Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer

When a serious accident happens in Buffalo, New York, the days that follow rarely feel manageable. Whether it happened on your commute, at a Bills or Sabres game, or on an ordinary afternoon in Erie County, you’re suddenly dealing with hospitals, missed paychecks, and an insurance company that is already moving on its own timeline.

Founded by Joe Stanley in 1982, Stanley Law Offices brings more than 90 years of combined team experience to Buffalo and Upstate New York clients injured due to someone else’s negligence. Whether it is a catastrophic injury from a motor vehicle crash on the I-190 or Delaware Avenue, a slip and fall near Main Street and Bailey Avenue, a construction accident at a downtown Buffalo job site, or any other harm, our personal injury team investigates your case, deals with the insurance company on your behalf, and fights to recover the full compensation the law allows, so you can focus on healing, not paperwork.

You do not have to figure this out alone. Call (716) 209-3728 or schedule your free consultation for a no-obligation case review with a Buffalo personal injury lawyer. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we offer home and hospital visits so you can start your case from anywhere.

Why Hire Our Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer ?

A trial tested record

A $3.7 million wrongful death verdict and a $1 million verdict for a client who was homeless at the time we took his case.

We come to you

Home, hospital, and video consultations are available for clients who cannot or prefer not to travel to one of our local offices.

Decades in courtrooms

Our personal injury attorneys have tried cases across Upstate New York since 1982.

No attorney fees unless we win

 We advance all case costs upfront. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Sheri is a great help at the office, she is organized, knowledgeable and efficient any time I need help with my case she responds quickly with records or answers to questions.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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We are still working on both of my cases, but the teams are absolutely wonderful! I am working with Megan Fallon Esq.and Sheri S. I also am working with Shannon Doan, Esq. and Jennifer B. Both teams are are great with communication and helping.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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So far i’ve had a very positive experience with this law office. they are professional attentive and excellent at keeping me informed. Most importantly, as this was my first ever Experience needing a law Office they have been very patient with me and explaining things that I don’t understand so for that, I’m very appreciative
  
 
 
 
 
 
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They were able to help me through some of the roughest times of my life still in the process, but I am going and I’m not suffering so bad
  
 
 
 
 
 
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Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Buffalo, NY

Personal injury claims in Buffalo cover a wide range of accidents, and each one carries its own evidence requirements and liable parties, whether that’s a negligent driver, a trucking company, a property owner, or a hospital system. Below are the case types we handle most often for Erie County clients.

Car Accidents

Car accidents remain the most common source of personal injury claims in Buffalo. High-traffic intersections such as Delaware Avenue and Chippewa Street, and Main Street and Bailey Avenue, see a disproportionate share of collisions from congestion, winter road hazards, and distracted driving. Our Buffalo car accident lawyers navigate New York’s no-fault insurance rules and fight to prove the “serious injury” threshold necessary to recover for pain and suffering.

Truck Accidents

When a commercial truck causes a collision, the injuries are often catastrophic, and the legal issues are more complex, involving federal hours-of-service rules, cargo weight limits, and vehicle maintenance logs. Our truck accident attorneys in Buffalo investigate both driver error and carrier negligence to build your claim.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists are frequently blamed unfairly after a crash, even when a driver failed to yield or merged unsafely. Our Buffalo motorcycle accident lawyers push back against that bias and pursue full compensation for fractures, spinal injuries, and road rash.

Slip and Fall Accidents (Premises Liability)

Icy sidewalks, wet floors, and poorly maintained stairways cause serious falls throughout Erie County. Our Buffalo slip and fall lawyers work to prove the property owner had “constructive notice” of the hazard and failed to correct it.

Construction Site Accidents

Construction sites carry a daily risk of falls, falling objects, and equipment failure. Our Buffalo construction accident lawyers handle New York Labor Law § 240 “Scaffold Law” claims and pursue third-party liability alongside any workers’ compensation benefits owed.

Medical Malpractice

When a hospital or provider fails to meet the basic standard of care, the harm can be permanent. Our Buffalo medical malpractice lawyers work with medical experts to prove surgical errors, misdiagnosis, and medication mistakes, and to hold hospital systems accountable.

