If you live or work on Long Island, you already know the roadway culture: heavy traffic on the LIE, delivery vans weaving through local lanes, tight parking lots, and a lot of people in a hurry. That environment breeds accidents. When a crash, fall, or workplace injury upends life, you need more than a phone number — you need a team that understands Nassau and Suffolk courts, knows the medicine behind your injuries, and can steer a claim from first call to settlement or verdict without losing momentum. Winkler Kurtz LLP, based in Port Jefferson Station, is one of the Long Island firms built for that job.
This guide pulls together what most clients want to know at the outset. It covers how a Long Island personal injury case typically unfolds, what makes the local court system distinct, how the firm interfaces with insurers and medical providers, and the small details that make a big difference during the first 100 days of a claim. It also includes direct contact information, so you can reach an attorney quickly if you need to.
Where to find them and how to make contact
Contact Us
Winkler Kurtz LLP - Long Island Lawyers
Address: 1201 NY-112, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776, United States
Phone: (631) 928 8000
Website: https://www.winklerkurtz.com/personal-injury-lawyer-long-island
The office sits on Route 112, a straight shot from Route 347 and a short detour off the Long Island Expressway. If you have mobility issues after an accident, ask about remote consultations. Most personal injury firms, including those on the North Shore, can initiate representation by phone or secure video and handle signatures electronically.
What kinds of cases they handle on Long Island
Personal injury sounds like a catch‑all label, but the underlying law and proof differ by case type. On Long Island, several patterns repeat.
Motor vehicle collisions: From rear‑end impacts on Sunrise Highway to intersection crashes on Jericho Turnpike, these cases often hinge on New York’s no‑fault framework and comparative negligence. The no‑fault system pays certain medical bills and lost wages up to policy limits regardless of fault, but the threshold for suing for pain and suffering requires a “serious injury” under Insurance Law 5102(d). That threshold is its own battleground. Firms with experience on Long Island know how local orthopedists and radiologists approach permanent consequential limitations, how to document a 90/180 claim for clients whose daily activities were substantially curtailed, and how to deal with surveillance and independent medical examinations arranged by insurers.
Premises liability: Slip and trip injuries show up frequently in shopping centers, supermarkets, and office parks. Weather swings on the Island also generate ice cases in winter. The law turns on notice — did the owner create the hazard, or did it exist long enough that they should have known about it? In Suffolk County, judges scrutinize whether a defendant had a recurring condition or a specific cleanup protocol and whether there are logs to prove it. A firm that knows which stores keep sweep sheets and which vendors handle snow removal can subpoena the right records early.
Construction and workplace incidents: Industrial and residential construction runs year‑round in Nassau and Suffolk. New York’s Labor Law imposes strict duties on owners and contractors for elevation‑related hazards. If you fell from a scaffold in Melville or were struck by a falling object on a new build in Patchogue, the claim may involve Section 240(1) or 241(6) and bring in multiple defendants and insurers. Coordinating these cases means juggling site safety records, OSHA findings, and trade‑specific expert opinions.
Wrongful death: Families face short deadlines and heavy paperwork while grieving. Estates must be opened in Surrogate’s Court before certain claims can proceed. On Long Island, that usually means Riverhead or Mineola, and the process can take weeks. A seasoned plaintiff’s lawyer will shepherd the appointment of an administrator or executor so the civil case can move without delay.
Nursing home negligence and medical malpractice: These cases demand a professional’s sworn opinion before filing. Obtaining records quickly, decoding timelines, and matching the facts to viable theories is the difference between a promising claim and an expensive dead end. Local knowledge helps here too; some hospitals respond to HIPAA requests within days, others take longer, and that affects strategy.
Winkler Kurtz LLP positions itself as a Long Island injury firm, which typically means they navigate all of the above, with a steady volume in motor vehicle and premises cases. For potential clients, the practical takeaway is simple: bring your situation, and an experienced team will triage it, identify the viable angles, and tell you plainly if the claim meets New York’s legal thresholds.
The first conversation: what the attorney needs and why
Prospective clients often arrive with pain, a police exchange sheet, and a flood of questions. A thorough intake does more than put your name in a database. It sets the trajectory.
