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You must file tort claims against the City with the City Comptroller. By law, claims must be filed within 90 days of the incident.

The New York City Comptroller’s Office is responsible for overseeing the resolution and settlement of claims filed against or on behalf of the City of New York. After a claim is received, the Comptroller’s Office will investigate the claim. The Comptroller’s Office may extend an offer to settle the claim based on the results of the investigation.

Please note that filing a claim does not guarantee a settlement.

The Comptroller's Office does not accept claims against the following agencies:

  • Battery Park City Authority
  • Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MABSTOA)
  • MTA New York City Transit Authority
  • MTA Bridges and Tunnels / Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority
  • New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
  • New York City School Construction Authority
  • NYS Education Department
  • Port Authority of NY and NJ

For claims against these agencies, you would have to file it directly with them.

You can get more detailed information as well as a copy of the claim form.

Online

Get instructions and forms for filing a claim against the City.

By Phone

You can get more information and request a claim form to be mailed to you through the Comptroller's Office.

Claims cannot be filed by phone.

  • Agency: Comptroller
  • Division: Community Action Center
  • Phone Number: (212) 669-3916
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

The types of tort claims that can be filed include:

  • Personal Injury
  • Property Damage:
    • Property Damage or Loss
    • Automobile Property Damage 
    • Water Damage 
  • Law:
    • Salary
    • Law Dispute 
    • Sidewalk Assessment 

You can file a claim online, by registered or certified mail, or in person. You must choose only one method of filing a claim. 

Claims cannot be filed by phone, email, or fax.

Do not file the same claim both electronically and using a paper form. Do not file the same claim more than once electronically. 

Only Personal Injury and Property Damage-based claims can be filed online.

The claim must be filed within 90 days of the date of the incident.

Filing Claims Online

You can only file a tort claim using the eClaim system. A tort claim is a personal injury claim due to alleged negligence on the part of the City or a City employee or involves property damage as a result of the alleged reckless behavior of a City employee in the course of that employee’s work. 

After submitting a claim, a message confirming the submission of your claim will appear on screen. You must print this confirmation for your records.

Use the eClaim system to file a Personal Injury or Property Damage-Based Claim.

    Filing Claims By Mail or In Person

    The Notice of Claim form must be:

    • Completed in ink
    • Signed
    • Notarized

    Submit your form in person, or by registered or certified mail, to:

    The Comptroller of the City of New York
    Municipal Building – Room 1225
    1 Centre Street
    New York, New York 10007

    The service window for the New York City Office of the Comptroller is open for in-person claim form submissions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 AM to 1 PM.

    Submitting a Service Request Before Filing a Claim

    Although a service request is not required to file a claim, it is recommended that you submit a service request as a record of the incident depending on the situation.

    Some examples of recommended service requests that could be filed for record keeping purposes include but are not limited to:

    The following bridges and tunnels are part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). For claims involving the following bridges and tunnels, visit the Metropolitan Transportation Authority website.

    •   Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
    •   Cross Bay Bridge
    •   Henry Hudson Bridge
    •   Hugh L Carey Tunnel (Brooklyn Battery Tunnel)
    •   Marine Parkway – Gil Hodges
    •   Memorial Bridge
    •   Queens Midtown Tunnel
    •   Robert F Kennedy Bridge (Triborough Bridge)
    •   Throgs Neck Bridge
    •   Verrazano – Narrows Bridge

    The following bridges and tunnels are part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. For claims involving the following bridges and tunnels, visit the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey website.

    •    Bayonne Bridge
    •    George Washington Bridge
    •    Goethals Bridge
    •    Holland Tunnel
    •    Lincoln Tunnel
    •    Outerbridge Crossing

    You can contact the Comptroller's Office to check the status of a claim.

    You can also ask questions about the claim process after a claim is submitted.

    • Agency: Comptroller
    • Division: Community Action Center
    • Phone Number: (212) 669-3916
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

    You can get technical assistance with filing a claim online.

    • Agency: Comptroller
    • Division: Technical Support Line
    • Phone Number: (212) 669-4118
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
    • If you get the voicemail system, leave a message with your contact information. Your call will be returned during agency business hours, except City Holidays.