Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Depending on the law firm you choose, hiring a personal injury lawyer might cost nothing upfront, but the fees for an injury lawyer vary based on the firm’s fee structure. Many work on a contingency basis, meaning if they don’t win, you owe nothing. If they recover compensation, your costs depend on the outcome.
If you’re recovering from an accident, the last thing you need is a surprise legal bill. Working with Shulman & Hill means you won’t pay any fees unless we win your case.
How Do Contingency Fee Arrangements Work?
The contingency fee is a part of your settlement or award used to cover your legal expenses. This percentage can differ depending on the attorney, but normally requires no upfront payment.
Other Ways of Billing for Services in Personal Injury Cases
Not all injury lawyers charge a contingency fee, and some may bill you an hourly rate. They keep track of the hours they work and tasks they perform, then provide an itemized list. Other lawyers in New York might charge a retainer fee up front, requiring an amount of money to secure their services and work on your case.
Shulman & Hill never bills hourly, and if your case isn’t successful, you won’t face any fees with our firm. With other firms that charge by the hour, costs can add up quickly, making you feel like you must pay these fees just to move your case forward or get updates, even though there’s no guarantee of winning.
A contingency pricing structure boasts obvious advantages over other types of billing for injury victims.
- Your lawyer can start work immediately on your case.
- You won’t pay any money up front or out of pocket.
- You can feel confident that the attorney will work hard to win because their compensation is tied to yours.
- There’s no financial risk (if you don’t win, you don’t pay for your lawyer’s services).
“At Shulman & Hill, we know firsthand the tremendous financial pressure injuries can place on our clients and their families. Navigating medical bills, lost income, and daily expenses during recovery is incredibly stressful. That’s why we take every case on a contingency fee basis so our clients never have to worry about upfront legal costs. Our mission is to secure the fullest compensation possible, helping ease that financial strain so clients can focus on what matters most: their healing and their future.”-
Alex Shulman,
Founding Partner
Other Costs of a Personal Injury Case
Your contingency fee will pay for getting an attorney’s help and hiring your lawyer, but getting legal help can come with more costs than just that. A contingency fee does not include fees or disbursements associated with building your case. These costs can be advanced by the firm, helping ease the financial burden of the lawsuit process, rather than expecting you to pay them while your case is ongoing.
Shulman & Hill want you to be able to recover on your own time and make sure your case gets you results that will set you up for years to come, not just for now. Our legal team will work with experts to identify the damages you’re entitled to and assess any future expenses or how your injuries might affect your ability to earn in the future.
From the start, any personal injury attorney should be transparent about billing and costs. A lawyer asking for upfront payment might later request additional fees. Keep looking at your options if a lawyer expects you to pay expenses throughout your case.
As you might expect, filing a lawsuit can be expensive, especially if your case goes to trial. Preparing a personal injury case involves many costs. These often include:
- Administrative fees
- Costs of photocopies, postage, and courier
- Court costs, such as filing fees, use of the courts and a court reporter
- Deposition costs
- Costs of securing expert witnesses
- Accident reconstruction costs
- Costs of obtaining medical records, police reports, or government documents
- Costs of medical care and other services rendered to advance your case
Working With an Attorney vs. Handling Your Case Alone
You may think handling your personal injury case alone could save you money, but it may do more harm than good in the long run. Working on your case with legal guidance often helps ensure the insurance company offers you fair compensation.
Working with a personal injury attorney from Shulman & Hill will give you access to expert witnesses and their testimony, help accurately determine the compensation you deserve, and strengthen your claim. Our team will complete an accident scene investigation, canvass for witnesses, and request police reports and body camera footage, vehicle black box data, and surveillance camera footage to gather evidence for your case.
You Pay Nothing Up Front for Representation From an Injury Lawyer at Shulman & Hill
The cost of your personal injury attorney will depend on the firm and lawyer you choose, but you should find someone who will be upfront about their costs and fees. With Shulman & Hill, you’ll get a free consultation and a contingency-fee arrangement so you won’t face any costs unless we win your case.
Our personal injury attorneys have recovered over $700 million for injured clients. We can evaluate your legal options and assist you in pursuing fair compensation for expenses, losses, and non-economic damages.
Call Shulman & Hill today at (212) 221-1000 or schedule your free consultation online if you suffered an injury in an accident in New York.
