Steven J. Schwartzapfel

Schwartzapfel Lawyers - Garden City
Schwartzapfel Lawyers - Garden City
600 Old Country Road, #450, Garden City, NY 11530 United States

Founding Partner


For more than 35 years, Steven Schwartzapfel®, the founding member of Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C., has been one of New York’s most prominent personal injury attorneys. Steve represents clients in all types of personal injury cases. His experience, skill and dedication have enabled Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C. to recover hundreds of millions of dollars for their clients.


A Passion for Justice

Schwartzapfel® Lawyers treats clients like family. Steve’s passion for helping those in need stems from his childhood. His father suffers from multiple sclerosis and Steve experienced firsthand the devastating impact it has on the individual as well as the entire family. Steve understands the stress and frustration of not being able to do the simple things most people take for granted, such as getting out of bed, dressing, working and paying bills. He can relate to the losses the entire family suffers when a loved one is injured, maimed, disabled or killed as a result of someone else’s wrongdoing.


Highly Recognized Trial Lawyer and Strategic Negotiator

Insurance companies and defense lawyers know that Steve and his team of trial attorneys have the experience, skills, reputation and resources to successfully litigate and take every case to verdict, regardless of how powerful or big the defendant or insurance company may be. Steve refuses to be out lawyered or outspent.


Steve doesn’t accept every case but, when Steve takes a case, the insurance companies and defense counsel know the case has merit, they are well prepared, and it will be litigated aggressively and zealously. The insurance companies know that Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C. will take a case to verdict and see it all the way through appeal. As such, most insurance companies settle and pay Steve’s clients more money than lawyers without his reputation, resources, track record of litigating, and 99% client satisfaction rate on all personal injury cases.


Sometimes resolving a case sooner and with certainty rather than gambling on what a jury might decide is the preferable path. When counseling a client on whether to proceed to verdict or accept a settlement, Steve provides open and honest advice, as if he were speaking to a family member.


Dedicated to the Community and Legal Justice

Steve is a certified member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a prestigious group of U.S. trial lawyers who have won multi-million dollar verdicts and/or settlements. He is also involved in several advocacy organizations that protect the rights of injured clients. Steve has lectured at legal seminars both in and out of the country to lawyers and judges alike. He has lectured on such topics as maximizing damages and case value, negotiation, strategies and tactics, statutes, insurance issues, law office management, client relations and ethics.


The American Bar Foundation named Steve a Life Fellow in recognition of his service to the community. Steve supports a long list of charities, including establishing scholarships at Pace University Law School and Touro Law School. 


In addition, Steve has established the Schwartzapfel® Lawyers Humanitarian Scholarship for high school graduates who plan on focusing their studies to enter public service fields such as teachers, social workers, doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, attorneys, etc.


Steve has seen the devastating and often deadly effects of young people texting, drinking and driving. Steve volunteers his time and serves on New York State’s MADD executive advisory board co-chairing the legislative committee. 


AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

The National Trial Lawyers Association – Top 100 is an invitation-only professional organization composed of and limited to the Top 100 attorneys from each state or region who serve individuals and families who need attorneys to represent them in the American legal system regarding civil plaintiff claims.


Selection to America’s Top 100 Attorneys® is by invitation only and is comprised of the nation’s most exceptional attorneys. Selection is achieved based on a lifetime of hard work, ethical standards, and community enriching events. Less than 0.5% of active attorneys in the U.S. will receive this honor — truly the most exclusive and elite level of attorneys in the nation.


The National Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association – Top 25 is an invitation-only professional organization composed of and limited to the Top 25 attorneys from each state or region who serve individuals and families who need attorneys to represent them in the American legal system regarding motor vehicle claims.


Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.


The 2015 Litigator Awards, which represents the highest honors in Trial LawThe 2015 Litigator Awards™ represent the highest honors in Trial Law, and justly stand as the nation’s most coveted symbol of “Litigation Achievement”.


The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States.The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements.


The National Brain Injury Trial Lawyers AssociationThe National Brain Injury Trial Lawyers Association – Top 25 is an invitation-only professional organization composed of and limited to the Top 25 attorneys from each state or region who serve individuals and families who need attorneys to represent them in the American legal system regarding brain injury claims.Formed in 2001 to recognize the outstanding achievements of lawyers who have obtained a high level of respect. ELA has recognized Schwartzapfel® Lawyers.


The Elite Lawyers of America organization was formed in 2001 in order to recognize the outstanding achievements of a select group of lawyers who have obtained a high level of respect and recognition in their respective areas of practice.


At Leaders In The Law, our goal is to connect lawyers and potential clients. We offer consumers and businesses one of the top resources in the U.S. for finding the right lawyer and help attorneys share their achievements and success stories with millions of people.


Awards, Recognition, and Memberships

Recognized as a Super Lawyer for 10 consecutive years as featured in The New York Times. Recognized in Legal Leaders as a Top Rated Lawyer featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Law Journal, Newsday, American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel and National Law Journal, as produced by ALM. Top Rated Lawyer as featured in New York Magazine based upon having received a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating Leader in Law as featured in Newsweek Top Legal Eagle as featured in Long Island Pulse Magazine Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Association Elite Lawyers of America, award for obtaining verdicts and/or settlements of at least 2 million dollars Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, certified member Litigators Award, rendered with reference to the firm’s million and multi-million dollar verdicts/settlements New York State Trial Lawyers Association, director emeritus, former parliamentarian and President elect Alliance for Consumer Rights, President New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, founding member, former director, first vice president and President elect New York County Bar Association Committee on Professional Discipline Judicial screening committees, New York State Supreme Court Judicial screening committees, Appellate Division


Practice Areas

Catastrophic Injury

Wrongful Death

Construction Site Injuries

Slips, Trips and Falls

Auto, Truck, Bus and Motorcycle Accidents

Highway Design Defects

Medical Malpractice

Nursing Home Neglect

Products Liability

Workers’ Compensation

Social Security Disability

Mass Tort Litigation


Bar Admissions

New York

U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York


Education

B.A., State University of New York at Buffalo, with honors, 1977

J.D., Pace University School of Law, 1980

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