Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
Family-Owned Representation Serving Suffolk and Nassau County Since 1934
A serious injury can change your life in a matter of seconds. Siben & Siben LLP is a family-owned firm of Long Island personal injury lawyers, based in Bay Shore, that has represented injured people and their families in Suffolk County and Nassau County since 1934. The firm handles car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, construction site injuries, slip and fall cases, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. Most New York personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the injury (CPLR § 214), and a claim against a town or county requires a notice of claim within 90 days (General Municipal Law § 50-e). Free consultations are available 24/7 at 631-665-3400.
What begins as a car accident, a fall on unsafe property, a construction site incident, or a medical error can quickly lead to mounting medical bills, missed work, physical limitations, and emotional stress. For many Long Island families, an unexpected injury disrupts financial stability and creates uncertainty about the future.
When an injury is caused by someone else’s negligence, New York law provides a legal pathway to pursue compensation. Personal injury law exists to protect individuals and families when carelessness results in harm.
Since 1934, Siben & Siben LLP has represented injured individuals throughout Suffolk County and Nassau County. As a family-owned law firm serving Long Island for more than 90 years, the firm treats personal injury cases as what they are: deeply personal events that affect entire households, not simply legal disputes. Over its history, Siben & Siben has won more than $1 billion in settlements and judgments for its clients, and it stays ready to proceed to trial when necessary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, call 631-665-3400 for a free consultation, 24/7, or send your information through the contact page and the firm will contact you the same day.
Siben & Siben LLP at a Glance
- Practicing on Long Island since 1934; family-owned
- Office in Bay Shore, New York, in Suffolk County
- Serving Suffolk County and Nassau County
- Injury cases: car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents; construction accidents; workers’ compensation; slip and fall; dog bites; traumatic brain injuries; nursing home abuse; medical malpractice; wrongful death
- Free consultation; personal injury phone consultations 24/7 at 631-665-3400
- More than $1 billion won in settlements and judgments; prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome
Understanding Personal Injury Law in New York: Your Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer’s Role
A personal injury claim arises when a person, business, property owner, contractor, or medical provider fails to act with reasonable care and someone is harmed as a result. In New York, four key elements generally must be established:
- A duty of care existed.
- That duty was breached.
- The breach directly caused injury.
- The injury resulted in measurable damages.
While the legal framework appears straightforward, the facts of each case often require detailed analysis. Insurance companies frequently dispute liability, question medical treatment, and attempt to minimize damages. Proper documentation and structured presentation of evidence are essential to building a strong claim.
Common Personal Injury Cases on Long Island: What Your Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer Handles
Long Island’s busy infrastructure, residential communities, and commercial properties create many environments where negligence may occur. Some of the most common personal injury cases in Suffolk and Nassau County include:
Car, Truck, Motorcycle and Pedestrian Accidents
Car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents occur daily on roadways such as the Long Island Expressway, Sunrise Highway, and the Northern State Parkway. Distracted driving, speeding, intoxication, and failure to follow traffic signals are frequent contributing factors. Serious collisions can result in long-term disability or permanent impairment. Car, truck and pedestrian claims generally follow New York’s no-fault rules and the serious-injury threshold, both explained below; motorcycle riders are left out of no-fault benefits (Insurance Law § 5103(a)(1)). Siben & Siben LLP has a page for each type: its Long Island car accident lawyers, truck accident lawyers, motorcycle accident lawyers and pedestrian accident lawyers explain how those claims work.
Construction Accidents and Labor Law 240 and 241 Claims
Ongoing residential and commercial development throughout Long Island means construction sites are common. Falls from elevated surfaces, falling objects, equipment malfunctions, and unsafe site conditions can lead to catastrophic injuries requiring extensive medical care and prolonged recovery. New York Labor Law § 240(1) and § 241(6) place safety duties on property owners and contractors, except owners of one- and two-family homes who contract for but do not direct or control the work, as the Labor Law section below explains, and the firm’s construction accident lawyers on Long Island handle these claims alongside workers’ compensation.
Slip and Fall and Premises Liability
Property owners must maintain reasonably safe conditions. Snow and ice accumulation, broken stairs, uneven pavement, poor lighting, and unaddressed maintenance hazards may create dangerous environments for visitors. When the fall happens on town, village or county property, a notice of claim must be served within 90 days (General Municipal Law § 50-e). The firm’s slip and fall lawyers serving Nassau and Suffolk County handle falls on private and public property.
Medical Malpractice
Healthcare providers are expected to follow accepted medical standards. Misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical mistakes, anesthesia errors, and medication errors can have life-altering consequences. A medical malpractice lawsuit in New York must generally be commenced within two years and six months of the act or of the last continuous treatment (CPLR § 214-a). The firm’s medical malpractice lawyers on Long Island review these claims.
Wrongful Death
When negligence results in fatal injury, surviving family members may pursue compensation under New York law for financial losses and other legally recognized damages. The wrongful death action must generally be commenced within two years of the death (EPTL § 5-4.1), and the firm’s Long Island wrongful death lawyers represent families in these claims.
Dog Bites
Dog attacks happen in homes, on sidewalks and in parks, and a bite can leave scars and injuries that need treatment for months. Siben & Siben LLP represents people bitten or knocked down by dogs in Suffolk County and Nassau County, and its Long Island dog bite lawyer page covers these cases.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury from a crash, a fall or a worksite accident can affect memory, work and family life long after the hospital stay. Siben & Siben LLP’s Long Island brain injury lawyers represent injured people and the families who care for them, from the first consultation onward.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
When a nursing home resident is injured through abuse or neglect, the resident and the family can hold the facility accountable. Siben & Siben LLP’s Long Island nursing home abuse lawyers represent residents and their families across Suffolk County and Nassau County.
Each case requires individualized evaluation and strategic planning, and the free consultation is where Siben & Siben reviews which of these rules and deadlines applies to yours.
How Does New York No-Fault Insurance Affect a Long Island Car Accident Claim?
New York no-fault insurance pays an injured person’s basic economic loss, such as medical expenses and lost earnings, up to $50,000 per person under Insurance Law § 5102(a). Written notice of the claim must be given to the no-fault insurer within 30 days of the accident. A claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering is a separate case.
What Is New York’s Serious Injury Threshold After a Car Accident?
A claim for pain and suffering against the at-fault driver requires a serious injury as defined in Insurance Law § 5102(d): death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, a fracture, loss of a fetus, permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function or system, permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member, or significant limitation of use of a body function or system. For actions commenced on or after May 26, 2026, the former category based on 90 days of disability within the first 180 days no longer qualifies.
Hurt in a crash on the Long Island Expressway, Sunrise Highway or a local road? Call 631-665-3400, 24/7, before the 30-day no-fault deadline passes.
How Do Labor Law 240 and 241 Protect Injured Construction Workers?
Labor Law § 240(1) requires owners and contractors to furnish scaffolding, ladders, hoists and other devices that give proper protection to workers, and Labor Law § 241(6) requires construction, excavation and demolition areas to provide reasonable and adequate protection and safety. Both sections exempt owners of one- and two-family homes who contract for but do not direct or control the work. Workers’ compensation generally bars a lawsuit against the employer (Workers’ Compensation Law § 11), but these duties fall on owners and contractors, who can be held responsible when they are not met.
Injured on a construction site? Ask about a Labor Law claim in addition to workers’ compensation in a free consultation: 631-665-3400.
What Are the Deadlines to File a Personal Injury Claim in New York?
New York sets different filing deadlines by type of claim, and a missed deadline can end the case:
- Most personal injury lawsuits: three years from the date of injury (CPLR § 214).
- Medical malpractice: two years and six months from the act or the end of continuous treatment (CPLR § 214-a).
- Wrongful death: two years from the date of death (EPTL § 5-4.1).
- Claims against a town, county or other public body: a notice of claim within 90 days (General Municipal Law § 50-e) and a lawsuit within one year and 90 days, or two years after the death in a wrongful death action (General Municipal Law § 50-i).
Some of these deadlines are as short as 90 days. Call 631-665-3400 today to find out which one applies to your case.
The Long-Term Impact of a Serious Injury: Insights from a Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
A serious injury affects a claim for years after the accident, because New York damages include future medical care, lost earning capacity and permanent limitations, not only the bills already paid. A personal injury case is about more than the initial accident: it is about the lasting consequences.
Serious injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Severe fractures
- Internal organ trauma
- Burn injuries
- Permanent mobility limitations
Recovery may involve hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and ongoing medical supervision. Some individuals are unable to return to their prior employment. Others must adapt to permanent physical or cognitive limitations.
The financial impact often includes lost wages, reduced earning capacity, future medical expenses, and changes to retirement planning. The emotional impact may include anxiety, depression, and stress related to long-term uncertainty.
How a Personal Injury Case Is Investigated by Your Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
Siben & Siben LLP builds each case on evidence preserved early and a careful investigation. Depending on the circumstances, that work may involve:
- Reviewing police or incident reports
- Preserving photographs and surveillance footage
- Interviewing witnesses
- Examining maintenance or inspection records
- Consulting medical professionals
- Evaluating insurance coverage and policy limits
Evidence can disappear over time. Surveillance systems may overwrite footage. Accident scenes may change. Witness memories may fade. Early involvement supports stronger negotiation and, when necessary, litigation.
Understanding Insurance Company Tactics: How Your Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer Helps You
Insurance companies are responsible for evaluating claims, but they are also focused on limiting payouts. Common defense strategies may include:
- Arguing that the injured person shares responsibility
- Minimizing the seriousness of injuries
- Suggesting medical treatment was unnecessary
- Offering early settlement proposals
An early settlement offer may not reflect the full scope of long-term medical needs or reduced earning capacity. Once a settlement agreement is signed, it typically cannot be reopened. Careful evaluation helps ensure that compensation discussions reflect the complete impact of the injury.
Has an insurance company asked for a recorded statement or offered a settlement? Call 631-665-3400 before you respond.
Compensation Available in Personal Injury Cases: Your Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer’s Guide
Under New York law, injured individuals may seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
These measurable financial losses may include:
- Hospital and surgical bills
- Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Medical equipment
- Necessary home or vehicle modifications
In more serious cases, financial projections may extend years into the future to account for ongoing care and reduced earning potential.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages address the human cost of injury, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent impairment
These forms of compensation recognize that the consequences of injury extend beyond financial loss.
Comparative Negligence in New York: What Your Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer Can Do for You
New York decides shared fault under CPLR § 1411. In most injury cases, an injured person who shares the blame can still recover, and the award is reduced by that person’s share of fault: if a fall case is valued at $100,000 and the injured person is found 20% at fault, the award is $80,000. In motor vehicle cases covered by New York’s no-fault law and commenced on or after May 26, 2026, CPLR § 1411(b) adds a limit: a claimant whose fault is greater than the fault of the defendants recovers nothing.
Insurance companies may attempt to increase the percentage of fault assigned to injured individuals. Clear documentation and structured presentation of evidence are essential to ensuring fair evaluation. In a motor vehicle case, that percentage can now decide whether there is any recovery at all.
Trial Readiness and Local Court Experience: The Advantage of a Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
Many personal injury cases resolve through negotiation. However, preparation for trial often influences the strength of settlement discussions.
Since 1934, Siben & Siben LLP has maintained a consistent litigation presence in Suffolk County and Nassau County courts. Familiarity with local procedures, scheduling practices, and jury expectations provides important perspective when evaluating case strategy.
Trial readiness demonstrates commitment to pursuing full and fair compensation when necessary.
A Family-Owned Firm Serving Long Island: Your Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
For more than nine decades, Siben & Siben LLP has remained family-owned and rooted in the Long Island community. We have represented multiple generations of families throughout Suffolk and Nassau County.
Our longevity reflects stability, dedication, and deep familiarity with the communities we serve. When you work with our firm, you are working with attorneys who understand Long Island and take that responsibility personally.
