A Fighter in Your Corner — Not a File on a Pile
I became a personal injury attorney because I wanted to be on the right side of the fight. Thirty years later, that hasn't changed. What has changed is what I've seen — how insurance companies operate, how defense lawyers delay, and how quickly an injured person can feel lost inside a legal system that wasn't built with them in mind.
At Gottfried Law Group, I handle your case personally. Not a paralegal. Not an associate you've never met. Me. You'll have my cell number, and I mean that.
Negligence in Plain Terms: What It Means and Why It Matters
Negligence is the legal standard that determines whether someone else is responsible for your injuries. When a property owner ignores a dangerous condition, a driver runs a red light, or a contractor cuts corners on a job site — and someone gets hurt as a result — that's negligence. It's not a complicated idea. It's accountability.
New York law recognizes negligence as the foundation of most personal injury claims, including premises liability cases, auto accidents, and construction site injuries. If your injury happened because someone failed to act with reasonable care, you likely have a claim worth exploring.
I Know the Bronx Courts. I've Argued There Hundreds of Times.
My practice is Bronx-based by choice, not by convenience. I'm an active member of the Bronx County Bar Association, and I've argued in Bronx County Supreme Court more times than I can count. I know the judges, the procedures, and the defense firms that show up on the other side of these cases. That familiarity matters when we're fighting for your recovery.
I'm admitted to practice in New York State, the Southern District of New York (SDNY), and the Eastern District of New York (EDNY). I've also served as a CLE lecturer — teaching other attorneys the same litigation techniques I use on behalf of my clients. And I've been appointed by the New York Appellate Division as a peer for the Departmental Disciplinary Committee, a role that reflects the trust the court places in my standing as a practitioner.
The cases I handle span the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, as well as Westchester County and surrounding areas. If you were hurt in New York, I want to talk.
Small Firm Focus. The Experience to Take On Anyone.
People sometimes worry that a boutique firm can't stand up to a major insurance company or a corporate defendant with a full legal team. I understand that concern. But I built one of those large firms — and I know exactly how they think and where they can be beaten.
The advantage of working directly with me is that nothing gets lost in translation between you and your lawyer. I know your case because I worked it. I know the facts because I took the deposition. I know the argument because I wrote the brief. That level of personal involvement is something you can't get from a firm that treats cases as inventory.
Bilingual Legal Counsel — English and Spanish
A significant part of the Bronx community speaks Spanish as a first language, and navigating the legal system in a second language creates real disadvantages when you're already dealing with an injury. I provide legal consultations and ongoing case communication in both English and Spanish. This isn't a translation service bolted onto a standard intake process — it's a genuine commitment to making sure every client understands exactly what's happening with their case, in the language they're most comfortable using.
Si usted o un familiar resultó herido en un accidente, llámenos. Hablamos español.
Recognized by the Press as a Legal Authority in New York
My cases and legal commentary have been featured in The New York Times, the New York Post, the Daily News, and on 1010 WINS Radio. When journalists covering New York personal injury law need a source who can speak plainly about how these cases work and what victims are entitled to, they call me. That visibility reflects something I've worked to build over thirty years: a reputation for knowing this area of law better than almost anyone practicing it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eric Gottfried and Gottfried Law Group
How long has Eric Gottfried been practicing personal injury law?
I've been practicing personal injury law continuously since 1995 — more than 30 years. I've handled hundreds of cases across every major category of personal injury, from slip and fall and construction accidents to brain injuries and wrongful death.
What does it mean that Eric is a Super Lawyers honoree?
Super Lawyers is a peer-nomination and independent research process that recognizes attorneys who have achieved a high degree of professional achievement and peer recognition. I've been named to the New York Metro Area Super Lawyers list every year from 2009 through 2026, with two brief gaps — one of the longest consecutive streaks of any personal injury attorney based in the Bronx.
Will Eric Gottfried personally handle my case?
Yes. I personally handle every aspect of my clients' matters — from the initial consultation through depositions, motion practice, and trial. You won't be handed off to someone you've never met. I'm directly reachable, including evenings and weekends, and I give every client my cell number.
Does Gottfried Law Group handle cases in Spanish?
Yes. I provide consultations and ongoing case communication in both English and Spanish. If you're more comfortable speaking Spanish, we can conduct every conversation in Spanish from your first call through the resolution of your case.
Does it cost anything to speak with Eric about my case?
No. Initial consultations are free, and I work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront legal fees.
What kinds of cases does Gottfried Law Group handle?
I represent injury victims in premises liability cases — including slip and fall, trip and fall, snow and ice accidents, and lead poisoning — as well as auto accidents, construction and job site injuries, brain injuries, wrongful death claims, and catastrophic injury cases throughout New York City and surrounding counties.
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*Gottfried Law Group, PLLC is a Bronx-based personal injury firm founded by Eric Gottfried, a New York Metro Area Super Lawyer recognized every year from 2009 through 2026 and named among the Top 50 Lawyers in America in 2024. With more than 30 years of plaintiff-side litigation experience, Eric has personally handled thousands of injury cases across New York City and the surrounding counties. Learn more about Eric's background and credentials on our About page.*
Eric Gottfried is a New York personal injury attorney with more than 30 years of plaintiff-side litigation experience, recognized by Super Lawyers every year from 2009 through 2026 and named among the Top 50 Lawyers in America in 2024. He is an active member of the Bronx County Bar Association, admitted to practice in the SDNY and EDNY, and has served as a CLE lecturer and Appellate Division peer appointee. His practice is built on personal involvement, direct access, and a record of results that speaks for itself.
