Many people put off calling a lawyer after an accident because they worry about the cost. In personal injury cases, that worry is often easier to manage because most injury lawyers work on a contingency fee. That means the lawyer is paid from the money recovered in your case instead of charging you by the hour.

This guide explains how contingency fees work in Brooklyn injury cases and what to ask before you hire a lawyer. If you were hurt in a crash, a Brooklyn car accident lawyer can explain how fees would work in your case.

What Is a Contingency Fee?

A contingency fee is an arrangement in which the lawyer’s payment depends on the outcome of the case. The fee is usually a percentage of the settlement or verdict. If the case brings in compensation, the lawyer is paid a share. If it does not, many contingency agreements say you owe no attorney fee.

This setup allows people to hire a lawyer without paying thousands of dollars up front, which gives injured people a way to take on insurance companies and large businesses.

How the Process Usually Works

While every agreement is different, most contingency cases follow similar steps:

Consultation: You meet with the lawyer to discuss what happened. At our firm, the first consultation is free.
Written agreement: The lawyer explains the fee, how expenses are handled, and what the lawyer will do. New York rules generally require a written letter of engagement or retainer agreement for fee arrangements.
Case work: The lawyer investigates, gathers evidence, and deals with the insurance company.
Resolution: The case ends in a settlement or a court verdict.
Payment: The fee and approved expenses are paid from the recovery, and you receive the rest.

Our guide on how long a personal injury case takes explains what to expect from start to finish.

Fees vs. Case Expenses

The attorney’s fee is not the only cost of a case. Expenses can include court filing fees, medical records, investigation costs, and the cost of obtaining reports. Many firms advance these costs and are repaid from the recovery, but agreements differ.

Ask how expenses are handled, including:

Whether expenses are taken out before or after the lawyer’s fee is calculated.
Whether you could owe expenses if the case does not succeed.
How you will be kept informed of costs as the case moves forward.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Before you hire any injury lawyer, make sure you understand the agreement. Helpful questions include:

What percentage will the fee be, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
What expenses will be charged, and who pays them up front?
What happens if I decide to change lawyers?
Who has the final say on whether to accept a settlement offer?
Will I receive a written agreement and regular updates?

Do not sign anything you do not understand. Our guide on when to hire a personal injury lawyer explains why speaking with a lawyer early can protect your claim.

Your Rights as a Client

New York has rules to protect clients. The state court system’s Statement of Client Rights says clients are entitled to reasonable fees and expenses, to have the lawyer explain how they will be computed, and to request an itemized bill. Clients can refuse a fee arrangement they find unsatisfactory, and in some situations they may seek arbitration of a fee dispute.

How Contingency Fees Relate to Insurance Offers

Insurance companies know that injured people worry about costs. They may offer a quick payment before you speak with a lawyer. Our guide on dealing with insurance companies after an accident explains why an early offer may not reflect what your claim is worth.

Talk to a Brooklyn Personal Injury Lawyer

You should know how a lawyer is paid before you hire one. The lawyers at Edelstein, Faegenburg & Blyakher, LLP can explain how fees would work in your case and answer your questions. Call us or send a message through our contact page to request a free consultation.

We also help injured people in Manhattan.

Back to Personal Injury Resources →

+ Schedule a Free Consultation

Contact Our NYC Attorneys Today

Practice Areas

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
    Benjamin J 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Arthur is a highly professional and strategic attorney. He is available, responsive and empathetic. Highly recommended!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Gareth M 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience working with Arthur Blyakher and his team. He made everything very clear and easy to understand. Quick to get back to us if we had any questions. And most importantly of all he fought for us and won!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Rony 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Experience lawyers and excellent service
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Arkadiy E 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Arthur is a lifesaver!  He was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and always responsive. His professionalism and attention to detail gave me confidence that I was in good hands. I truly appreciated how he advocated for my best interests. I highly recommend Arthur to anyone in need of excellent legal representation.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Russel Y 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This review is a Huge thank you to Arthur Blyakher from the bottom of my heart. While he was helping my wife and I with our case, we got to know Arthur and quickly saw that he’s an amazing person with a big heart, who cares about people and the cases he works on. He never dismissed our questions and always addressed our concerns.  Besides being friendly and charismatic the results he delivered show that he’s an incredible lawyer. He went above and beyond to research every aspect of our case and had not one, but multiple strategies in place to win.
Arthur is a great lawyer and my wife and I are extremely happy that we chose him, and with the results he achieved. He’s loyal and he knows how to win, to us that’s everything.
Thank you Arthur you’re the best.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Yaneiry l 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a really great experience with Paul Edelstein working my accident case. Paul and his staff were super helpful, easy to talk to, and always made sure I understood what was going on with my case. I felt like they genuinely cared and were always looking out for my best interest. Made a stressful situation a lot easier to deal with. I’d definitely recommend them to anyone who needs a good, trustworthy and reliable lawyer.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Zoe C 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend the The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP., specifically Paul Edelstein. His dedication, compassion, and professionalism made a difficult time much easier to manage. Paul is eloquent and has immense knowledge of the law; he is very effective in solving problems.  Paul has my respect, and I am sure of many, for his integrity and good judgment. Behind Paul too, is a backup system, anything to get things done.  He communicates effectively, is honest and down to earth.  Paul walked me through the process with assurance and diligence and did an amazing job at getting me the best possible settlement. I highly recommend Paul Edelstein and his firm to get the job done.

Contact

Free Consultations

How Contingency Fees Work