Why Have Long Island Families Chosen Siben & Siben LLP Since 1934?
Siben & Siben LLP has represented Long Island families since 1934, when Sidney R. Siben founded the firm, and it remains family-owned in its third generation. The firm works from its office in Bay Shore, represents injured people across Suffolk County and Nassau County in car, truck, construction, slip and fall, medical malpractice and wrongful death cases, and offers free personal injury phone consultations 24/7 at 631-665-3400.
Which Suffolk County and Nassau County Communities Does Siben & Siben LLP Serve?
Siben & Siben LLP’s Suffolk County injury lawyers work from the firm’s office in Bay Shore and represent clients in communities such as Patchogue, Ronkonkoma, Islip, Brentwood and Smithtown. The same attorneys act as Nassau County injury lawyers for people hurt in Hempstead, Freeport, Garden City, Levittown and Valley Stream, and the firm has handled cases in the courts of both counties since 1934.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my personal injury case worth?
A New York personal injury case is worth the total of its economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages and future care, and its non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, reduced by any share of fault; after a car accident, pain and suffering also requires a serious injury under Insurance Law § 5102(d), and in a motor vehicle case covered by no-fault and commenced on or after May 26, 2026, an injured person whose fault is greater than the other side’s recovers nothing. The value depends on the severity of injury, clarity of liability, medical expenses, lost income, and long-term impact, and a full review of medical records and financial documentation is necessary to properly assess potential compensation.
How long will my personal injury case take?
Some cases resolve within months through negotiation, particularly when liability is clear and injuries are well documented. More complex cases may require formal litigation, including depositions and expert review, which can extend the timeline. The objective is to achieve a fair result based on the complete impact of the injury rather than rushing to resolution.
What if I was partially at fault?
Usually, yes. Under New York’s comparative fault rule in CPLR § 1411, you can still recover compensation if you share some responsibility, and the recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. The exception is a motor vehicle case covered by New York’s no-fault law and commenced on or after May 26, 2026: if your fault is greater than the other side’s, you cannot recover.
Should I speak with the insurance company before consulting a lawyer?
Speak with a lawyer first. Insurance representatives may request statements or offer settlements shortly after an accident, and before providing recorded statements or accepting any offer, it is important to understand your rights and the potential long-term impact of the injury. After a car accident, the deadline not to miss is the written notice to the no-fault insurer within 30 days.
How are legal fees structured in personal injury cases?
Personal injury matters are typically handled on a contingency fee basis. This means legal fees are paid only if compensation is recovered. There are no upfront attorney fees required to pursue a claim.
How long do I have to apply for no-fault benefits after a car accident in New York?
Thirty days. Written notice of the claim must be given to the no-fault insurer within 30 days of the accident, unless there is written proof of a clear and reasonable justification for the delay. The New York Department of Financial Services explains the rule in its no-fault consumer guidance.
Can I sue a town or county on Long Island after a fall on public property?
Yes, but the deadlines are shorter. A notice of claim must be served within 90 days of the fall (General Municipal Law § 50-e), and the lawsuit must be commenced within one year and 90 days (General Municipal Law § 50-i).
Can I still sue if I am receiving workers’ compensation for a construction injury?
Usually not against your employer: Workers’ Compensation Law § 11 makes workers’ compensation the employer’s exclusive liability in most cases. But Labor Law § 240(1) and § 241(6) place safety duties on property owners and contractors, except owners of one- and two-family homes who contract for but do not direct or control the work, so a claim against them can exist alongside your workers’ compensation benefits.
Contact Siben & Siben LLP
Siben & Siben LLP has represented injured people in Suffolk County and Nassau County since 1934, and as a family-owned firm it approaches every case with care and attention to detail. Personal injury phone consultations are free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 631-665-3400, and office appointments in Bay Shore are available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at other times on request.
Personal injury matters are typically handled on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront attorney fees required to pursue a claim.
Siben & Siben LLP90 East Main Street
Bay Shore, NY 11706
Call 631-665-3400 for a free personal injury consultation, 24/7, or request one on the contact page.