New York Police Officer Injury Lawyers
Representing Officers in Line-of-Duty Injury Cases
When New York’s Finest are injured in the line of duty, disability pay and medical coverage don’t always cover the full impact. A serious injury can end overtime, derail a career, or change a family’s future forever. At the Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph, PLLC, our New York police officer injury lawyers fight to make sure officers and their families recover full compensation, not just what the department provides.
We represent NYPD officers, Westchester police, and other law enforcement professionals in lawsuits arising from unsafe premises, reckless drivers, negligent businesses, and municipal law violations.
Are You an Injured Police Officer in New York?
You may be entitled to more than just line-of-duty benefits
In many line-of-duty cases, you can pursue a civil lawsuit for pain and suffering, above and beyond disability pay, when a person, business, or agency violated a law or created an unsafe condition that caused your injury.
New York’s General Municipal Law 205-E gives police officers a powerful right to sue anyone whose statutory or regulatory violations directly or indirectly caused the injury. Officers may also bring ordinary negligence and premises liability claims against private property owners, businesses, drivers, contractors, and others. If a municipal entity is involved, deadlines apply.
A Notice of Claim typically must be filed within 90 days, and a lawsuit must be filed within one year and ninety days of the incident.
What New York Law Means for Your Recovery
Line-of-duty benefits don’t limit your civil recovery. If another party’s unlawful conduct or negligence caused your injury, you can pursue:
- Full personal injury damages: pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, scarring, and permanent impairment.
- Medical costs—past and future: hospital care, surgeries, rehab, therapy, and needed equipment.
- Lost wages & diminished earning capacity: when injuries reduce overtime, promotion tracks, or force early retirement.
- Claims against all responsible parties: private owners, bars and venues, drivers and fleets, contractors, product manufacturers, and, when violations exist, municipal agencies.
- Insurance backstops: in hit-and-run scenarios, MVAIC claims may be an option.
If you’ve been injured in the line of duty in New York, call us today at (212) 858-0503.
“Line-of-duty benefits aren’t enough. When officers are injured in the line of duty, we make sure every responsible party is held accountable.”
Understanding Line-of-Duty Injury Cases in New York
Line-of-duty injuries arise in fast-moving, hazardous environments. Our police injury lawyers know how to preserve evidence, map violations to §205-E, and build your case for maximum recovery. Below are common scenarios we handle.
Dangerous Premises & Unsafe Buildings
Officers are often injured inside substandard buildings. They encounter broken or deteriorated floors, slippery substances, uneven stairs, missing handrails, out-of-code treads/risers, and unsecured debris. Owners and managers can be held liable for code and maintenance failures that injure responding officers.
Car Accidents Involving Police Vehicles
From patrol work in the Bronx and Queens to highway details in Westchester, officers log serious miles. Car crashes frequently stem from Vehicle & Traffic Law violations, like failure to yield to emergency vehicles, unsafe turns, distracted driving, speeding, and disregard of lights and sirens. Whether you were in a marked cruiser or an undercover vehicle, we pursue every liable motorist, owner, and employer.
Officer Dragged by a Vehicle
During investigatory stops, fleeing drivers sometimes accelerate with an officer beside the vehicle, causing severe injuries. We pursue the driver’s insurer for policy limits and, when the vehicle flees or coverage is insufficient, we help you claim UM/UIM benefits available under the police department’s fleet insurance or even the officer’s own policy.
Negligent Security & Dram Shop
Venues that overserve intoxicated patrons, operate rowdy or disorderly premises, or ignore basic security can be liable when officers are injured responding to chaos and fights at bars, clubs, and events. Dram shop liability and local licensing rules create strong avenues for recovery.
Broken Sidewalk & Street Defects
Police officers often get injured in the line of duty because of broken sidewalks, potholes, or uneven pavement in New York City. Under the NYC Administrative Code, commercial property owners of apartment buildings, retail stores, and other businesses, are legally responsible for keeping the sidewalks in front of their property safe. If an officer trips, falls, or is injured while pursuing a suspect or responding to a call, and the sidewalk was not properly maintained, the property owner may be liable for damages.
Harbor, Marine & River Patrol (Jones Act)
Officers who spend a substantial portion of their time on navigable waters (Hudson River, East River, Long Island Sound) may qualify as Jones Act seamen, allowing a negligence claim against the employer for unsafe vessel conditions or crew negligence.
Who Is Liable for a Police Line-of-Duty Injury?
Liability follows the violation and the negligence. Depending on the cause of the injury, we may pursue:
Property Owners & Managers
Property owners and managers can be held liable when code violations, unsafe stairs, unlit corridors, broken sidewalks, or other hazardous conditions cause injuries to police officers in the line of duty.
Drivers, Vehicle Owners & Employers
Drivers, vehicle owners, and employers may be responsible when officers are hurt in crashes caused by failure to yield to emergency vehicles, speeding, distracted driving, or unsafe maneuvers. Commercial fleets and rideshare companies may also share liability.
Bars, Clubs & Event Hosts
Bars, clubs, and event hosts can face lawsuits when officers are injured because of overservice of alcohol, disorderly premises, inadequate security, or failure to follow licensing rules.
Municipalities & Other City Agencies
When a different city or town agency violates a law or maintains a dangerous condition that harms an officer, that municipality can be sued under §205-e, though strict notice and filing deadlines apply.
Contractors & Manufacturers
Construction contractors, maintenance companies, and, in limited cases, product manufacturers may be liable if defective equipment or unsafe maintenance practices contribute to a line-of-duty injury.
How Our New York Police Injury Lawyers Can Help
Our attorneys understand the risks officers face and the laws that protect them. We use that knowledge to build strong cases for maximum recovery. Our team will:
- Lock down evidence fast: scene photos, surveillance video, 911 CAD, MV-104/105 reports, incident paperwork.
- Map violations to §205-E: identify the statutes, ordinances, or codes the defendants broke.
- Build causation clearly: medical proof, expert analysis, and witness testimony.
- Navigate municipal rules: Notices of Claim, statutory hearings, and filing deadlines.
- Pursue every policy: at-fault coverage, owner/employer policies, UM/UIM, and specialty maritime claims.
Why Choose the Law Office of Michael H. Joseph?
- We represent New York’s Finest: decades of results for NYPD and Westchester officers.
- Trial-tested: ready for court when defendants deny responsibility.
- Client-first approach: direct access to your attorney, clear updates, and no upfront fees on injury cases.
2024
Mike Joseph is by far the most detailed, hardworking, no surrender and tenacious attorney I have ever met and worked with. I have been involved with many attorneys in business and personal matters. Nobody, nobody even comes close.
I was treated professionally and extremely happy with the ability Michael had on getting me the money I was owed. He is smart and efficient! I would use him again in a heartbeat. If he takes your case, you will be lucky!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue if a fellow officer was at fault?
Generally, you can’t sue a co-worker for simple negligence while you’re receiving line-of-duty benefits. However, §205-e allows a claim if a law or regulation was violated and that violation caused your injuries.
Can a police officer sue the City if a different City agency caused the injury?
Yes, when that agency violated a statute or created a dangerous condition, a §205-e claim may be brought. Common examples include collisions with sanitation trucks or ambulances, or injuries tied to defective street conditions.
What violations are most common in officer lawsuits?
Vehicle & Traffic Law violations in car crashes, Building and Property Maintenance Code violations in unsafe premises cases, and dram shop/licensing violations in bar-fight scenarios are common.
Will there be negative job consequences if I sue?
In practice, no. Line-of-duty claims are typically handled by the Comptroller and Corporation Counsel (Law Department); interaction with your agency is limited and separate from your employment chain of command.
What are the procedural requirements to sue a municipality?
File a Notice of Claim (usually within 90 days), appear for a statutory hearing if requested, and file suit within one year and ninety days of the incident. Speak with counsel immediately to protect deadlines.
Take Action Today
You protect this city. Let us protect your future. If you were injured in the line of duty anywhere in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, or Westchester County, get experienced counsel on your side. Call (212) 858-0503.