The thought of filing a lawsuit is daunting to most people. You might not know what to do, who to hire for legal representation, or how much it will cost. However, in some situations – such as a motor vehicle accident – filing a lawsuit is the only way to get the money that you need to fully recover from your injuries.
The good news is that personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis – which means that you pay nothing upfront to hire a lawyer.
The Odierno Law Firm advocates for injury victims throughout Long Island. We offer free initial consultations and exclusively work on contingency fee agreements so that our clients can always afford to hire us to fight for their rights. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a New York personal injury attorney, give our law offices a call today.
How Contingency Fee Arrangements Work
After a car accident or another type of accident, many people have difficulty making ends meet. They might be out of work and facing mounting medical bills. In this situation, it can be hard to even think about paying for a lawyer.
Fortunately, most personal injury firms work on a contingency fee basis. With a contingency fee, you don’t have to have thousands of dollars in your bank account to pay a retainer or to pay legal bills. Instead, you can hire an attorney without paying a single dime.
The way that contingency fee agreements work is simple: your lawyer will only get paid if they get money for you through a settlement or verdict at trial. In other words, their fee is contingent upon their success. If they don’t recover money for you, they won’t get paid for their work.
A contingency fee arrangement involves a contract that specifies how much your personal injury lawyer will be paid if they win money for you. This number is expressed as a percentage, which is capped at 33 1/3 % under New York law. If you reach a settlement with the insurance company or win a jury trial, then the attorney’s fee will be a percentage of your total recovery. Any other expenses will also be taken out of your recovery.
Contingency fees make it possible for anyone to hire an attorney. As discussed above, hiring a lawyer to sue someone often costs tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. The average person simply cannot afford that. With a contingency fee agreement, you will only pay an attorney’s fee IF you recover money, and only AFTER you receive money for your accident claim.
When the insurance company writes a check for your settlement or verdict at trial, the money will go to the law firm. They will hold it in trust for you, and then calculate their fees and costs. Your personal injury attorney will then send you a check for your recovery.
Contingency fee agreements have another bonus: they align your interests with your lawyer’s interests. Think of it this way: your attorney will put a lot of time and effort into your case, but won’t get paid until your case is resolved. Both you and your lawyer want the case to be settled as quickly as possible, and for as much money as possible. With a contingency fee arrangement, you will be both working towards that shared goal.
For too many people, money is a major obstacle to hiring a lawyer and pursuing a lawsuit against someone who caused them harm. This presents a challenge, as studies show that people who are represented by counsel recover an average of 40% more than people who attempt to represent themselves in personal injury cases. With a contingency fee agreement, you can hire a lawyer without paying anything out of pocket – and get maximum compensation for your injuries.
For almost every personal injury case, it is a good idea to have legal representation. Even relatively straightforward cases – like a dog bite or a rear-end accident – can be complex. Insurance companies are in business to make money, and they employ a variety of tactics to try to pay out as little as possible on claims.
For example, an insurance adjuster may ask you to make a statement – and then later use that same statement to deny your claim. A personal injury attorney will help you understand your rights, and handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf. They will also analyze the facts of your case and advise you on its value so that you don’t accept a lowball insurance offer.
While every case is different, it isn’t unusual for a personal injury lawyer to devote a significant amount of time to a claim. If you were paying an hourly fee, these hours would add up quickly – to the tune of thousands and thousands of dollars. With a contingency fee, you don’t have to worry about your lawyer spending hundreds of hours on your case because you won’t ever get a bill. Regardless of how much time your attorney spends on your case, the fee will be a percentage of your total recovery.
The best way to protect yourself and to get top dollar for your losses is by hiring an experienced Long Island personal injury lawyer. The Odierno Law Firm represents all clients on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to worry about how you can afford a lawyer. We will take on the insurance companies for you, and fight to get you the best possible outcome for your case.
Hurt in an Accident? Give Us a Call.
The thought of hiring a lawyer can be daunting, particularly if you don’t have a lot of room in your budget for legal fees. Fortunately, personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis so that you won’t have to pay anything upfront. You will be able to rest easy and focus on your health while your attorneys fight for your right to full compensation.
From our law offices in Melville, New York, The Odierno Law Firm represents people who have been hurt in all types of accidents, including boat accidents, bicycle crashes, and both single and multi-vehicle collisions. We offer free initial consultations to all prospective clients and never charge a fee unless we get money for you. To learn more or to set up a free appointment with a Long Island personal injury lawyer, give us a call at 631-994-3043 or fill out our online contact form.
Scott F. Odierno is a partner at Odienero Law firm. Find out more about Scott on his profile page, or view any of his social media profiles below:
