Personal Injury Lawyer Albany NY
The insurance company already has a team working on your case. You should too. Finn Law represents seriously injured people across upstate New York — and we don't get paid unless you do.
One Thing to Know Before Anything Else
New York law sets strict deadlines on personal injury claims. Miss them, and you lose the right to recover — regardless of how strong your case is.
General personal injury claims:
3 years from the date of the injury to file suit
Claims against a government entity (city, county, state agency):
a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days of the incident — well before the lawsuit deadline
Medical malpractice:
2 years and 6 months from the act of malpractice or the end of continuous treatment
If you're unsure which deadline applies to your situation, contact us before assuming you have time. Government claim deadlines in particular are unforgiving, and missing the 90-day notice requirement typically ends the case before it starts.
What Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Car Accident
Rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, distracted and drunk drivers. If another driver's negligence caused your injuries, you have the right to pursue full compensation — not just what their insurer decides to offer.
Truck Accident
Commercial trucking accidents involve federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and carriers with aggressive legal teams. These cases require a different level of preparation than standard auto claims.
Motorcycle Accident
Motorcyclists are disproportionately blamed after accidents regardless of fault. We know that bias exists in these cases and build against it from the start.
Slip and Fall
Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions. When they don't, and someone is injured as a result, that failure is compensable — whether the property is commercial, residential, or government-owned.
Construction Accident and NY Labor Law 240
New York's Scaffold Law creates strict liability for property owners and general contractors when workers are injured by elevation-related hazards. This is one of the strongest worker protections in the country — and one of the most aggressively contested by defense counsel. Ryan knows both sides of these cases.
Wrongful Death
When someone dies because of another party's negligence, their surviving family has the right to pursue compensation for that loss. These cases require an attorney willing to take on the institutions responsible — and prepared to follow through.
What If I Was Partially at Fault?
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means your fault percentage reduces your recovery — but does not eliminate it.
If you were 30 percent at fault for an accident, you can still recover 70 percent of your total damages. Insurance companies know this rule well and routinely try to inflate your assigned fault percentage to reduce their payout. Having an attorney who understands how fault is assigned — and how defense firms build those fault arguments — directly affects what you recover.
What Insurance Companies Do While You're Recovering
Ryan Finn spent years representing the defense side of personal injury litigation. What follows is not speculation.
Insurance adjusters are trained to close claims quickly and cheaply. The tactics they use to accomplish that are consistent and predictable:
Early settlement offers
A fast offer is not a fair offer. It is made before the full extent of your injuries is known and before you have legal representation — because that is when you are most likely to accept less than your case is worth.
Recorded statements
An adjuster may ask for a recorded statement "just to understand what happened." The purpose is to capture language that can be used to minimize your claim or assign you fault.
Social media monitoring
Defense teams and investigators routinely review claimants' social media activity for anything inconsistent with the reported injuries. A single photo can be used to undercut a legitimate claim.
Knowing these tactics in advance changes how a case is built and how a client is positioned throughout the process. We handle all communications with insurance carriers from the moment you retain us — so none of these pressure points land on you.
What a Personal Injury Case Costs at Finn Law
Personal injury cases at Finn Law are handled on contingency. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. There are no upfront costs and no hourly charges.
The contingency model exists because most people facing serious injuries cannot afford to pay an attorney while they're out of work and managing medical debt. It also aligns our interests with yours: we only get paid when you win.
Initial consultations are always free. Ryan personally reviews every inquiry and responds when there's a case worth pursuing.
What Compensation Can Cover
A successful personal injury claim in New York can recover damages across several categories:
- Medical expenses, including future care costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium in applicable cases
The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injury, the clarity of liability, the insurance coverage available, and the quality of the documentation built around it. Cases that are prepared the way defense firms prepare their defenses tend to recover more.
What Our Clients Have Recovered
One car accident client received a settlement more than 10 times the insurance company's initial offer after we took the case to the negotiating table prepared to go to trial. A wrongful death family recovered compensation the carrier said was unavailable — until we demonstrated otherwise.
Results vary by case. But the pattern is consistent: thorough preparation and willingness to litigate change what insurance companies offer.
Questions Personal Injury Clients Ask First
What does a personal injury lawyer in Albany NY actually do for me?
We handle every aspect of your claim from the moment you retain us — investigation, evidence preservation, insurance communications, expert coordination, negotiation, and litigation if necessary. Your job is to focus on recovery. Ours is to make sure the other side doesn't use that time against you.
How much does a personal injury attorney cost in New York?
At Finn Law, personal injury cases are handled on contingency. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. The consultation is free. There are no upfront costs.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in New York?
The general statute of limitations is three years from the date of injury. However, claims against government entities require a Notice of Claim within 90 days — a much shorter window that many people miss. Medical malpractice claims have a 2.5-year limit. Contact us as soon as possible to confirm which deadline applies to your case.
What if the insurance company already made me an offer?
Do not accept it before consulting an attorney. Early offers are made before the full extent of your injuries is established and before you have representation. Accepting closes your claim permanently. We can review any offer you've received at no cost.
Do I have a case if my injuries aren't visible or haven't been diagnosed yet?
Some of the most significant injuries — traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue damage, internal injuries — are not immediately apparent. If you were in an accident, see a doctor before making any decisions about your claim. Then contact us. Delay in medical treatment is one of the most common ways insurance companies reduce injury valuations.
Finn Law Offices, PLLC represents seriously injured people throughout Albany, the Capital District, and upstate New York. Ryan Finn is a personal injury attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, admitted to practice in New York State and federal courts. No fee unless we recover.