Our Verdicts and Settlements
$2,500,000
Settlement at trial for negligent road design
$2,400,000
Settlement at trial for a construction worker
$1,750,000
For a student injured at school
$1,300,000
For a motorcyclist
$1,200,000
Verdict for Car Crash Victim
$1,000,000
For a motorcyclist
$950,000
For car crash victim
Catastrophic Injury Cases We Handle in New York
Catastrophic injuries can arise from a wide range of serious accidents, and each presents its own legal and evidentiary challenges. Under New York law, victims must establish fault by proving negligence or recklessness, show causation between the accident and the injury, and document both current and projected future care needs.
Our personal injury law firm handles cases including:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle collisions
- Construction and industrial accidents
- Medical malpractice and surgical errors
- Defective products or unsafe equipment
- Slip-and-fall and premises liability incidents
- Sports, recreational, and high-risk activity injuries
- Wrongful death claims stemming from negligence
Even minor accidents may involve multiple liable parties or hidden issues. A catastrophic injury attorney preserves evidence, gathers expert opinions, reviews records, and prepares your claim to handle aggressive defenses.
Every case is handled with an eye toward securing full, legally supported recovery for both immediate medical needs and long-term care.
New York’s Lawyers for Complex Injury Claims
Catastrophic injuries can overwhelm anyone, and many law firms treat these cases like just another file. Our catastrophic injury lawyers in New York truly care about your recovery and never rush into lowball settlements. From day one, we focus on protecting your recovery, safeguarding benefits, and pursuing every dollar you are entitled to under New York law.
Trial-Ready Lawyers
We prepare every case as if it will go to court, building strong evidence and anticipating insurer tactics to protect your rights and strengthen negotiations.
Dedicated Client Support
You are never just a case number. From consultations to settlement discussions, our team provides hands-on guidance, answers questions promptly, and keeps you informed at all times.
In-House SSD Claims Management
We manage Social Security Disability claims internally, handling filings, deadlines, and paperwork so you don’t have to juggle multiple lawyers.
We Have a No-Fee Guarantee
You never pay us upfront. We only get paid if we win for you, so our success is directly tied to yours.
Free Case Evaluation
Speak with a lawyer at no cost. We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and help you understand the best path forward.
You’re More than a Case
We treat every client like family, taking the time to understand your story and guide you through every step with care and compassion.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
Catastrophic injury claims often involve long-term medical needs, ongoing care, and diminished earning capacity. The law allows victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Accurately calculating these damages is critical, as settlements or verdicts are final and cannot be revisited.
Potential damages you can recover in New York may include:
- Medical Care: Hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, medications, and adaptive equipment.
- Lost Wages & Earning Capacity: Compensation for income loss and reduced future earning potential.
- Daily Assistance: In-home care, support services, and mobility adaptations.
- Pain & Suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life.
- Future Treatment Costs: Ongoing or lifelong medical care and therapy.
- Punitive Damages: For intentional or extremely reckless misconduct.
- Property Damage: Repair or replacement of vehicles and personal equipment.
- Retraining & Vocational Costs: Education or career retraining if prior work is no longer possible.
Insurers often scrutinize catastrophic injury claims, looking for gaps in documentation or reasons to undervalue future costs. A catastrophic injury lawyer in New York at Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law can make sure that every expense, projected treatment, and loss of earning capacity is accurately reflected in your claim.
"We fight for our clients as if they were family—taking cases to trial when necessary to ensure they receive the justice and financial recovery they deserve."
How Can a Catastrophic Injury Attorney Help?
Handling a catastrophic injury claim alone is difficult. Strict deadlines, complex medical records, and multiple insurers make mistakes likely, which in New York can reduce or even prevent recovery. A catastrophic injury lawyer provides services that go far beyond filing forms:
✓ Managing Claims and Legal Deadlines: We handle all filings, ensuring paperwork is accurate and submitted on time to prevent costly procedural errors.
✓ Negotiation and Trial Preparation: Every case is prepared as if it could go to court. We negotiate with insurers, counter low offers, and develop detailed evidence, expert testimony, and strategy to protect your rights and maximize recovery.
✓ Evidence, Experts, and Recovery Sources: Your attorney can obtain key records, coordinate specialists, and identify all insurance policies and liable parties to ensure every potential source of compensation is covered.
Trying to “go it alone” can leave crucial evidence uncollected, deadlines missed, and settlement offers undervalued. Hiring a catastrophic injury attorney early means having a professional who knows how to handle complex procedures, anticipate opposing strategies, and coordinate all aspects of your claim.
What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in New York?
In New York, a catastrophic injury permanently changes a person’s life, requires ongoing medical care, and limits work or daily activities. These claims involve long-term financial, physical, and emotional challenges, making them more complex than typical personal injury cases.
Common examples of injuries considered catastrophic include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Moderate to severe brain trauma that impairs cognition, memory, speech, or motor skills.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage resulting in partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation, or permanent neurological impairment.
- Severe Burns: Third-degree, chemical, or electrical burns requiring extensive treatment, grafting, and rehabilitation.
- Amputations: Loss of limbs, fingers, or toes due to trauma or injury complications.
- Organ Damage or Failure: Life-threatening injuries affecting major organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, or kidneys.
- Loss of Vision or Hearing: Partial or total sensory loss caused by accidents, negligence, or medical malpractice.
- Complex Orthopedic Injuries: Multiple fractures, crushed bones, or joint damage that cause permanent mobility limitations.
Pursuing a catastrophic injury claim in New York requires more than showing injury severity. Victims must meet strict deadlines, prove liability under comparative negligence rules, and identify all potential sources of compensation, including insurance and third parties.
Let a New York catastrophic injury attorney at Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law handle your case while you focus on recovery.
Ida and Stephanie were great! They kept me posted about my case. They provided documents for my doctors to fill out so I had as much medical records as I could! Stephanie represented me in the Judge appeal and was great asking me questions about my disability and helping me convey those disabilities to the judge! I’m so grateful ☺️ for their help! Highly recommend them!
Working with Hiller Comerford was easy. They took care of everything and their communication was exceptional. I’ve already referred others to them.
Seriously grateful to my attorney, Ryan Taylor. I spent years trying to navigate VA disability on my own and they managed to finally make headway where I could not.
Everyone I spoke with and worked with was extremely kind and had great communication also they were compassionate,they worked very diligently to help me and kept me well informed throughout the process I couldn't thank them enough.
I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law for their exceptional support and guidance throughout my disability benefits process. Their expertise and dedication made an overwhelming situation feel manageable, and they ensured every step was handled with care and clarity. I am truly grateful for their assistance and highly recommend their services.
My lawyer RyanTaylor was amazing. He told me exactly how the process goes, what to expect and how long it realistically would take. He was able to get for me exactly what I had tried twice to do myself but was rejected by the VA for. I will recommend all my Veteran friends to him.
Hard workers, always looking at the positive side of the case and always listening to the client. Only down remark is hard to get calls back.
Hiller Comerford have been amazing. They got me a fully favorable decision on my disability claim, I could have never been able to do that on my own. Everyone in their office is so kind and so knowledgeable. They really helped make a difficult time of my life a pleasure. Thank you so much Hiller Comerford!!!
The firm understands the situation, and are very acknowledged about the social security laws and guidelines. Staff were very friendly. The attorney that represented me was Charles Gaughan and the case manager was Olivia Fritzen. They did a wonderful job with my representation for my case. I would highly recommend The law firm of Hiller and Comerford.
Don’t Miss Your Chance to File a Lawsuit
In New York, most personal injury and catastrophic injury claims must be filed within three years. Exceptions apply for late-discovered injuries, minors, or government defendants, which often have shorter deadlines. Consulting a catastrophic injury lawyer early helps preserve evidence, meet deadlines, and protect your right to recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we answer common questions we hear from clients. For personalized assistance, contact us directly.
How long do catastrophic injury cases take to resolve?
Simple New York catastrophic injury claims may settle in months, but complex cases can take years. An attorney helps keep your claim on track and moves it efficiently.
How is fault determined in a catastrophic injury case?
New York law requires showing that another party’s negligence or intentional act caused your injury. Attorneys use reports, medical records, witness statements, and expert analysis to prove liability. When multiple parties are involved, comparative negligence rules can reduce damages based on your share of fault.
What is the hardest catastrophic injury to prove in New York?
Hidden or slow-developing injuries, such as TBIs, spinal cord damage, internal organ harm, or complex orthopedic conditions, are usually the hardest to prove.
How much does it cost to hire a NY catastrophic injury attorney?
At Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law, we operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront. Our No Fee Guarantee ensures we only collect fees if your case succeeds.
Do I need to go to court for my catastrophic injury claim?
Many New York catastrophic injury claims settle with insurers, but some require litigation. If a trial becomes necessary, your attorney will guide you through each step and manage courtroom proceedings on your behalf.