No Fee Unless We Win: How Do Personal Injury Attorneys Get Paid?

No Fee Unless We Win: How Do Personal Injury Attorneys Get Paid?
Calendar icon May 15, 2025 | Reading Time: 4 min

Accidents can happen anytime — whether it’s a car crash, a slip and fall, or an injury at work. No matter how they happen, the impact can be overwhelming, and in serious cases, life-changing. While the immediate aftermath of an accident can be stressful, the process of working with a personal injury attorney shouldn’t be.

At Cellino Law, we understand that an accident can lead to serious financial strain. Between medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and the possibility of higher insurance premiums, many people simply can’t afford to take on additional costs. That’s why we handle personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis — meaning you don’t pay us anything unless we win your case.

What is a Contingency Agreement?

A contingency agreement is a payment arrangement used by many personal injury attorneys in New York. Instead of charging upfront fees or hourly rates, the attorney’s fee is dependent on the outcome of the case. If your attorney secures a settlement or a favorable verdict for you, they take a percentage — typically 33 1/3% — of the total amount awarded.

If your attorney is not able to recover a settlement for you, you don’t owe any attorney’s fees. It’s that simple.

What’s Covered in the Contingency Fee?

At Cellino Law, our contingency fee covers the legal work involved in preparing and pursuing your case. This includes investigating the accident, communicating with insurance companies, consulting with medical experts, negotiating a settlement, and if necessary, representing you in court.

It’s worth noting that additional case-related expenses — such as court filing fees, medical record requests, or expert witness fees — are paid separately, but these costs are typically advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the settlement if your case is successful. We’ll go over all of these details with you during your consultation so there are no surprises along the way.

Why Do Personal Injury Attorneys Use Contingency Agreements?

We believe that everyone deserves access to legal representation — especially after suffering a personal injury due to someone else’s negligence. When you’re dealing with physical pain, missed paychecks, medical appointments, and the uncertainty of what comes next, you shouldn’t have to decide between getting legal help or staying afloat financially.

How This Agreement Benefits The Client

There are some clear advantages to working with a law firm that uses contingency agreements:

  • No Upfront Costs: You won’t have to pay anything out of pocket to get started.
  • No Hourly Billing: You can reach out with questions without worrying about running up a bill.
  • Shared Goals: We’re motivated to get you the best outcome possible because our fee depends on it.
  • Low Risk: If your case doesn’t result in compensation, you don’t owe us anything.

This setup gives you the peace of mind to focus on healing — while we focus on building your case.

What to Expect During Your Free Consultation

When you reach out to Cellino Law, the first step is a free case consultation. During this meeting, we’ll take time to listen to your story, answer your questions, and review the details of your case. If we believe we can help, we’ll explain how the contingency agreement works and what the next steps will be.

We’ll also be transparent about any potential costs associated with your case and how they would be handled if you decide to move forward. Our goal is to give you the information you need to make an informed decision.

Cellino Law Is Here To Help Injury Victims

An unexpected accident can change your life in an instant. In the days and weeks that follow, it’s common to feel overwhelmed — physically, emotionally, and financially. The legal process shouldn’t add to that burden.

At Cellino Law, our mission is to take as much of that weight off your shoulders as we can. When you work with us, you get a team that’s experienced, compassionate, and ready to fight for the outcome you deserve. And because we work on contingency, you don’t have to take on any financial risk to get started. If you or a loved one has been injured and you’re considering taking legal action, reach out to us today. Your consultation is free, and there’s no risk in learning about your options. Give us a call today at 888-888-8888 to learn how we can help you.

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Testimonials

  • I just want to let you know that I did receive my settlement check. More importantly, I want to thank you again for all you did for both me and my family. I could not be more pleased with my experience at Cellino Law. From the moment I first spoke with you I felt comfortable - you took a sincere interest in my case, clearly explained the process and effected a quick settlement. From this day forward, when someone asks if I can recommend a good lawyer I will, without hesitation, say "Cellino Law". Thanks again.

    Walter

  • Mark Kochanowicz is from far the best attorney you can have. Mark treats you like a friend more than a client. He truly cares and go the extra mile for you and your case, contacts you to update you in regards to your case and keep you informed at all times. Mark represented me twice and settled my cases for way more than I expected. I highly recommend Mark Kochanowicz because he is just the best on what he does!!! Thank you Mark!!!!

    Maria

  • Cellino Law and more specifically my attorney, Gregory V. Pajak, Managing Attorney, and as a whole the Cellino Law Firm and its organization. This is by far one of the most professional law firms and attorney I have ever engaged with and retained in my 35 years. The level of professionalism goes beyond words, the care and constant engagement with me as the client was touching. I was never ever just treated as simply a CASE with potentially a significant dollar number attached to my file. I was engaged regularly, Tracey (Ass’t) and Greg always made sure to remain constant, as well as consistent in overseeing that my case was handled properly and that it did matter in many ways - ensuring that the end result(s) would be fair and reasonable to my case/injury. The regular follow-up calls were very satisfying, knowing that you’re involved in your case matters significantly AND always. One of my main items to recognize Cellino Law and Gregory is that whenever I called, I was able to get through to speak directly to my Lawyer and he would answer any if not all of my questions in a very professional and genuinely caring manner. I always felt cared for and protected legally and more importantly, I was made feel as a human being that was being cared for and always keeping me abreast of all matters connected to the case. There was never a point I felt let down, on the contrary -the level of service was “STELLAR”. Greg is the consummate professional, a ‘role model’, if you will, for what other attorneys should strive to become when dealing with their clients.

    Anthony

  • This is to express our gratitude to you and your team in helping us and Stephanie navigate through the legal process following her car accident. We are very satisfied with the outcome and grateful for your hard work and attention to details. We fell confident that with this compensation, Stephanie will be able to move forward with her studies and her life with the ability to care for some of her health needs resulting from the injuries sustained following her car accident. Thank you very much and may God continue to bless your efforts.

    Jose & Rose

  • We'd like to thank you for all the assistance and time you spent on our case. Your professionalism and honesty will always be appreciated. The staff was always courteous and we were always impressed with your accountability. Your passion and dedication will never be forgotten, nor will you.

    Sarah

  • Thank you for your time, effort, and hard work on my case. I appreciate your expertise and compassion. I never experienced what I went through and I would have been completely lost without you.

    Martha