Expect to be asked about the mechanics of the incident with specificity: direction of travel, point of impact, lighting, weather, footwear in a slip case, or safety gear on a job site. These details map directly to liability theories. Attorneys will also ask about prior injuries and medical history. That is not a trap. Defense counsel will pull your past records to argue that today’s pain is yesterday’s problem. Disclosing prior treatment early allows your lawyer to frame aggravation of a pre‑existing condition, which New York recognizes.
Police reports in Suffolk and Nassau vary in accuracy. On minor crashes, officers sometimes write narratives later, relying on memory and shorthand. An experienced firm requests body‑worn camera footage and 911 calls when available. Those materials, preserved early, can undercut a later claim that the client “didn’t seem hurt at the scene.”
If you consult within days, the firm can still secure nearby video. Parking lots and storefronts often overwrite footage in as little as 7 to 14 days. On a winter slip case, counsel may send a preservation letter to the property owner and snow contractor immediately and follow up with formal discovery once suit is filed.
Medical care and the serious injury threshold
Long Island has strong hospital networks and many private practices. The challenge is coordination. In a no‑fault auto case, medical bills must be submitted correctly to the proper carrier, or you risk denials. Miss the proof of claim window and you may get balance‑billed. Law firms accustomed to local no‑fault departments can cut through this, steering clients to providers who accept assignment and submit on time.
The serious injury threshold turns on objective findings. Range‑of‑motion deficits measured by a treating physician, MRI reports showing tears or herniations, and documented limitations in daily activities all carry weight. A good plaintiff’s lawyer respects the line between advocacy and overreach. Overstated impairment scores or boilerplate narratives invite skepticism and can backfire at deposition or trial. The focus stays on accurate, contemporaneous records and treating providers who chart consistently.
Defense carriers on Long Island commonly request independent medical examinations by orthopedists or neurologists based in Garden City, Hauppauge, or Lake Success. These are not truly independent, but they are part of the process. Preparation matters. Clients should understand the scope of the exam, answer truthfully and succinctly, and avoid editorializing. A strong firm will request the IME reports promptly and move to challenge any premature cutoff of no‑fault benefits.
Deadlines that matter more than people realize
New York’s statute of limitations varies by claim: generally three years for negligence; two years for wrongful death, with nuances tied to estate administration; shorter windows for claims against municipalities or public authorities. If you fell on a sidewalk outside a village building or were struck by a vehicle owned by a town, a notice of claim may be due within 90 days. Miss that and you may lose the right to sue altogether. Local counsel who regularly files notices with entities like the Town of Brookhaven or Nassau County Police Department knows the correct addresses, agents, and forms. That saves time and prevents avoidable dismissals.
Evidence preservation also has practical deadlines. Tractor‑trailers often carry electronic control modules with data that can be overwritten by normal operations. Commercial lots rotate snow removal vendors season to season; if you wait a year, the contractor may be out of business. Early letters to preserve logs, sweep sheets, incident reports, and camera footage give the case backbone.
How cases move in Nassau and Suffolk courts
State Supreme Court is the main venue for significant civil cases. On Long Island, that means Mineola for Nassau County and Riverhead for Suffolk County. Each county has its own rhythms. Preliminary conferences are scheduled on fixed calendars. Some parts push discovery briskly, others leave more breathing room for depositions and expert exchanges. A firm that appears regularly can forecast the pace with reasonable accuracy, which helps clients plan around work, medical appointments, and family obligations.
Mediation and settlement conferences are common. Many judges in both counties encourage alternative dispute resolution before trial. Timing matters here. Settling before depositions can preserve privacy but often yields lower offers. Settling after key depositions — for example, after a property manager concedes that inspection logs are missing — can move numbers. The trade‑off is time and stress. A candid lawyer will walk you through those choices with a clear view of likely value ranges.
