How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Manhattan Car Accident Attorney?

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Manhattan Car Accident Attorney?
Calendar icon January 31, 2023 | Reading Time: 5 min

After a car accident in Manhattan, many people are hesitant to contact a personal injury attorney because they fear they cannot afford to hire legal representation. However, that isn’t always the case. In truth, most Manhattan car accident attorneys work on what is called a “contingency fee agreement,” meaning it won’t cost you a penny upfront to secure a reputable attorney to handle your case.

Working with a car accident attorney can help greatly improve your chances of receiving a fair settlement from the insurance company, so what costs can you reasonably expect when you hire a legal professional?

Many Manhattan Accident Attorneys Offer Free Case Consultations

Contrary to what a lot of people may believe from movies or TV, you will most likely not have to pay anything to meet with an accident attorney to discuss your case. Since many injury attorneys in Manhattan work on a contingency fee agreement, case consultations (either via phone or in-person) are often free of charge. During a consultation, you can discuss the circumstances of your case and the attorney will be able to tell you whether or not they believe you have a valid case.

Since case consultations are generally risk-free, injury victims may decide to meet with multiple attorneys to determine who is the best fit for their case. This is an opportunity to ask what costs you can likely expect to pay out-of-pocket, how the attorney will get paid, and any other questions you may have about the attorney’s process in handling a case.

How Does An Accident Attorney Get Paid?

As mentioned above, many Manhattan accident attorneys work on what’s called a contingency fee agreement. With a contingency fee agreement, you do not pay any money upfront when you hire an attorney to represent you. Instead, you agree to pay the lawyer a percentage of the amount they recover for your claim, typically 33% in most cases. In other words, you agree to share any recovery from an insurance carrier or defendant with the attorney.

If your attorney is not able to recover anything for your claim, then you likely won’t owe anything. So, why would an attorney take a case on a contingency basis? They likely believe that they can retrieve the maximum compensation you deserve from the insurance companies on your behalf, and they do not want you to go without legal representation merely because you may not be able to afford to hire a lawyer after an accident.

What Costs Are Associated With My Case and Who Pays Them?

Generally speaking, your attorney will front the costs of the case as they are incurred. These costs can include:

  • Fees paid for copies and medical records
  • Accident report fees
  • Postage costs
  • Costs associated with investigating the incident

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 include:

  • Court filing fees
  • Deposition costs
  • Expert witness fees
  • Mediator fees

Why Should You Hire A Manhattan Car Accident Attorney?

After a car accident, many people believe that they can recover more money if they handle their claim on their own. In fact, the insurance adjuster will likely support that belief, as the adjuster will not tell you the actual value of your damages if it is greater than the settlement offer. It is important to remember that it’s the insurance adjuster’s job is to pay out as little as possible for your claim.

Many people are not aware that their claim could be worth significantly more money than the amount offered by the insurance company. The adjuster may not tell you that you may be eligible to receive compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering, or that you could be entitled to reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses in your economic damages such as co-pays, mileage to and from doctor’s appointments, and a variety of other expenses you may incur as a result of the collision. Likewise, they may not tell you that you could be entitled to future damages for permanent impairments that resulted from your accident.

If you choose to represent yourself in a car accident case, you are expected to understand the law, deadlines for filing claims and paperwork, and various defenses the insurance company could use to reduce your claim’s value. A car accident attorney, on the other hand, will work with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure that all of the correct paperwork is filed, and your damages are assessed correctly, and to negotiate a fair settlement for your claim.

Call The Manhattan Car Accident Attorneys At Cellino Law

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Manhattan, don’t wait to contact an injury attorney. At Cellino Law, our attorneys have decades of experience inside and out of the courtroom protecting injury victims from the insurance companies’ tactics to minimize your a victim’s compensation.

Contact us today for a no-risk, free case consultation at 888-888-8888.

Zoom Screenshot_16.png

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.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

INJURED?
WE CAN HELP

CALL US NOW

Free Case Review

BLOGS ARCHIVE

FREE CASE REVIEW

Testimonials

  • 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 all your help. It has been a long journey. At last, the light at the end of the tunnel. Also, thank Tom for the help and work he put in.

    Ron

  • Tim Cellino handled my case beautifully. He is very knowledgeable and patient with all my questions. He kept in touch with me through out my ordeal. Tim also got a settlement for more than I expected. I highly recommend Tim Cellino!

    Jayne

  • 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

  • Cellino Law was a great company to work with. From the beginning they came out and met with my uncle and myself and assured us that everything would be taken care of from beginning to end our lawyer state and constant contact with us to make sure that everything would go smoothly and it did. I would definitely recommend anybody to go to Cellino Law for whatever help they need. And specifically please ask for the lawyer that we had Mr. Alan Silverstein. He was amazing and his staff was always attentive. Please go with them for your next law needs.

    Eshaunda

  • 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