John Richmond, Co-Founder and CEO
- October 8, 2026
A serious injury can disrupt your life before you have time to process what happened. While you’re attending medical appointments and worrying about mounting bills, an insurance adjuster may be pressing you for answers you aren’t ready to provide.
Richmond Vona represents Niagara Falls residents and visitors injured in the city. We begin by listening to your story and understanding how the injury has affected you and your family. Then, we handle communications with the insurance companies, investigate what happened, and build a claim that accounts for the full extent of your losses.
- Why Choose Richmond Vona For Your Niagara Falls Personal Injury Case?
- Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
- Where Personal Injury Accidents Commonly Occur in Niagara Falls
- How New York Laws Can Affect Your Personal Injury Case
- How to Prove Liability in a Personal Injury Case
- What Compensation May Be Available?
- How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Claim?
- How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
- How Can Richmond Vona Help After an Accident?
- Trust a Niagara Falls Personal Injury Lawyer Near You From Richmond Vona
Why Choose Richmond Vona For Your Niagara Falls Personal Injury Case?
When people come to us for help, they want straight answers and a legal team that knows the community. Our Niagara Falls office isn’t just a pin on a map. Attorney Brian Alterio was born and raised here in Niagara Falls. Our Co-Founder and CEO John Richmond has family from Niagara Falls, and his father grew up there. We know the Niagara County courts. We also understand the local providers and insurers that often become part of a case.
When you work with Richmond Vona:
- A two- to three-person team manages your case and keeps it moving
- You get updates without having to chase your attorney down
- We always prepare for court, so we’re ready if case litigation supports a better result for your claim
- You pay no upfront fee, and we only receive a fee if we recover compensation for you
What Our Clients Say
Communication matters here, especially when you’re hurt and unsure what comes next. Testimonials from the people we’ve represented reflect the care we bring to each case and the work we put into pursuing strong results for injury victims in Niagara Falls.
Absolute amazing firm. Everyone is so friendly and they work hard! Could not recommend enough
The Richmond Vona team provided exceptional support and expertise throughout my case, maintaining a high level of professionalism and true dedication from start to finish. Their commitment has earned my complete trust, and I am genuinely grateful. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone in need of legal assistance!
The legal staff are extremely friendly, and the attorneys demonstrate high intelligence, providing insightful advice and strategies. I highly recommend this firm for its expertise and the supportive atmosphere it cultivates.
Proven Results for Injury Clients
Richmond Vona has recovered more than $250 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients. Results from Niagara Falls include:
- $675,000 slip and fall settlement: Our client suffered serious knee injuries after tripping in a pothole in a commercial parking lot in the town of Niagara. The case was especially challenging because the client had prior injuries and required multiple surgeries. Our team prepared the case for trial before reaching a settlement through mediation.
- $250,000 car accident settlement: A driver pulled directly into our client’s path in a parking lot, severely aggravating an existing lower back condition. Imaging revealed multiple disc extrusions compressing the nerve roots, and our client ultimately required surgery. Despite the preexisting injuries and the client’s continued employment, we demonstrated how the collision caused additional harm and secured compensation to support their ongoing medical care.
- $195,000 car accident settlement: Our client required extensive surgery after being struck by a speeding police vehicle that did not have its lights or siren activated. To establish recklessness, our team obtained body camera footage showing the officer holding a phone and worked with local experts to analyze the vehicle’s data. This investigation helped us recover the full amount of compensation available.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
When someone else’s negligence causes an injury, the person hurt may have the right to seek compensation. Richmond Vona handles cases involving:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Premises liability
- Construction accidents
- Catastrophic injury cases
- Wrongful death claims
If you’ve been wrongfully injured in any way, call us today. We’ll listen to what happened and tell you whether it’s a case we can help you with.
Where Personal Injury Accidents Commonly Occur in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls roads carry daily commuters and visitors unfamiliar with the area. Crashes can happen on Niagara Falls Boulevard, Pine Avenue, Buffalo Avenue, I-190, Rainbow Boulevard, and Niagara Scenic Parkway. Injuries also occur at tourist attractions and shopping centers. Construction zones present additional risks.
If you live outside New York, you don’t need to hire a lawyer in your home state. A New York personal injury lawyer will understand the laws and deadlines that apply, along with the courts and insurers involved. You can still work with the firm remotely after returning home.
