How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Buffalo Car Accident Attorney?

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Buffalo Car Accident Attorney?
Calendar icon June 24, 2025 | Reading Time: 4 min

After a car crash in Buffalo, it’s common to worry about whether you can afford to cover medical costs, damages to your vehicle, and especially a personal injury lawyer. Many people hesitate to reach out because they assume hiring legal representation will be too expensive. The truth is, most Buffalo car accident attorneys, including Cellino Law, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay anything upfront, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. 

If you’ve been injured in a car crash, Cellino Law is here to help. Fill out our online form today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Buffalo car accident attorneys.

Do I Have to Pay for a Consultation?

At Cellino Law, we offer free, risk-free case consultations. That means you can sit down with one of our attorneys, discuss what happened in your accident, and ask questions about the legal process. It costs nothing to speak with us about your case, and there is no pressure to hire us afterward. 

A free consultation is a great way to find out whether you have a valid personal injury claim and learn what your next steps might be. Our attorneys explain how the process of filing a claim works, what kind of compensation you may be able to recover, and how we can help you through this challenging time. Our goal is to give you clear, honest answers so you can make the decision that is right for you. 

How Do Accident Attorneys Get Paid?

A contingency fee means your attorney only gets paid if they win your case. Instead of charging by the hour or requiring payment upfront, your lawyer agrees to take a percentage of the money they recover for you. In most Buffalo car accident cases, this fee is usually around a third of the settlement or court award.

This type of fee structure allows you to get legal help without having to worry about paying anything upfront. You can focus on your recovery while your attorney handles the legal work. If your attorney is not able to recover anything for your claim, you likely won’t owe anything at all.

So, why would an attorney take that risk? Because they believe in your case and your right to fair compensation. At our firm, we’re confident in our ability to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and pursue the maximum amount available. We don’t believe cost should ever be a barrier to getting trusted legal representation after an accident.

What Other Costs Should I Expect?

Generally speaking, your attorney’s firm will front the costs of the case as they are incurred. These may include:

  • Fees paid for copies and medical records
  • Accident report fees
  • Postage and mailing costs
  • Costs related to investigating the crash

If your attorney and the insurance company are not able to reach a fair settlement, your attorney will begin the process of filing a case with the court. The costs of trial may include: 

  • Court filing fees
  • Expert witness fees
  • Mediator fees
  • Deposition costs (when witnesses are questioned under oath before trial)

In most cases, your attorney will cover these expenses while your case is in progress. They’ll be reimbursed from your settlement once the case is resolved. You should always ask your attorney about how these costs are handled before signing a fee agreement.

Why Should I Hire a Buffalo Car Accident Attorney?

Insurance companies know how to protect their bottom line. Their goal is to settle your case for as little money as possible. Many people who try to handle their case alone end up accepting offers that are far lower than what they really deserve. 

A car accident attorney knows how to negotiate with insurance adjusters, calculate all your damages—including things the insurance company might not tell you about—and fight for a fair outcome. You may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Medical bills
  • Out-of-pocket expenses like parking fees or transportation to doctor appointments
  • Future medical treatment or long-term disability

At Cellino Law, our attorneys work hard to resolve cases as quickly as possible while fighting for the maximum compensation available. Injury victims who work with our attorneys often recover up to five times more than those who try to settle on their own. 

Cellino Law Is Here To Help

If you were injured in a car crash and are unsure whether to call an attorney, remember this: you have nothing to lose by reaching out. You won’t pay anything unless we win your case. Fill out our online form or call 888-888-8888 to schedule your free case consultation with Cellino Law. 

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Content checked by the personal injury attorney Ross Cellino. As a family man and a trial attorney, I pride myself on winning cases and serving the community. With over 35 years of experience, I understand the function of a jury, how juries arrive at conclusions, and the role that the jury plays in administering justice. I know how to win cases. You can find us in Manhattan, Buffalo, Melville, Rochester, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and other locations throughout New York.

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Testimonials

  • Joe and I just wanted to send you this note thanking you for the professional way you handled our lawsuit. Your kindness was extremely appreciated in a very difficult time. When we found out the people that caused the accident had no insurance, we thought our chances of receiving any settlement was nonexistent. Once we met with you and released you were able to help us our minds were put at ease. Your aggressive manner of handling the case exceeded our expectations. Please feel free to use us as a reference. Thank you so much and best wishes,

    Danielle and Joe

  • 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

  • My experience during the time of negotiations was extremely positive. Josh Sandberg handled my lawsuit with the utmost integrity. He returned all my phone calls in a timely manner and answered all my questions. Josh made things less stressful. I would highly recommend Josh and the entire staff at Cellino Law.

    Arthur

  • 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

  • I highly recommend Cellino Law to anyone involved in a car crash. I worked with Michael Lovecchio, and had a wonderful experience given the circumstances. He was very attentive, and got the best possible outcome I could have wanted.

    Susan

  • I am writing this letter to say how much I appreciate your services pertaining to my case. Your injury attorney took a hands-on approach and left me fully informed at all times as to where my case was going as well as how much ground we had to cover; leaving the final decisions in my hands but making sure that I knew all of the risks involved in the choices. I have dealt with a few law firms in my life on various different cases and this is the first time that I never had to call and/or track down my lawyer… because of this, I have and will continue to recommend Cellino Law to my friends and associates.

    Denise