Personal Injury Attorney
Serving Injury Victims
When you’ve been seriously injured through no fault of your own, you need a fighter in your corner — not a form letter. At the Law Offices of Michael Chessa, we bring a prosecutor’s mindset to every personal injury case. As a former Kings County Assistant District Attorney, Michael Chessa spent years building cases, cross-examining witnesses, and understanding exactly how insurance companies and defense lawyers think. That inside knowledge is now working for you.
From car accidents on the BQE to slip and falls in Brooklyn’s commercial corridors, we fight for maximum compensation for injury victims across New York City. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win.
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose sole job is to minimize what they pay you. Without experienced legal representation, you are at a serious disadvantage. Michael Chessa levels the playing field. He knows the tactics insurers use to devalue claims — delayed investigations, lowball offers, and pressure to settle before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
Michael Chessa has tried cases in court, negotiated with sophisticated opposing counsel, and isn’t afraid to go to trial when insurers refuse to offer fair compensation. That reputation matters at the negotiating table.
Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury cases we handle include:
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Auto accidents
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Motorcycle accidents
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Truck accidents
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Bicycle accidents
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Pedestrian accidents
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Slip and fall accidents
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Product liability (defective or dangerous consumer products)
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Premises liability (injuries stemming from safety hazards on public or private property)
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Medical malpractice
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Wrongful death
What is the Statute of Limitations
for Personal Injury Claims?
Time is critical in personal injury cases. Under New York law, most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the date of the accident (CPLR §214). Important exceptions apply: claims against a government entity — the City of New York, MTA, NYPD, or any municipal agency — require a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the injury. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death.
Waiting too long can permanently bar you from recovering any compensation, regardless of how strong your case is.
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Medical Malpractice: In medical malpractice cases, the statute of limitations is generally two years and six months from the date of the alleged act of malpractice or from the end of continuous treatment provided by the party you are suing.
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Claims Against Municipal Entities: If you're filing a personal injury claim against a municipality or government entity, you must typically file a notice of claim within 90 days of the incident. Failure to file the notice within this time frame can result in losing your right to sue.
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Minors: If the injured party is under 18 years old, the statute of limitations is extended, and they generally have three years from their 18th birthday to file a personal injury claim.
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Wrongful Death: In cases of wrongful death resulting from negligence or intentional harm, the statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of death.
Do not rely on general information to determine the filing deadline for your specific claim. Call the Law Offices of Michael Chessa at (917) 997-8873 for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will evaluate your claim at no cost to you.
How to Prove a Personal Injury
Claim
Personal injury cases in New York are civil matters. The burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence — you must show it is more likely than not (greater than 50%) that the defendant’s negligence caused your injuries. This is a lower standard than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” threshold in criminal cases, but building a compelling case still requires thorough investigation, strong evidence, and skilled legal presentation.
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Duty of care: The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, which is typically based on the reasonable expectation that individuals will act reasonably and not cause harm to others. For example, licensed drivers are obligated to obey the state’s traffic laws and rules of the road.
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Breach of duty: The defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff by failing to act in a reasonable manner, such as through negligence or intentional misconduct. Common forms of driver negligence include speeding, running a red light, ignoring stop signs, tailgating, or any other form of reckless driving.
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Causation: The plaintiff must establish a causal connection between the defendant's breach of duty and the injuries suffered. They must show that the defendant's negligence directly caused or substantially contributed to their injuries.
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Damages: The plaintiff must provide evidence of the actual harm or damages they suffered as a result of the defendant's actions. This may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related losses.
As your attorney, Michael Chessa handles every element of your case: gathering police reports, medical records, witness statements, expert testimony, and surveillance footage. He builds the strongest possible record of what happened and what it has cost you — then fights to make the at-fault party pay in full. The defendant will have lawyers working against you. You deserve one working for you.
Financial Compensation for Personal Injury Cases
Under New York personal injury law, you may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses — past and future treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and prescriptions
- Lost wages — income lost during recovery and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering — compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life
- Property damage — repair or replacement of your vehicle or other property
- Wrongful death damages — compensation for surviving family members where applicable
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule — you can still recover even if you were partially at fault, with your award reduced proportionally.
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Past and future medical expenses
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Out-of-pocket expenses
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Lost wages or income
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Property damage (such as to your vehicle)
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Pain and suffering
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Emotional distress
Michael Chessa acts quickly after taking your case. Early evidence preservation is crucial — surveillance footage is overwritten, accident scenes change, and witness memories fade. We immediately work to obtain and preserve: police and accident reports, medical records and expert injury opinions, surveillance footage from businesses and city cameras, witness statements and depositions, liability analysis and expert reconstruction, and full documentation of all financial losses and future care needs.
You focus on your recovery. We build your case.
Put The Law Offices of Michael Chessa PLLC to Work for You
Michael Chessa is a Brooklyn-based trial attorney and former Kings County Assistant District Attorney. His years as a prosecutor gave him rare insight into how cases are built, how evidence is evaluated, and how opposing counsel thinks — skills he now deploys exclusively on behalf of injury victims and criminal defendants.
With over a decade of litigation experience and a track record of courtroom success, Michael Chessa takes on large insurance companies and corporate defendants without hesitation. He handles each case personally — you will not be passed off to a paralegal or junior associate.
Call (917) 997-8873 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Available 24/7.
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