How New York Laws Can Affect Your Personal Injury Case
How Comparative Fault Can Affect Your Claim
Sharing some responsibility for an injury does not always prevent you from recovering compensation. Under New York’s comparative fault law, your share of fault can reduce the amount you recover. Different rules apply to certain claims involving motor vehicles, so the effect of shared fault depends on the circumstances of your case.
No-Fault Insurance and the Serious Injury Threshold
“No-fault” sounds simpler than it is. The coverage generally pays certain medical costs and lost earnings without first deciding who caused the crash. It doesn’t automatically cover pain and suffering.
To seek those damages from an at-fault driver, the injury must meet New York’s serious injury definition. Qualifying injuries include fractures, significant disfigurement, permanent loss of use, and certain permanent or significant limitations. Medical records need to show how the injury affects your life. Motorcycles are generally excluded from no-fault coverage.
How to Prove Liability in a Personal Injury Case
Liability is the legal term for responsibility. To prove negligence, we need to establish four points:
- Someone owed you a duty of care
- They breached it
- That failure caused your injury
- You suffered real losses as a result
That may sound straightforward, but insurance companies rarely treat it that way. We investigate early so that records can be requested and physical evidence preserved.
Evidence That Can Help Prove Liability
A wet-floor case isn’t built with the same records as an I-190 collision. Useful evidence in a personal injury claim may include:
- Police or incident reports
- Medical records and diagnostic imaging
- Photos and video, including surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Employment, inspection, maintenance, or safety records
- Testimony from medical professionals or accident reconstruction witnesses
What Compensation May Be Available?
The value of your claim depends on how the injury affects your life, future care needs, available insurance, and fault. Compensation may include:
- Economic damages: Medical care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and documented expenses such as property damage.
- Non-economic damages: Pain, emotional distress, scarring, and loss of enjoyment of everyday activities. These losses don’t come with receipts but can be a major part of a claim.
Accepting a settlement and signing a release generally ends your right to seek additional compensation from the released parties, even if your future expenses turn out to be greater than expected.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Claim?
Three years can sound like plenty of time, but it moves quickly when you’re receiving treatment. New York’s personal injury statute of limitations generally allows three years to file a lawsuit. A wrongful death lawsuit must usually be filed within two years, while a municipal claim may require notice within 90 days.
Acting early also helps preserve evidence. Witness memories fade, and camera footage can be erased. An insurer may stop responding or repeatedly request records, but those tactics don’t pause the deadline. Starting the investigation promptly leaves more time to determine which filing rules apply.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Money may already be tight after an injury. Richmond Vona offers free consultations and handles personal injury cases on contingency, so there’s no upfront attorney fee or hourly bill. The firm receives an agreed-upon percentage only if it recovers compensation on your behalf. If there’s no recovery, you don’t owe any attorney’s fee.
This arrangement makes legal help available without taking money from treatment or household bills. Handling a claim alone may seem cheaper, but you could miss available coverage or lose important evidence. You might also accept a settlement before the full cost of your injuries is clear.
How Can Richmond Vona Help After an Accident?
From the first consultation, Richmond Vona focuses on protecting your rights and taking some pressure off your shoulders. The team identifies deadlines and handles the insurance company, so you don’t have to manage its calls or weigh an early offer alone.
To build your claim, the team investigates the accident and gathers reports, video, witness accounts, and medical records. That evidence helps establish fault and document the full effect of your injuries.
Your attorneys then negotiate for a settlement that reflects those losses, but you decide whether to accept. If the insurer won’t make a fair offer, they’re prepared to represent you at trial. Throughout the case, your legal team keeps you updated and explains what comes next.
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This law firm goes above and beyond to fight for you. Their entire team treats you with respect and truly cares about your well-being. Look no further if you need a personal injury lawyer.
John Richmond and the team at Richmond Vona did an incredible job with my complicated personal injury case. They made sure no stone was unturned and got me the settlement I deserved for my situation. They treat you well, explain everything you need to know and more so you are always in the loop about the status of your case. John was easy to get in touch with anytime during the process and made signing paperwork easy and understandable. Their entire staff is professional and helpful throughout the process These guys are fair, trustworthy, and will stand up for you!
This firm’s attention to detail is second to none. It’s evident that they are true professionals and really care about their injured clients. This is the firm to call if you have been seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence.