Burden of Proof
Frequently asked questions for burden of proof
When you file a personal injury or another civil lawsuit in New York, the petitioner or claimant has the burden to prove the case. The same is true for the prosecutor in a criminal case. There are, however, varying degrees of this burden. Knowing which applies in your case matters because it determines the extent to which you must prove your case.
Recoveries on this page
$25,000 – $170,000
Settlement and award figures from the nine cases listed below.
Contingency
No fee unless we win
You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Office
Kew Gardens, Queens
80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 201, Kew Gardens, NY 11415.
At Ryan Injury Firm, our personal injury lawyer in New York will review your case and determine your legal options. Once you decide how to proceed, a strategy will be put into place, and that involves making sure the burden of proof is properly addressed and adequately implemented. It is our goal to get you the best possible outcome in terms of compensation, and proving your case is our objective to meet that goal. Contact us today at (212) 441-4352 to schedule a Free Consultation.
Burden of Proof and Insurance Adjusters
Often, before a personal injury case goes to court, a settlement will be attempted via your lawyer and the insurance company. Most cases, in fact, settle outside of court. There is no burden of proof requirement during this period of negotiations. Burden of proof is an element of the court system.
That said, it is important that even during negotiations, your personal injury lawyer treats your case as though you were going to trial. That means making sure you satisfy the burden of proof. The problem is this: many lawyers may not uphold this principle, and that leaves room for vulnerabilities in the negotiation process.
At Ryan Injury Firm, our personal injury lawyer will ensure your interests are represented and your case is well-supported and documented during the negotiation process. We want to make sure the insurance company knows we are serious about getting you fair and just compensation. If they do not, then a lawsuit may have to be filed, and we will already be prepared for it.
Burden of Proof in New York Personal Injury Cases
The burden of proof identifies which party is responsible for proving their case in court. The standard of proof is the threshold to which a party must prove its case to win. In other words, it’s the level of evidence necessary to establish a claim.
The party with the burden of proof proves their case by presenting evidence to the judge and jury.
Most people are familiar with the burden of proof referred to as “beyond a reasonable doubt.” However, this is a very high standard of proof that only applies in criminal cases. Civil cases use lower standards of proof, either “a preponderance of the evidence” or “clear and convincing evidence.”
A preponderance of the evidence is the most common standard of proof required in personal injury cases.
Preponderance of the Evidence
- To prove something by a preponderance of the evidence, it must be “more likely than not” that a party’s version of events is true. In other words, there must be at least a 51% chance that their version of events is true.
- In a personal injury case, the plaintiff has the burden of proof. They must prove each element of their claim on a preponderance of the evidence, including the following four main elements of a personal injury case:
- The defendant owed them a duty of care.
- The defendant breached that duty of care.
- This breach caused an injury to the plaintiff.
- The plaintiff sustained monetarily-quantifiable damages as a result.
- A defendant in a personal injury case does not have to prove anything. If a plaintiff’s evidence is weak, a defendant may say nothing and simply let the judge or jury decide whether the plaintiff has proved their case to the necessary standard.
- However, if a defendant raises an affirmative defense, such as assumption of risk or comparative negligence, the burden of proof shifts to them and they must prove the elements of their defense. In personal injury cases, the standard of proof that usually applies to affirmative defenses is also by a preponderance of the evidence.
Clear and Convincing Evidence
When a plaintiff seeks punitive damages (i.e., damages that go beyond economic and non-economic compensatory damages and are more about deterrence and punishment) in a personal injury case, a higher standard of proof applies. They must show they are entitled to punitive damages by clear and convincing evidence.
Clear and convincing evidence means there is a high probability that the plaintiff’s assertion is true. In other words, the plaintiff must prove that their claim that punitive damages are necessary is highly and substantially more likely to be true than not.
This standard of proof is also referred to as “clear, convincing, and satisfactory” or “clear, unequivocal, satisfactory, and convincing” evidence.
Clear and convincing evidence is a higher standard of proof than a preponderance of the evidence (but less than beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof), so punitive damages are awarded in more limited circumstances.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in New York Today
If you or a loved one have a personal injury claim or think you may have one, it is in your best interests to speak to a personal injury lawyer in New York. There are statutes of limitations imposed on these types of claims, and the clock starts clicking on the date of the injury (or on the date you reasonably should have known about the injury). Contact Ryan Injury Firm today, and our personal injury lawyer will schedule a Free to discuss your case and to ensure there is enough evidence (or will be enough) to satisfy the burden of proof.
Selected results
Outcomes that speak for themselves.
A selection of recent matters across New York City — the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Open any case to read how it was resolved.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome — every case is different, and past verdicts and settlements are no guarantee of future results.
01 Trip-and-fall on a City sidewalk $2.946M
Our client tripped and fell on a public sidewalk in front of a private home in the City of New York. He missed a significant amount of time from work and needed surgery as a result of the accident. He was eventually awarded more than $2.946 million.
02 Trip-and-fall on a City sidewalk $2.25M
Our client tripped and fell on a public sidewalk in front of a private home. Our office found documents through Freedom of Information Law searches that established Prior Written Notice of the defective sidewalk, and the case settled for hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the City initially said it would pay.
03 City negligence in a Sanitation garage $1.85M
Our client was injured inside a Sanitation garage. We helped him obtain his three-quarter disability pension and a $1.85 million settlement. We pushed the case to trial and obtained a settlement well over the City’s initial offers.
04 Trip-and-fall inside a DSNY garage $1.325M
Our client was a DSNY Supervisor who fell inside the garage where he was stationed. He ultimately had surgery, was forced to retire, and received a three-quarter disability pension. After we found documents showing the City knew of problems inside that garage, the City paid $1,325,000 to settle while the case was on the trial calendar.
05 Rear-end collision $1.1M
Our client was injured in a rear-end collision. The defendant claimed our client’s prior injuries were the real cause of the accident and the surgery. Our firm won Summary Judgment on Liability and prepared the case for trial. The defendant eventually offered $1.1 million while the case was on the trial calendar.
06 Broken pavement in a Sanitation parking lot $939K
Our client was a DSNY employee who fell on uneven pavement in a DSNY parking lot. The City’s first offer was $100,000. We pushed the case to trial and settled for $939,000 while the case was on the trial calendar.
07 Pedestrian knockdown $775K
Our client was struck while crossing the street. The defendant testified that our client was outside the crosswalk. We tried the case, and the jury found the defendant 100% liable; our client recovered $775,000.
08 Trial by another firm’s referral $770K
Our firm was hired for trial by another firm. The defendant’s pre-trial offer was $50,000. Our firm obtained a liability verdict for the plaintiff, who recovered $770,000.
09 Kings County damages verdict $750K
Lead trial attorney on a $750,000 verdict in Kings County (Brooklyn). The defendant’s pre-trial offer was under $25,000. Mr. Ryan obtained a liability verdict holding both defendants responsible, then a damages verdict of $750,000.
10 DSNY supervisor trip-and-fall $675K
Our client was a Sanitation Supervisor who fell on uneven pavement in a parking lot. He eventually underwent surgery because of the accident. We obtained a settlement of $675,000.
11 DSNY worker injured by defective equipment $475K
Our client was injured by a defect in equipment provided to him. The City initially denied anything was wrong with the equipment, and a prior firm declined the case. Patrick Griesbach obtained a $475,000 settlement after depositions concluded.
12 Slip on ice in a parking lot $450K
Our client fell on ice in a parking lot. The defendants moved for summary judgment asking the court to dismiss the case. We defeated the motion and settled the matter for $450,000.
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