Best Personal Injury Lawyers Buffalo, NY Of 2024

Written By

Valerie Catalano, J.D.

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

Buffalo is a vibrant city with restaurants, music, a huge lakefront and plenty of traffic and construction. Injuries caused by car accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice or a slip-and-fall can easily happen in the Queen City.

If you were injured in Buffalo, you may have the right to file a lawsuit. Before making that decision, contact a personal injury lawyer in Buffalo to discuss your rights. This guide will help you connect with one of the best in the city.

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Personal Injury

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Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Buffalo

Lawlor F. Quinlan III

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1995

Law School Attended

University of Virginia School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

J. Michael Hayes

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1977

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

Donald P. Chiari

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1984

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

Terrence M. Connors

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1973

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

Joseph E. Dietrich

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1996

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

John P. Comerford

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1996

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

Christopher M. Murphy

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1994

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

James E. Morris

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1980

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

Michael Anthony Rossi

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1981

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

Laraine Kelley

NY Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to NY Bar

1980

Law School Attended

University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Why They Made Our List

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Practice Areas

Compare Top Personal Injury Attorneys in Buffalo

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Buffalo, New York

State and federal laws allow individuals to file lawsuits against other parties when they have been physically or emotionally harmed by those parties. If the litigant is successful, the court awards them financial remuneration for any economic damages they suffered (typically medical bills, lost wages and other expenses).

The court might also award the plaintiff with noneconomic damages when they can prove that their suffering was due to the negligent or intentional actions of the other party.

Filing a personal injury lawsuit is slightly different in every state. Before filing a lawsuit, litigants should hire a personal injury lawyer. Typically, litigants are more likely to receive appropriate compensation when they are represented by an experienced attorney.

New York Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases

New York has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases. This statute sets a time limit for how long a plaintiff can wait to file a personal injury lawsuit. For most types of personal injury claims, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of whatever activity caused the injury.

However, there are exceptions to that number. The time limit is only two and a half years for medical malpractice claims. The statute of limitations is one year and 90 days for any lawsuit against a government entity or employee. Petitioners must also file a notice of claim within 90 days of the incident to be permitted to file a lawsuit.

New York Personal Injury Laws

Several New York laws affect personal injury claims. The following are some of the most commonly relevant.

• No damage caps. New York doesn’t place caps on any type of damages in personal injury cases.
• No-fault car insurance limits personal injury claims. Claimants can pursue a personal injury claim after a car accident only if they suffered a permanent injury like the loss of a limb or disfigurement.
• Pure comparative negligence. If a litigant is partially responsible for their injuries, their financial award will be lessened by an amount equal to the percentage responsibility they bear for their injuries.

Personal Injury Settlement Considerations

A personal injury case is more likely to end with a settlement than with a jury verdict. Typically, settlements are negotiated because they help both sides avoid the uncertainty of a trial. Claimants also get an advantage in that settlements usually take much less time than trials.

If a personal injury case goes to court, it will likely take more than a year for the case to conclude. Conversely, a settlement may take only weeks or months and rarely takes longer than a year.

Typically, personal injury attorneys charge a contingency fee. This means they take a portion of the final compensation as their fee. Many lawyers charge a lower fee if the case ends with a negotiated settlement than if it ends with a jury verdict.

Finally, most personal injury settlements are not taxed. New York state and the IRS do not tax economic damage or noneconomic damages arising from a physical injury. Claimants are taxed on punitive damage awards, but these damages are very rare.

How Can an Attorney Help You?

Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be beneficial, even if you have no intention of filing a lawsuit. Personal injury attorneys are just as familiar with insurance claims processes as insurance adjusters. They can guide you through the process smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that you meet all deadlines.

Similarly, an experienced lawyer will investigate your claim independently. This independent investigation means you aren’t relying on an agent of the insurance company to determine what caused your injury.

This investigation produces a second benefit. Your attorney will collect evidence that supports your claim. Personal injury attorneys know what type of evidence is most effective during negotiations with insurance companies and in court. They will preserve this evidence and any other records that are important to your claim.

With all this evidence in hand and with a good understanding of your injuries, your lawyer can effectively negotiate with the insurance company. They know the approximate value of your claim and won’t accept a lowball offer, no matter how good it may look on paper.

Typically, attorneys rarely step foot in a courtroom. Insurance companies would rather pay you a fair settlement than risk getting hit with a massive judgment. Just by hiring a lawyer, you are threatening to go to court if the insurance company doesn’t play fair. That’s usually enough incentive for an insurance company to act in good faith.

How To Find the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Buffalo, NY

When selecting the best personal injury lawyer from this list, consider the following factors before making your decision.

• Practice area focus. Most personal injury lawyers can handle any type of case but usually focus on specific practice areas. It’s best to work with a lawyer who focuses on the area that matches your case.
• Personality. Many personal injury lawyers offer free consultations. Take advantage of this to learn about their personality and determine whether you can get along with them for weeks or months.
• Communication policies. Ask the attorney how often they will communicate with you and how they will communicate. You won’t be happy if you want a phone call every few days, but they send you a text message once every two weeks.

Our Methodology for Finding the Best Buffalo Personal Injury Attorneys

Forbes Advisor ranked attorneys offering services in personal injury law within a 50-mile radius of Buffalo, NY using data points across the categories of qualifications, experience, reputation, client experience and diversity and inclusivity. We pulled data for these categories from reliable, third-party resources such as state bar associations and individual firm websites. Data is accurate as of June 2024.

We evaluated attorneys based on the following metrics.

Qualifications (15%):

• Active business license
• Public records check
• Practice areas
• Overall reputation of law school

Experience (15%):

• Years of membership in state bar
• Ethics and bar disciplinary history

Reputation (30%):

• High regards in top legal publications
• Positive reviews
• Accolades from colleagues

Client Experience (25%):

• Free consultations

Diversity and Inclusivity (15%):

• Bilingual services

We considered only attorneys without disciplinary history who have been licensed for at least five years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Personal Injury

Is there a way to extend the statute of limitations?

Does pure comparative negligence apply to settlements?

What is the typical contingency fee for a personal injury attorney in Buffalo?

The information on this page does not constitute legal advice, nor does use of or access to this page create an attorney-client relationship between any parties. Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for informational purposes only. Your legal situation is unique and the attorneys and services we rank may not be right for your circumstances. Consult with an attorney to obtain advice on your particular legal matter.