital of Buffalo Malpractice
• Erie County Medical Center Malpractice
• Kaleida Health - Buffalo General Medical Center Malpractice

Cancer Lawyers in Buffalo

The Porter Law Group specializes in representing clients who were misdiagnosed or suffered a late diagnosis for all types of cancer, especially the most common ones, including:

• Breast Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Endometrial Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer

If you are currently undergoing cancer treatment in Buffalo, find a support group here.

What to do after an accident in Buffalo

If you've been injured in an accident in Buffalo, taking the right steps immediately afterward can protect your health and your legal rights. Here's what you should do:

• Call 911 and ensure safety, then report the incident to Buffalo police or other appropriate authorities so an official accident or incident report is created.
• Take photos and video of the scene, vehicles, hazards (such as snow, ice, or broken flooring), traffic signals, and visible injuries before conditions change.
• Get names and contact details for witnesses, nearby businesses, and property owners or managers so they can be contacted later if a claim is filed.
• Seek prompt medical care at a local emergency department, urgent care, or physician, and follow treatment instructions so injuries are documented in your New York medical records.
• Notify your insurance company within policy time limits, but stick to basic facts and avoid speculating about fault or the full extent of your injuries.
• Avoid giving recorded statements or broad medical authorizations to another party's insurer before speaking with a New York personal injury lawyer, because those statements can be used to limit your claim.
• Contact a Buffalo personal injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and avoid missing New York's statutes of limitations and other deadlines.

Why choose us in Buffalo

Buffalo office, New York focus: Our Buffalo-based office allows in-person meetings, on-the-ground investigation, and familiarity with local roads, courts, and insurers in Erie County and Western New York. This local presence, combined with our statewide experience, means we understand the unique challenges Buffalo injury victims face.

Statewide court and insurance experience: New York personal injury cases are governed by statewide statutes, court rules, and insurance regulations. The Porter Law Group regularly litigates across New York, bringing broader experience and resources to every Buffalo case we handle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do personal injury lawyers charge in New York?

New York personal injury lawyers typically charge a contingency fee, meaning the fee is only owed if there is a financial recovery. For general personal injury cases (not medical malpractice), many New York attorneys charge up to about one-third of the recovery, subject to court rules and written retainer agreements. This means you pay nothing upfront, and the Porter Law Group only collects a fee if we win your case.

How long do you have to sue for personal injury in NY?

In many New York personal injury cases, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. This is governed by New York's Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) section 214. However, some claims have shorter deadlines. Different time limits can apply in wrongful death cases, medical malpractice claims, or claims against government entities, which often have shorter statutes of limitations and additional notice requirements. It's important to contact a Buffalo personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you don't miss critical deadlines.

What is the average personal injury settlement in New York?

There is no single average settlement that reliably predicts what any one New York case is worth, because outcomes vary widely depending on injury severity, liability, and available insurance. Some New York government data shows overall averages in the low-six-figure range for certain sets of claims, but your settlement could be much higher or lower depending on your specific facts. For example, the New York City Comptroller reported that in a recent fiscal year, the average settlement and judgment for personal injury claims against the City was about $134,656 across more than 13,000 resolved claims, but individual results ranged from modest sums to multi-million-dollar awards.

How do I choose a personal injury lawyer in New York?

Look for a New York-licensed personal injury lawyer with experience in cases like yours, a good reputation and disciplinary record, and clear communication about fees and strategy. Consumer-oriented guidance consistently recommends considering the lawyer's disciplinary standing with the New York bar, familiarity with local courts, communication style, and willingness to explain contingency fees and case strategy clearly before you sign a retainer. The Porter Law Group brings decades of experience handling personal injury cases throughout New York State, with the resources and expertise to fight for the compensation you deserve.

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Contact a Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer

The legal team at the Porter Law Group brings to the table decades of experience and nearly unlimited resources to hire the very best experts to investigate your case, and build a winning lawsuit to get you and your family the justice you deserve.

Contact us at 833-PORTER9, or e-mail us at info@porterlawteam.com to discuss the details of our experience representing other clients who have been injured as you have, and the results we were able to obtain in the past for clients who are suffering as you are. In many ways, our results speak for themselves, and we will stand ready to help you and your family in your time of greatest need.

We have a physical office at 50 Fountain Plz, Buffalo, NY 14202 in Buffalo, and other cities throughout the state of New York. The Porter Law Group offers free, no-obligation consultations. Don't hesitate to visit or reach out.