Many New Yorkers who have been hurt in an auto accident put off calling an attorney out of concern that they won’t be able to afford representation. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. However, most Rochester car accident lawyers in New York who specialize in vehicle accidents take cases on what’s called a “contingency fee agreement,” which means you won’t have to pay anything upfront to have an experienced lawyer handle your case.
Hiring an attorney to represent you after a car accident can substantially increase your chances of obtaining a satisfactory settlement from your insurer. What, then, should you expect to pay for the services of such an expert?
Numerous accident lawyers in New York provide free initial consultations.
Meeting with an accident attorney to discuss your case typically won’t cost you anything, unlike what many individuals may think after seeing legal dramas on television. Many New York personal injury lawyers take cases on a contingency basis, meaning first consultations (whether over the phone or in person) are usually offered at no cost. An attorney will be able to give you an opinion on whether or not you have a case after hearing the details during a consultation.
As discussions with potential lawyers rarely come with any downside, those who have been hurt may go to several before settling on one. At this time, you should feel free to inquire about the attorney’s fees, how he or she will be compensated, and the attorney’s overall approach to handling a case.
When an accident occurs, who pays the attorney’s fees?
Several lawyers in New York that specialize in personal injury cases take cases on a contingency fee basis, as was indicated above. If you employ a lawyer on a contingency fee basis, you won’t have to worry about coming up with any sort of advance payment. As an alternative, you may agree to pay your lawyer a percentage (usually 33%) of whatever they are able to recover for your claim. You understand that your attorney will be entitled to a portion of any money recovered from an insurer or defendant.
If your lawyer does not succeed in getting you any money for your claim, you probably won’t have to pay anything.
