People delay calling a lawyer because they assume they cannot afford one. Personal injury representation does not work that way. We are paid a percentage of what we recover, and if we recover nothing, you owe no attorney fee.
The contingency fee
Personal injury representation in New York and New Jersey is handled on a contingency basis, meaning the fee is a share of the recovery and is set out in your written retainer. Certain case types follow court-set fee scales.
Nothing is billed hourly. There is no retainer to fund.
Case costs versus fees
Costs are separate from the fee: filing fees, deposition transcripts, medical records, expert reports, and investigators. Our firm advances these, and they are reimbursed out of the recovery at the end.
Liens and what comes off the top
Health insurers and government or workers' compensation programs may hold liens on a settlement. Negotiating those down is a real part of the work, and it directly affects what you take home.
What you should see before signing
A written retainer stating the fee, how costs are handled, and how disbursement is calculated. Ask for a sample settlement statement. Any firm that will not walk you through the arithmetic is the wrong firm.
Key Takeaways
- No fee unless we recover — no retainer, no hourly billing.
- Fees and case costs are separate; we advance the costs.
- Medical liens are negotiable and affect your net recovery.
- Insist on a written retainer and a clear settlement statement.
Related Pages
This article is general information about New York and New Jersey law, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts.