Legal Trends
Biggest NY Personal Injury Verdicts, 2024-2025
From a $272.5M crane collapse settlement to an $82M subway verdict, New York produced record personal injury outcomes in 2024 and 2025. The case data.
Key Finding
New York produced the largest crane accident recovery in state history in 2025: $272.5 million from the Tribeca crane collapse. An $82 million subway platform verdict and a $60 million medical malpractice verdict followed. Construction cases dominated the top tier because of Labor Law 240(1), which imposes absolute liability for gravity-related injuries. Medical malpractice cases with catastrophic injuries consistently reach eight figures. Transit cases against the MTA produced multiple verdicts above $50 million as juries held the authority liable for decades of deferred safety upgrades.
New York produced the largest crane accident recovery in state history in 2025. A Brazilian tourist received an $82 million verdict after losing two limbs on subway tracks. A negligent epidural injection in Nassau County returned a $60 million verdict. An MTA bus collision produced a $53 million verdict.
$272.5M
Tribeca crane collapse settlement, 2025: the largest crane accident recovery in New York history. The 13 largest NY outcomes in 2024-2025 total more than $900 million.
These are not outliers. New York’s combination of strict liability construction laws, uncapped non-economic damages, and dense urban infrastructure produces a disproportionate share of the country’s largest personal injury outcomes every year.
We sorted New York’s largest 2024 and 2025 verdicts and settlements by case type to see what actually drives their value.
The 13 Largest Reported Outcomes
Top Tier: $100M and Above
| Amount | Type | Injuries | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $272.5M settlement | Construction (crane collapse) | Wrongful death, multiple severe injuries | 2025 |
| $182M+ settlement | Commuter rail crash | Multiple fatalities, severe injuries | 2026 |
Mid Tier: $40M to $99M
| Amount | Type | Injuries | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $82M verdict | Subway platform fall | Bilateral arm and leg amputation | 2025* |
| $60M verdict | Medical malpractice (epidural) | Permanent paraplegia | 2025 |
| $53.5M verdict | Construction (scaffold collapse) | Severe, unspecified | 2024-2025 |
| $53M verdict | Transit (bus collision) | Permanent injuries | 2025 |
| $40.3M verdict | Medical malpractice (stroke) | Stroke-related severe disability | 2024-2025 |
Second Tier: $20M to $40M
| Amount | Type | Injuries | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35.6M settlement | Medical malpractice (sinus fractures) | Severe brain damage | 2024 |
| $32.1M verdict | Premises liability (hotel) | Knee and back injuries | 2024 |
| $27.5M verdict | Pedestrian (bus strike) | Leg amputation | 2024-2025 |
| $26M settlement | Pedestrian (truck strike) | Wrongful death | 2024-2025 |
| $22.75M verdict | Subway trip and fall | Toe amputation | 2025 |
| $22.5M settlement | Auto (head-on collision) | 26 surgeries required | 2024-2025 |
* Verdict returned in 2025 for a 2016 incident.
The total reported value of these 13 outcomes exceeds $900 million.
Note
These outcomes come from public verdict and settlement reporting and involve other firms and parties. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case turns on its own facts.
Construction: Labor Law 240(1) Drives the Numbers
Construction sites produced several of the largest outcomes on this list. This is not a coincidence. New York’s Labor Law § 240(1) , the Scaffold Law, imposes absolute liability on property owners and general contractors for gravity-related injuries.
The key word is absolute. The injured worker does not need to prove the owner was negligent. The owner does not get to argue that the worker was partially at fault ( comparative negligence is not a defense).
The only defense is that the worker was the sole proximate cause of the injury, a nearly impossible burden to meet.
$272.5 million: The Tribeca crane collapse. On February 5, 2016, a 565-foot crawler crane toppled on Worth Street in lower Manhattan, killing one pedestrian and injuring three others. The operator had failed to properly secure the crane overnight while lowering it in 37 mph winds.
The settlement is the largest crane accident recovery in New York history. Multiple defendants, including the crane owner, operator, general contractor, and property owner, all contributed.
$272.5M
Settlement
Tribeca crane collapse, Worth Street, Manhattan (Feb 2016). Crawler crane toppled in high winds, killing one pedestrian and injuring three others. Largest crane accident recovery in New York history.
Theory: Labor Law § 240(1)
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Scaffold collapse. A jury returned a $53.5 million verdict for a worker injured in a scaffold failure. Under 240(1), the property owner bore absolute liability for the gravity-related injury regardless of which subcontractor controlled the scaffold.
$53.5M
Jury Verdict
Scaffold collapse. Worker injured in a gravity-related fall.
Theory: Labor Law § 240(1)
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Pepsi plant demolition. An asbestos handler fell 23 feet from a scaffold during demolition in Long Island City. Total recovery including annuity proceeds exceeded $25 million.
$16M
Settlement
Asbestos handler fell 23 feet from a scaffold during demolition in Long Island City. Total recovery including annuity proceeds exceeded $25 million.
Theory: Labor Law § 240(1)
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Scaffolding and spinal injury. In Cordova v. Conelle Construction Corp., a construction worker suffered spinal injuries in a scaffolding incident.
$10M
Settlement
Cordova v. Conelle Construction Corp. Construction worker suffered spinal injuries in a scaffolding incident.
Theory: Labor Law § 240(1)
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
The pattern: gravity-related injury + 240(1) absolute liability + catastrophic harm = eight- and nine-figure outcomes.
Medical Malpractice: Lifetime Care Costs
Medical malpractice cases dominate the verdict rankings because the provable damages are enormous. A patient left paralyzed by a botched procedure will need 24-hour care, specialized medical equipment, adapted housing, and ongoing therapy for a lifetime measured in decades.
Epidural paralysis in Nassau County. A former electrical mechanic was left permanently paraplegic after a negligent epidural steroid injection at the Pain Institute of Long Island. This ranked among the top five medical malpractice verdicts nationally in 2025.
$60M
Jury Verdict
Nassau County (2025). Permanent paraplegia after a negligent lumbar epidural steroid injection at the Pain Institute of Long Island. Ranked among the top five medical malpractice verdicts nationally in 2025.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Stroke mismanagement on Long Island. Two hospitals failed to properly manage a patient’s stroke, resulting in severe, permanent disability.
$40.3M
Jury Verdict
Nassau County (2025). St. Joseph Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital failed to deliver timely stroke treatment, leaving the patient paralyzed on his left side and wheelchair-bound.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Post-accident sinus fractures at Westchester Medical Center. Untreated sinus fractures from a car accident led to a spreading infection and severe brain damage when the medical team failed to diagnose and treat the fractures.
$35.6M
Settlement
Westchester County (2024). Untreated sinus fractures from a car accident led to infection and severe brain damage. Reported as the largest pre-verdict medical malpractice settlement in New York history.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
New York has no cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. Unlike many states that limit pain and suffering awards, New York juries can award what they believe the evidence supports.
This is a significant factor in why New York consistently produces the largest medical malpractice verdicts in the country. The Top 50 New York Verdicts 2024 from TopVerdict confirms that medical malpractice cases dominate the upper tier year after year.
Transit and MTA: Decades of Deferred Safety
The MTA and NYC Transit Authority produced four of the largest reported outcomes. These cases share a common thread: the authority knew about the hazard, had data quantifying the risk, and failed to implement available countermeasures.
$82 million: Brooklyn subway platform fall. A Brazilian tourist fainted on a Brooklyn subway platform and fell onto the tracks, losing her left arm and left leg. The jury found the MTA liable based on 15 years of platform fall data showing the risk was preventable.
Platform screen doors, standard in metro systems worldwide, do not exist in most NYC stations.
$82M
Jury Verdict
Brazilian tourist fainted and fell onto Brooklyn subway tracks (2016 incident, 2025 verdict). Lost left arm and left leg. MTA found liable based on 15 years of platform fall data.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
NYCTA bus collision. A bus operator was permanently injured when another NYCTA bus collided with his vehicle. Compelling visual evidence and expert medical testimony supported the verdict.
$53M
Jury Verdict
NYCTA bus operator permanently injured when another NYCTA bus collided with his vehicle.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Metro-North Valhalla crash. The commuter rail crash in Westchester County produced a record rail settlement in January 2026, with a 71% liability finding against the railroad after the deadliest crash in Metro-North’s history.
$182M+
Settlement
Metro-North Valhalla crash, Westchester County (2015 incident, January 2026 settlement). Six killed. Jury found Metro-North 71% liable. Record settlement following the deadliest crash in the railroad's history.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Subway trip and fall. A deliveryman tripped and fell at a subway station, losing several toes. This case demonstrates that even relatively limited physical injuries can produce substantial verdicts when the evidence shows the MTA knew about the hazardous condition.
$22.75M
Jury Verdict
Parkchester station, Bronx (2017 incident, 2025 verdict). Deliveryman tripped on a chipped platform and lost toes, plus pelvis, hip, and spine injuries.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
The MTA resolved 4,592 injury claims over the past five years, paying more than $431 million. These are not exceptional outcomes. They reflect a transit system where the infrastructure is over 120 years old and the gap between known hazards and implemented fixes is measured in decades.
Claims against the MTA require a notice of claim under General Municipal Law § 50-e within 90 days of the incident, a threshold that many families miss while focused on medical care.
Pedestrian Cases: The Human Cost
Bus strike with leg loss. A pedestrian struck by a bus lost her leg, in what the firm of record reports as the largest New York State verdict for leg amputation. The verdict reflects the lifetime impact: prosthetics, physical therapy, phantom pain, reduced mobility, lost earning capacity, and diminished quality of life.
$27.5M
Jury Verdict
Pedestrian struck by a bus lost her leg. Reported by the firm of record as the largest New York State verdict for leg amputation.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Truck fatality on 6th Avenue. The family of a 35-year-old woman killed by a truck in Manhattan received what is believed to be the largest wrongful death settlement for a single individual in New York history.
$26M
Settlement
35-year-old woman killed by a right-turning truck in a 6th Avenue crosswalk, Manhattan. Believed to be the largest wrongful death settlement for a single individual in New York history.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
Head-on collision in Somers. The plaintiff required 26 surgeries. The settlement reflects the cumulative medical costs and the long-term impact of repeated surgical interventions.
$22.5M
Settlement
Head-on collision in Somers. Plaintiff required 26 surgeries.
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
What These Cases Have in Common
Every outcome on this list shares three elements:
Catastrophic, documentable harm. Amputation, paralysis, brain damage, death. New York juries award large verdicts when the injuries are permanent, the medical evidence is clear, and the lifetime costs are provable.
Clear liability. Whether through Labor Law 240(1) absolute liability, medical standard of care violations, or MTA negligence with decades of data, each case had a straightforward liability story. The defendant knew or should have known. The defendant failed to act. The plaintiff was harmed.
New York law. No caps on non-economic damages. Absolute liability for gravity-related construction injuries under Labor Law § 240(1).
Comparative negligence under CPLR § 1411 that reduces rather than bars recovery for partial fault, though for motor vehicle lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, CPLR § 1411(b) bars recovery when the plaintiff’s fault is greater than the combined fault of the defendants.
A legal framework that holds government entities accountable for known hazards. Juries drawn from the five boroughs who understand the cost of living and medical care in this city.
The cases that reach these numbers are not random. They are the product of a legal system that takes catastrophic injury seriously and holds defendants accountable for the full scope of the harm they cause.
Sources
- TopVerdict.com. Top 50 New York Verdicts, 2024. https://topverdict.com/lists/2024/new-york/top-50-verdicts
- TopVerdict.com. Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements, New York, 2024. https://topverdict.com/lists/2024/new-york/top-20-personal-injury-settlements
- Gair Gair Conason Rubinowitz Bloom Hershenhorn Steigman Mackauf. Notable Verdicts and Settlements. https://www.gairgair.com/notable-verdicts-and-settlement-obtained-by-our-personal-injury.html
- Expert Institute. Top Personal Injury Payouts, 2025. https://www.expertinstitute.com/resources/insights/top-personal-injury-payouts/
- Chaikin Trial Group. $82M Verdict After Brooklyn Subway Horror. https://www.chaikintrialgroup.com/blog/82m-verdict-after-brooklyn-subway-horror-what-it-means-for-nyc-riders-today/
- Block O'Toole and Murphy. Verdicts and Settlements. https://www.blockotoole.com/verdicts-settlements/
- NY Senate. (2026). Bill A10008 (Chapter 58 of 2026): CPLR § 1411 Amendment. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10008
Updated July 11, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What was the largest personal injury settlement in New York in 2025?
The largest known personal injury settlement in New York in 2025 was $272.5 million, resulting from the 2016 Tribeca crane collapse on Worth Street in Manhattan. This is the largest crane accident recovery in New York history. The Metro-North Valhalla train crash settlement, reported at over $182 million in January 2026 with a 71% liability finding against the railroad, was a record settlement following the deadliest crash in the commuter rail's history.
- Why are New York personal injury verdicts so high?
New York's legal framework produces large verdicts for several reasons. Labor Law 240(1) imposes absolute liability on property owners and contractors for gravity-related construction injuries, removing the need to prove negligence. New York allows recovery for past and future pain and suffering with no statutory cap on non-economic damages. Juries in New York City are drawn from the five boroughs, where the cost of living, medical care, and lost wages are among the highest in the country. And New York's no-fault insurance threshold requires plaintiffs to prove 'serious injury' before suing, which means the cases that reach trial tend to involve severe, documented harm.
- What types of cases produce the highest verdicts in New York?
Construction accident cases, medical malpractice with catastrophic injuries, and transit cases against the MTA consistently produce the highest verdicts in New York. Construction cases benefit from Labor Law 240(1) strict liability. Medical malpractice cases involving birth injuries, paralysis, or brain damage regularly exceed $50 million because lifetime care costs are provable and enormous. MTA and transit cases have produced multiple verdicts above $50 million because juries can assess the authority's decades of data on known hazards.
- How long does it take to get a verdict in a New York personal injury case?
Most of the largest verdicts reported in 2024 and 2025 involved incidents that occurred years earlier. The $82 million subway verdict in 2025 stemmed from a 2016 accident. The Tribeca crane settlement resolved a 2016 collapse. Complex personal injury litigation in New York typically takes 3 to 7 years from incident to trial or settlement, depending on the severity of injuries, number of defendants, and court backlog. Cases against government entities like the MTA often take longer due to the Notice of Claim requirement and procedural hurdles.
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Antin, J. S. (2026, April 4). Biggest NY Personal Injury Verdicts, 2024-2025. AEE Law Insights. https://aeelaw.com/insights/biggest-personal-injury-verdicts-ny-2025/
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