General Information

Year founded: 1974
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Logo for Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP

Overview

Content is provided by the firm.

At Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, in Olean, New York, we stand up for the rights of people who have suffered severe and life-changing injuries. Our clients are people who have suffered due to the careless and negligent actions of other people, businesses and organizations. If you have been treated unfairly and suffered an injury as a result, we are here to make sure you are treated fairly in the legal system. We have the skill, experience and resources to make a difference. Our focus is to deter unsafe conduct and the most effective way to do that is to hold someone accountable who has chosen to put their interests ahead of society's. Most people are good and do the right thing but, some chose to take shortcuts, to be careless and then not take responsibility when they hurt someone. Our job is to hold them accountable and by doing so, we may be able to prevent them from hurting someone else down the road.

We limit our practice to handling personal injury cases in New York and Pennsylvania. Our attorneys and staff have all been uniquely trained in these types of cases to provide you with the best results possible.

Rankings

Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP is metro ranked in 3 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.

Read how Best Law Firms ranks firms

Metro Rankings

Buffalo
Tier 1 for Litigation - Insurance
Tier 1 for Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

About Our Clients

Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, is a full-service law firm that practices with a small-town touch. If you wish us to review any claim, we would be pleased to set up an interview, either in our office or your home or hospital room if you cannot travel. Regardless of where we meet, you will have an opportunity to speak with the attorney who will handle your case from start to finish. You will also have an opportunity to meet with our staff and our registered nurses. Hopefully, we can answer any questions that you may have and together arrive at a plan on how to assist you.

Once you retain our firm, we will get to work immediately. We complete most of our investigations within a matter of days. We will collect all your medical records and ensure, where possible, that all your medical bills are being paid and that you are receiving compensation for your lost wages (in automobile accidents or injuries that occur during work). Often, the biggest delay is in obtaining medical records and specific letters from your treating physicians describing your injuries and prognosis. Once we receive all of the necessary medical records, they are then submitted to the various insurance companies for their review. It is our goal, that within 90 days of our initial meeting with you that we can accurately predict how your case will be resolved. Obviously, it can vary depending on the extent of your injuries or any difficulties encountered during our investigation.

Highlighted Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Litigation - Insurance
We use Black, Lyle & Habberfield after a family member was significantly injured by a motor vehicle. Throughout the entire process, the firm was responsive to our concerns, took time to address any questions we had and kept us in the loop. Due to the experience of the firm, the process went very smoothly and exceptional results were obtained.
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Black, Lyle & Habberfield is very experienced with personal injury litigation, and it was evident by how quickly our claim was settled.
Litigation - Insurance
Very effective and profession service law office
Larry Smyers
Litigation - Insurance
Fantastic to work with.
Sean Haggerty, NA – NA
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Everything that a client could ever need in a personal injury lawyer can be found at this firm. Caring, responsive people who are focused on doing good work for their clients. I cannot say enough nice things about this law firm.
Chris O'Brien
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Exceptional advocacy from the whole Black, Lyle & Habberfield team from beginning to the very end! They were professional and thorough. They are not afraid of challenges, and ultimately, they conquer them.
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
I was told by other lawyers that I did not have a case. Kevin Habberfield took on my case knowing that it was not going to be an easy one to win. He was successful in getting me a settlement in my slip and fall case and I was very appreciative of that. Kevin is professional and he kept me informed on the status of my case every step of the way. He is also very knowledgeable in New York as well as Pennsylvania law, which is what was needed to win my case. I would highly recommend Kevin Habberfield of Black, Lyle & Habberfield to anyone who needs a good lawyer.
Kathy Freeman
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
They are hardworking, relentless and have an extremely deep and thorough knowledge of the law. Black, Lyle & Habberfield has great advocates.

Rankings

Regional Rankings

Buffalo
Tier 1 for Litigation - Insurance
Tier 1 for Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Practice Areas

The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
  • Construction Law
  • Insurance Law
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Professional Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP has 4 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings. For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards. Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
Spinning circle
{{ practiceAreaName }}
{{ lawyer.FirstName[0] }}{{ lawyer.LastName[0] }} {{ lawyer.FirstName[0] }}{{ lawyer.LastName[0] }} {{ lawyer.Locations[0].City }}{{lawyer.Locations[0].StateCode ? ', ' + lawyer.Locations[0].StateCode : '' }}

Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Spinning circle
{{ comment.ClientFullName + (comment.ClientTitle ? ", " : "") }} {{ comment.ClientTitle }} – {{ comment.ClientCompanyName }}

Awards

Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.
  • Best Lawyers 2019 - present

    Super Lawyers 2013 - present

     

Main Location

Management and Personnel

Contacts

Find the Best Law Firms
Search for a Law Firm
Search our directory of over 16,000 firms across the Globe.
Search
Is Your Law Firm Ranked?
Enhance your firm's reputation and visibility with our marketing opportunities.
Marketing Opportunities
Ranked Practice Areas
See the practice areas included in our Best Law Firms research.
Practice Areas