When an unexpected injury upends daily life, most people have two immediate questions: Can I recover? and Who will help me pick up the pieces? At Palermo Law, we have spent more than thirty years guiding neighbors across Suffolk County through exactly those moments. Our team combines courtroom experience, a deep bench of medical and accident-reconstruction resources, and a client-first approach built on clear communication and honesty. Below is an inside look at the major categories of personal injury cases we routinely handle, along with practical insights that every Suffolk County resident should know before choosing legal representation.
New York’s personal injury laws share one overarching goal—compensating people harmed by another party’s negligence—but each category carries its own filing deadlines, evidence rules, and insurance hurdles. Understanding where your case fits helps you find the right attorney, gather the correct documentation early, and avoid costly missteps that can reduce or even bar recovery.
Congested arteries like Sunrise Highway and the Long Island Expressway see thousands of crashes each year. New York follows a “serious injury” threshold: if injuries meet statutory definitions (for instance, significant disfigurement or broken bones) or medical bills exceed no-fault minimums, you may step outside the no-fault system and file a negligence claim. Our firm works closely with accident reconstruction experts to pinpoint speeding, distracted driving, or mechanical failure that caused the crash.
Riders lack the protective shell that motorists take for granted. Traumatic brain injuries, road rash, and spinal damage often lead to lengthy rehabilitation. Unlike drivers, motorcyclists are excluded from New York’s no-fault benefits, meaning a liability claim is usually the sole route to compensation. Prompt scene investigation such as photographing skid marks and preserving damaged gear is critical, which is why we deploy investigators within hours of signing a new client.
Tractor-trailers on the LIE or Sunrise Highway may weigh 20–30 times more than a passenger car, so physics alone creates catastrophic outcomes. These cases add federal safety regulations, mandatory logbooks, and black-box data to the evidence mix. Our attorneys subpoena GPS and electronic logging device records before they disappear under routine data-purge schedules.
Whether ice outside a Patchogue storefront or uneven flooring inside a Riverhead supermarket, property owners have a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. To build a successful claim, you must show the owner created the hazard or knew or should have known about it. We gather surveillance footage, incident reports, and maintenance logs to establish notice and breach.
New York imposes strict liability for medical costs when a dog is determined “dangerous,” plus negligence standards for additional damages. Medical records and prior complaints to animal control can prove that the owner knew the dog’s tendencies. Suffolk’s municipal codes sometimes supplement state law, so local knowledge is indispensable.
Assaults in parking lots, apartment complexes, or nightclubs may be preventable if owners install proper lighting, cameras, or security personnel. We review crime-stat data and prior police reports to show the attack was foreseeable, then demonstrate how cost-effective precautions could have prevented it.
New York Labor Law §240—often called the “Scaffold Law”—provides unique protections for workers at elevation. Property owners and general contractors are absolutely liable if they fail to furnish proper safety devices. Because comparative negligence does not apply, a careful analysis of whether the task is “gravity-related” can dramatically alter case value.
Defective forklifts, nail guns, or conveyer belts may trigger product-liability claims against manufacturers in addition to worksite negligence actions. Preserving the equipment in its post-accident condition is key, so we send immediate spoliation letters halting repairs that could erase evidence.
Long Island’s industrial corridors include chemical plants and manufacturing facilities where workers encounter asbestos, silica, or volatile organic compounds. These cases require expert testimony linking exposure levels to the resulting disease, a challenge that grows with each passing year. Our network of industrial hygienists and medical specialists provides that causal bridge.
Losing a loved one to negligence reshapes a family forever. In New York, the personal representative of the estate may sue for funeral costs, lost wages, medical expenses prior to death, and the decedent’s conscious pain and suffering. Since courts strictly enforce the statute of limitations—two years in most circumstances—families should seek counsel quickly, even while grieving.
Severe burns, amputations, and spinal cord injuries often require lifelong attendant care and home modifications. Our life-care planners and economists calculate future medical costs and lost earning capacity, ensuring settlement offers reflect the full economic impact rather than just past expenses.
Suffolk County residents face enough uncertainty after an accident without wondering whether their lawyer has handled similar cases. By focusing exclusively on personal injury law and investing in cutting-edge investigative resources, Palermo Law offers clients a clear path from chaos to closure.
If you or a loved one has been injured anywhere in Suffolk County, reach out today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let the team at Palermo Law put our three decades of experience to work for you so you can focus on healing while we fight for the compensation you deserve.