Dog Bites

Under New York law, a dog owner can be held strictly liable once it’s shown they knew, or should have known, the animal had vicious propensities. Our dog bite attorneys in Buffalo investigate the animal’s history and the owner’s knowledge to pursue compensation for physical injuries and emotional scarring.

Wrongful Death

When negligence turns fatal, New York’s wrongful death statute (EPTL § 5-4.3) allows families to recover for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the lost value of a parent’s guidance and care. Our Buffalo wrongful death lawyers handle the legal process so families can focus on grieving.

Workplace Injuries

Accidents and injuries in Buffalo workplaces are covered under New York’s workers’ compensation system, which provides benefits regardless of fault but follows its own claims process. Our Buffalo workers’ compensation attorneys help injured workers file claims, respond to denials, and pursue any third-party liability claim available beyond standard benefits.

In cases where a workplace injury is severe enough to end your ability to work long-term, our Buffalo Social Security Disability lawyers can also help you pursue SSD benefits alongside your workers’ comp or injury claim.

Our Personal Injury Track Record for Upstate New York Clients

While no two cases are identical, our results across Upstate New York reflect a firm willing to take on insurance companies and, when necessary, take a case to trial. Our Upstate NY personal injury attorneys prepare every case as if it’s headed for court. 

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View our verdicts and settlements.

Common Injuries Sustained in Buffalo Personal Injury Accidents

Personal injury accidents in Buffalo often cause serious, long-lasting harm. We represent clients suffering from:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): from concussions to permanent cognitive impairment.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: including paralysis and herniated discs requiring surgery.
• Bone Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries: complex breaks often requiring hardware and physical therapy.
• Burn Injuries: from vehicle fires, chemical exposure, or explosions.
• Soft Tissue Damage: severe whiplash, ligament tears, and chronic nerve pain.
• Psychological Trauma: including PTSD and emotional distress following a violent accident.

We work with medical experts to document not just your current pain, but the future treatment, therapy, or complications you may face down the road. Don’t wait for the insurance company to make the first move. Call now for a free evaluation.

What Compensation Can You Recover in a Buffalo Personal Injury Case?

After an injury, the impact rarely stops at medical bills. Missed work, ongoing treatment, and changes to your daily life all factor into what a claim is worth. Buffalo personal injury damages are meant to account for both the losses you can measure, like bills and lost wages, and the ones you live with every day, like pain and a changed quality of life.

Economic Damages

• Medical Expenses: Emergency care, surgery, medication, and future treatment.
• Lost Wages: Income lost during recovery and reduced future earning capacity.
• Property Damage: Repair or replacement of vehicles or personal property.

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical agony and discomfort.
• Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, or sleep disruption after the incident.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Reduced ability to enjoy activities and routines you had before the injury.

Punitive Damages

In rare cases involving intentional misconduct or extreme negligence, such as drunk driving with a documented history of prior offenses, New York courts may award punitive damages. These are uncommon and depend on specific legal standards, not routine negligence.

Try our personal injury case value calculator to get a sense of what your Buffalo injury claim may be worth, or get a full case evaluation with our legal team.

New York Laws That Affect Your Buffalo Personal Injury Case

Personal injury claims filed in Erie County are governed by specific New York statutes and procedural rules that affect timelines, fault determinations, and available damages. New York significantly changed several of these rules for motor vehicle claims on May 26, 2026, so what applies to your case depends on what kind of accident you were in.

• Comparative Negligence: For slip and fall, premises liability, medical malpractice, and other non-motor-vehicle claims, New York still follows pure comparative negligence, meaning you can recover damages even if you’re mostly at fault, simply reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For car accidents, truck accidents, and other claims covered by New York’s no-fault law, a new modified rule now applies: if a jury finds you more at fault than the combined fault of the people you’re suing, you recover nothing. If your fault is 50% or less, your damages are still just reduced by your percentage of fault, the same as before. Read our full breakdown of New York’s 2026 car accident claim rules for how this applies to your situation.
• Statute of Limitations (NY CPLR § 214): Most personal injury claims must be filed within 3 years of the accident. Medical malpractice claims must be filed within 2 years and 6 months. Wrongful death claims must be filed within 2 years of the date of death. Claims against a government entity generally require a Notice of Claim within 90 days. 
• Serious Injury Threshold: In motor vehicle cases, New York’s no-fault system limits lawsuits for pain and suffering unless the injury meets the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d). As of May 26, 2026, the 90/180-day category for temporary injuries was eliminated, leaving eight categories, including fracture, permanent limitation of use, and significant disfigurement. A jury must now decide fault first, before deciding whether your injury meets this threshold.
• New Damages Cap for At-Fault Claimants: For car accident claims filed on or after May 26, 2026, an injured driver who shares fault and was also uninsured, impaired, or committing a felony at the time of the crash now faces a $100,000 cap on pain-and-suffering damages under Insurance Law § 5104(d). This cap does not apply to medical bills, lost wages, or wrongful death claims.

Civil injury claims filed in Erie County are heard at the Erie County Supreme Court, located at 92 Franklin Street and 25 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202. We manage filings and deadlines through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) system and apply local procedures relevant to Erie County cases. 

Consult our legal team at no cost and review how local laws may affect your claim.

Filing a Claim When the At-Fault Driver Has No or Insufficient Insurance

Many drivers in Western New York carry only minimum coverage, and some carry none at all. When the at-fault driver is uninsured, underinsured, or unidentified in a hit-and-run, it isn’t always clear where your compensation comes from.

In many cases, your own auto policy provides a source of recovery through Supplemental Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist (SUM) benefits. These claims follow different rules and timelines from a standard liability claim. Our team helps by:

• Identifying available SUM or UM coverage under your policy
• Gathering the documentation required to support a hit-and-run claim
• Handling all communications with your own insurance carrier

Learn more about how New York handles uninsured driver claims before making any decisions about your coverage.

What a Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer Does for You

After an accident, legal and insurance deadlines move quickly, and early decisions can affect your medical coverage, fault determination, and ability to recover compensation. Here is what we do for our clients from day one:

• Investigate the Accident and Preserve Evidence: We examine how the accident happened and secure police reports, witness statements, video footage, and vehicle or property records before they disappear.
• Manage Insurance Companies and Claim Communications: We deal directly with adjusters and control what information is shared, so nothing you say is used against you later.
• Document Injuries and Connect Them to the Accident: We gather medical records and treatment notes to show how the accident caused your injuries and how they affect your daily life.
• Evaluate Liability Under New York Law: We apply New York’s negligence and comparative fault rules to determine responsibility, whether that means a driver, a property owner, a trucking company, or a hospital.
• Protect Medical Coverage and Wage Benefits: We complete required no-fault filings to help avoid delays or denials related to medical bills and lost income.
• Prepare the Claim for Negotiation or Litigation: We organize the evidence and position the claim for a fair settlement or, if necessary, an Erie County courtroom.

Don’t wait to get clear guidance before making early decisions. Schedule your free consultation – the sooner we’re involved, the more evidence we can preserve on your behalf.

Why Choose Stanley Law Offices: The Stanley Advantage

Since 1982, Stanley Law Offices has represented injured people across Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania for more than four decades.

• Board Certified Trial Leadership: Founder Joe Stanley is ABOTA Board Certified, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of attorneys nationally and requiring a minimum of 10 civil jury trials to verdict.
• We Come to You: Injured and unable to travel? We offer home and hospital visits so you can start your case without leaving your bed or your living room.
• Contingency Fee Representation: No upfront attorney fees. We only collect a fee if compensation is recovered through settlement or verdict.
• Trial-Focused Preparation: Every case is prepared with litigation in mind to address disputed liability and insurance company defenses.
• The Stanley SMART System: Every case is guided from intake to resolution by our structured case management process, built to pursue the maximum award your case supports.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buffalo Personal Injury Claims

Speak With a Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer Today

It’s Always Personal Because Your Story Matters.

Accidents cannot be undone, but taking the right action now can protect your health, finances, and legal rights. There is no cost to speak with our team, and we do not charge a fee unless we win.

Call (716) 209-3728 or schedule your free consultation to speak with our personal injury team.