Jury pools on Long Island bring their own sensibilities. In auto cases, some jurors are hardened commuters who have seen more fender‑benders than they can count and expect proof of real, lasting harm. In construction cases, jurors often know someone in the trades and respect safety rules, but they also respect personal responsibility. Experienced trial lawyers shape themes accordingly, leaning on credible treating doctors and everyday witnesses, not just hired experts.
What a client can expect from the attorney‑client relationship
Clients often judge a law firm less by courtroom fireworks and more by everyday reliability. The basics count: returned calls, honest timelines, and clear explanations when strategy changes. Most Long Island injury firms work on contingency, typically one‑third of the recovery after costs, with case expenses advanced by the firm and reimbursed at the end. Ask for the retainer agreement and a walk‑through of how disbursements work — filing fees, medical record costs, expert fees if needed — so there are no surprises.
There will be stretches of quiet during the life of a case, especially while you treat or while both sides exchange documents. That silence should not be confusion. A well‑run practice sets expectations about cadence, offers periodic updates, and invites check‑ins, especially when there is a change in your medical status.
The first 100 days of a Long Island injury case
The opening months set the tone and preserve value. Here is a concise, practical roadmap of what usually happens and why it matters.
- Intake and retention: You provide the accident narrative, insurance information, and initial medical providers. The firm runs conflicts, sets you up in their system, and sends a letter of representation to insurers to stop direct contact. Evidence sweep: Counsel requests police reports, 911 audio, body‑worn camera, nearby video, and incident reports. Preservation letters go to property owners, snow removal contractors, or commercial defendants. Medical coordination: No‑fault applications get filed, treating providers are lined up, and diagnostic tests are scheduled where appropriate. The goal is timely, accurate documentation without over‑treating. Liability review: Attorneys analyze vehicle damage photos, scene diagrams, and witness statements. In premises cases, they assess notice theories and identify the entities responsible for maintenance and repair. Strategy and value ranges: After initial records arrive, the firm outlines likely paths — claim only versus lawsuit, expected defenses, and preliminary settlement ranges with the caveat that values shift as evidence develops.
Those steps are straightforward, but the execution is where firms distinguish themselves. A missed FOIL request or a late no‑fault application can cost real money. Attention in the first 100 days pays dividends later.
Working with insurers: how negotiations typically play out
Insurers handling Long Island claims are a familiar cast: GEICO, State Farm, Allstate, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, and a mix of third‑party administrators for commercial defendants. Adjusters often start with formulaic offers fed by software that ingests ICD codes and treatment durations. Those early numbers rarely reflect the human cost of missed work, lost sleep, and changed family roles.
The leverage changes when liability is strong and records show consistent, objective findings. Deposition testimony from a store manager who cannot produce inspection logs, or a defendant driver who admits to a distracted moment, moves the needle. So does a treating surgeon’s clear explanation of why a meniscus tear is traumatic rather than degenerative. A seasoned Long Island plaintiff’s lawyer builds toward those leverage points, not just for trial, but to negotiate from strength.
Clients sometimes ask whether a recorded statement to the at‑fault insurer helps speed a settlement. It rarely does, and it often creates problems. Your own carrier may need facts for no‑fault, but statements to the opposing carrier should be filtered through counsel, if given at all.
Money talk: medical liens, health insurance, and net recovery
A settlement check is not the end of the story. Health plans and government programs may assert liens for amounts they paid. Medicare’s recovery contractor, for example, can take months to issue a final demand, and miscalculations are common. Medicaid and certain ERISA plans also seek reimbursement. Skilled firms review these claims, challenge unrelated charges, and negotiate reductions where the law allows. For clients, the number that matters is the net — what lands in your account after attorneys’ fees, expenses, and liens. Honest conversations about net expectations earn trust.
On auto cases, New York’s collateral source rule can reduce judgments post‑verdict for certain benefits, but it does not apply to settlements in the same way. The nuance is beyond most laypeople and not worth memorizing. What matters is that your lawyer understands the math, times negotiations with lien holders, and explains the waterfall of funds clearly.
Go hereTrials on Long Island: what the day in court actually looks like
If your case goes to trial, expect a balance of formality and practicality. Jury selection takes one to two days, sometimes more in complex matters. Openings are short and focused. Treating physicians testify in plain language and refer to images on monitors. Defense experts on causation or biomechanics may argue that MRI findings are “common in asymptomatic patients over 40.” Cross‑examination turns on preparation and credibility.
Trial length varies. A straightforward rear‑end collision with disputed injury might try in three to five days. A construction fall with multiple defendants and experts can run two to three weeks. Jurors appreciate efficiency and authenticity. Overreaching harms credibility. A well‑prepared plaintiff who acknowledges pre‑existing aches and focuses on what changed tends to resonate.
Verdicts on Long Island can be conservative compared to some city venues, but strong cases still produce meaningful awards. Post‑trial motions and appeals can extend the timeline. Clients should know that a verdict is a milestone, not always an endpoint. Many cases settle mid‑trial when one side sees the momentum shift. A trial‑ready firm wields that momentum.
Why local presence matters
Practicing in Suffolk and Nassau is its own craft. Distance itself is not the issue, but familiarity is. Knowing which orthopedic group in Stony Brook turns around narrative reports promptly, which diagnostic center in Garden City produces high‑quality films and properly documents objective deficits, and which defense firms tend to push cases to the eve of trial — all of that changes outcomes. A Port Jefferson Station address signals proximity to clients across the North Shore and easy access to Riverhead for Suffolk matters. It also positions the firm within a network of local experts, from accident reconstructionists who know the Sagtikos Parkway to life care planners familiar with regional cost structures.
Choosing the right fit: questions to ask before you sign
Selecting a lawyer is both rational and personal. Results matter, so does bedside manner. You will share private medical details and rely on the firm for months or years. During an initial consultation, ask who will handle your file day‑to‑day, how often you can expect updates, and how quickly calls are returned. Ask about trial experience and whether the firm outsources depositions or trials. In a complex case, ask how many similar matters they have handled in Suffolk and Nassau over the last five years.
It is fair to ask for a realistic range of outcomes and the factors that could move your case up or down within that range. A confident lawyer does not promise numbers on day one. They frame the drivers: liability clarity, objective medical proof, credibility, and venue tendencies.
A few practical tips clients appreciate
Inside any firm that handles personal injury on Long Island, a few habits separate smoother experiences from rocky ones. Keep a dedicated folder — digital or paper — for medical appointments, prescriptions, and out‑of‑pocket expenses. Photograph visible injuries early and periodically as they heal. Avoid posting about the accident or your activities on social media. Even innocent photos become fodder in cross‑examination. If work duties change because of pain or restrictions, ask for a letter from your employer describing the accommodations. That documentation turns a subjective complaint into a verifiable change.
Transportation to medical appointments can be a challenge if your car is out of service. Ask the firm about options. Some providers coordinate rides; some no‑fault carriers reimburse mileage. If your property damage claim is bogged down, your injury lawyer can often nudge the right adjuster, even if the property claim is technically separate.
How Winkler Kurtz LLP fits into the Long Island landscape
The firm’s presence in Port Jefferson Station places it squarely in Suffolk County while still accessible to Nassau clients. “Winkler Kurtz LLP - Long Island Lawyers” is more than a tagline; it signals a practice focused on the specific demands of this region’s courts, insurers, and medical ecosystem. For injured clients, that local focus translates into faster evidence collection, better aligned medical documentation, and a negotiation posture informed by how Nassau and Suffolk juries actually respond.
Clients who reach out at the first hint of trouble — a pain that lingers, a letter from an insurer asking for a statement, a store manager who stops returning calls — give their attorneys the raw materials to build a strong case. Waiting rarely helps. The best time to preserve video, lock down witness statements, and chart treatment is the earliest time you can manage.
If you need to talk to someone about an injury on Long Island, pick up the phone. Ask direct questions. Expect direct answers. And make sure the firm you choose knows the roads you drive, the places you shop, and the courtrooms where your case will be decided.
For appointments or immediate guidance, you can reach Winkler Kurtz LLP at their Port Jefferson Station office, call (631) 928 8000, or visit their site at https://www.winklerkurtz.com/personal-injury-lawyer-long-island.