Providing Aggressive Legal Services to Assist Clients in the Pursuit of Financial Compensation

Law enforcement officers face serious risks every single day to protect our families across Long Island and throughout New York City. When Police Officers are called to a scene, they rush toward dangerous situations that others are running away from. But facing the normal dangers inherent in your work does not mean you must suffer without legal recourse when someone else breaks the law and hurts you. If you sustained a serious injury because a property owner, driver, or contractor neglected a safety regulation, you have legal options.

The consequences of a line-of-duty accident reach far beyond the initial physical pain. We understand what you are going through right now, from the stress of growing medical bills and lost wages to the deep anxiety about whether you can ever return to active duty. Your focus belongs on your physical recovery and your family, not on battling insurance companies or deciphering complex legal codes.

Our team provides dedicated and knowledgeable services to advocate for our clients from the very beginning of their legal matters through to the most optimal conclusion. We bring our decades of experience to fight for you and help you recover the compensation you deserve in your personal injury cases. If you are a police officer injured in the line of duty, or if you represent certain deceased police officers as a surviving family member, we are prepared to stand by your side.

Contact Rizzuto Injury Law today at (516) 604-5496 to schedule a free consultation with our compassionate legal team, or fill out our online form to learn how we can help you move forward.

What is New York General Municipal Law Section 205-e?

For many years, a legal concept known as the fireman’s rule prevented first responders from suing for on-the-job injuries caused by general common law negligence. The state legislature recognized this limitation and enacted New York General Municipal Law Section 205-e to provide a powerful statutory right of action for any police officer injured in the line of duty.

This specific law allows a person injured, or the representative of a deceased person, to file a lawsuit when an accident occurs directly or indirectly because someone failed to comply with a government law, statute, ordinance, or local law. This means that if a building owner, motorist, or business entity violates a safety rule and that violation leads to your injury, you can hold them civilly liable.

This statutory claim is separate from standard workers’ compensation or other benefits you might receive from your police department, such as General Municipal Law section 207-c benefits. This law applies to all law enforcement officers across the state, whether you work for the police commissioner in New York City, a village police chief on Long Island, or a county sheriff’s department in Westchester County.

What Are Common Violations Leading to Line of Duty Injuries?

A Section 205-e claim must be predicated on a violation of a specific duty imposed by a federal, state, county, town, or village regulation. Our attorneys have the experience to investigate the precise cause of your accident and identify the laws that the responsible parties broke.

• Property and Building Violations: When responding to a call at a commercial building or residential property on Long Island, you might encounter broken staircases, missing handrails, blocked fire exits, or unlit walkways. These structural hazards violate local building codes and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, creating an unreasonable risk for responding officers.
• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Many law enforcement officers suffer severe injuries while patrolling major local roadways like the Long Island Expressway or Sunrise Highway. If a driver hits your patrol car because they were speeding, driving drunk, or distracted, they have violated the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law. This violation provides a direct foundation for a 205-e claim, especially if your cruiser was rear-ended while you were conducting a traffic stop.
• Failure to Maintain Safe Workspaces: Businesses and construction site managers must keep their properties clear of hazards. Accumulated ice on a commercial walkway near Jones Beach, slick internal floors without warning signs, or unsecured construction debris can cause a police department member to suffer severe slips and falls.

How to Prove Liability Under Section 205-e?

To build a case under General Municipal Law section 205-e, our team must establish a clear connection between the violation and your injury. The statute specifically states that liability applies if the injury or death occurs directly or indirectly as a result of any neglect, omission, willful or culpable negligence of any person or persons failing to comply with government requirements.

The legal framework provides unique protections for police officers compared to standard personal injury cases. For instance, the law applies regardless of whether the injury is caused by the violation of a provision that codifies a common law duty, or a provision prohibiting activities or conditions that increase danger.

Furthermore, you do not have to prove the defendant had the standard level of actual or constructive notice required under a common law negligence claim. Rather, the circumstances surrounding the statutory violation must simply demonstrate that it resulted from a neglect or omission on the part of the defendant. We are prepared to collect the necessary police reports, code enforcement records, and witness statements to satisfy all court-ordered conditions precedent.

Compensation for Severe and Internal Injuries

Line-of-duty accidents can cause life-altering physical damage. 

We represent officers who have suffered a wide range of severe injuries, including:

• Broken bones, compound fractures, and joint destruction
• Traumatic brain injuries and severe concussions from impact
• Spinal cord damage, herniated discs, and nerve injury
• Internal injuries, organ damage, and internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma

The compensation we pursue on your behalf looks at the total impact of the accident on your life. We can seek damages for your physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, outstanding medical bills, and any future medical treatment or rehabilitation you will need.

Crucially for law enforcement officers, we also look to recover lost wages, lost overtime opportunities, and the loss of future earning capacity if your injuries permanently prevent you from returning to the force. For the surviving heirs at law or their representative handling the estate of deceased police officers, we can pursue a wrongful death action under this statute to provide financial security for the family left behind.

Why Choose Our New York Police Injury Attorneys?

When you choose Rizzuto Injury Law, you are choosing a family-firm feel backed by decades of experience. We see ourselves as a steady guide during a dark time, offering an open hand to help you stand back up. We know that police officers, EMS workers, and other first responders form the backbone of our communities, and we bring a tireless work ethic to every single case we handle.

We manage all communication with insurance companies, investigators, and defense counsel, so you do not have to worry about deadlines or paperwork. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay us nothing out of pocket, and we collect legal fees only if we successfully recover compensation for you.

Contact Us to Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation with a New York 205-e Attorney Today

If you or a loved one were injured while serving the public, please do not wait to explore your legal options. New York law enforces strict time limitations on filing claims against private parties and city governments. While a standard personal injury lawsuit generally has a three-year window, bringing a tort claim against a public entity or filing a statutory section 205-e action can involve rapid condition precedent windows, including serving a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident under General Municipal Law section 50-e. Missing a deadline can permanently bar your right to recovery.

Let our trusted, dedicated, and compassionate legal team review the facts of your accident and build a strong strategy for your case. We are here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Call Rizzuto Injury Law today at (516) 604-5496 to arrange your free consultation.