ClickCease Contingency fees: How Much A Lawyer Gets Paid

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How Much Lawyers Take from Personal Injury Settlements

Seth Harris

Last modified on January 23, 2023

If you have suffered injuries in an accident due to the negligence of another party, you may know that you have the right to file a claim for compensation. Yet many people wonder whether they should handle the claim on their own or hire an attorney to help them. You might hesitate to speak to a lawyer because you believe you would struggle to afford the legal fees, or worry about how much a lawyer would take from your settlement. After all, the cost of medical treatment and lost wages due to missed time at work after an accident leave little room for additional expenses. Having these kinds of concerns is completely normal. However, financial worries do not need to prevent you from consulting with an experienced legal professional. Personal injury lawyers often work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you can work with them even if you cannot afford to pay them upfront. 

What Is a Contingency Fee?

Contingency FeeAs with many reputable law firms, the experienced attorneys at [firm-name] charge their clients only after successfully recovering a financial award for our clients’ claims. You will not owe us anything if we do not win your case. This agreement is known as a contingency fee. A contingency fee arrangement allows you to access high-quality legal representation, even under uncertain financial circumstances. Furthermore, these agreements encourage us to work as hard as possible on your behalf. We only get paid if we succeed.

What Is the Standard Contingency Fee for an Attorney?

What you owe at the end of your case will depend on the percentage you agree to when you hire your attorney. Contingency fees generally fall between 30 percent and 40 percent of your final settlement. The average fee is 33 percent. This means that if your settlement is $50,000, your attorney’s fee would be $16,500. However, it is important to remember that people who work with an attorney usually recover much more than those who file a claim alone. So, in the end, the lawyer’s services more than pay for themselves.

What Other Costs Should I Expect?

When you finalize your arrangement with your attorney, they may agree to pay for certain up-front costs related to your case. Upon receiving your payout, you might see deductions for costs, such as:

  • Medical record access fees
  • Postage fees
  • Depositions and trial exhibit costs
  • Filing fees
  • Police report request fees
  • Investigator and expert witness fees
  • Mediation or arbitration fees

If these costs are deducted from your payout, the amount you take home might be less than the difference between your agreed-upon settlement and your legal fees. Your attorney should advise you of these costs in advance.

How Do Attorneys Collect Payment?

Once your claim is complete, you will not receive a check directly. Instead, the insurance company will send a check to your attorney. Your attorney will deduct the expenses they’ve incurred on behalf of your case in addition to their legal fees. They will then make out a check to you for the remainder.

Would I Take Home More Money without a Lawyer?

Personal Injury SettlementsWhile you have the right to file a personal injury claim on your own, you should be aware of the risks before attempting to do so.

Most people receive larger settlements or verdicts when an experienced legal professional is representing them. Insurance companies may try to undervalue your claim if you do not have legal representation. Seasoned attorneys know how to respond to insurance adjusters’ tactics, so you won’t have to settle for less than the compensation you deserve.

Furthermore, sometimes insurance companies will deny a valid claim. In such cases, the only way to recover your compensation is to file a lawsuit. If your case goes to court, you will need an experienced trial lawyer to represent you. The defendant’s legal team will do everything they can to undermine your case, so having a skilled personal injury attorney is in your best interest.

A personal injury claim comes with a lot of complexities. Navigating these challenges can feel particularly difficult when you are recovering from injuries. Your attorney will take this pressure off you by handling every aspect of your case so that you can focus on your health.

Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney

If you have suffered injuries in an accident, you need an experienced and compassionate lawyer on your side. The skilled and knowledgeable attorneys at [firm-name] dedicate themselves to protecting the rights of injured New Yorkers. We will stand up to insurance companies and fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve for your losses. Our firm has recovered over $500 million in compensation for past clients.

We won’t charge you any fees until we win a settlement or a verdict on your behalf. Call us today at 800-PAIN-LAW or contact us online for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.

Over $500 Million in Verdicts and Settlements

Our track record showcases over $500 million won for our clients. Each victory underlines our commitment to justice and client care. Explore our impact, case by case.

VERDICT

$17,500,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Mr. Vargas $17.5 million for the City of New York’s violation of his civil rights for failing to provide him medical care while in custody. The jury found that the police officers involved failed to provide the necessary medical treatment and awarded $17.5 million to Mr. Vargas.

VERDICT

$4,730,398

Harris Keenan & Goldfarb partners Seth Harris and Sheri Holland obtained a $4,730,398.00 jury verdict on behalf of our client who tripped and fell at a private apartment building in the Bronx, suffering a broken foot that developed a very painful, permanent neurological condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (“RSD”).

VERDICT

$12,561,772

A Bronx jury awarded John Doe over $12 million for an accident on a construction site. John Doe was working when a piece of scaffold weighing 35 pounds fell, striking John Doe in the lower back. John Doe suffered a herniated disc requiring surgical removal of a portion of the disc and permanent nerve damage.

VERDICT

$10,500,000

A Bronx jury awarded $10.5 million to the mother of Malcolm Ferguson, who was wrongfully shot and killed by the New York City Police Department. The police officer, Louis Rivera, also a defendant in the case, was found to have used excessive force in violation of Malcolm Ferguson’s civil rights as protected under the United States Constitution.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff William Cardoza $4 million for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Mr. Cardoza was pepper-sprayed and repeatedly hit with a police nightstick. As a result, Mr. Cardoza sustained injuries to his hand and finger.

VERDICT

$3,470,670

The firm’s client, a 33-year-old teacher’s assistant, was scalded by an espresso machine that exploded while the defendant’s employee was demonstrating how the machine worked. The client was a customer at the defendant’s coffee shop on the date of the accident and suffered first-degree burns to her right (dominant) hand.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

The firm represented the mother- decedent and her infant son. During the decedent’s admission to the defendant hospital, the defendant dispensed anesthesia during an epidural to the decedent in an inadequate manner. The mother-decedent suffered personal injuries and wrongful death due to the defendant’s failure to properly administer epidural anesthesia.

VERDICT

$3,823,000

Mr.Brennan fell from approximately 25 feet while working on a construction project. He suffered a shattered bone in his right leg requiring surgery and hardware placement. Mr. Brennan also suffered two fractures in his facial bones, and a dislocated finger requiring surgical repair.

VERDICT

$2,750,000

The firm’s client was a child with cerebral palsy who was injured as a result of medical malpractice. The firm’s clients claimed improper management of pregnancy, labor, and delivery resulting in brain damage, and received a Brooklyn personal injury settlement.

VERDICT

$1,677,835

The firm’s client, a 63-year-old mentally incompetent man, slipped and fell in his own urine while attempting to walk to the bathroom at the defendant’s senior citizen home. The client fractured his hip and as a result is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The client claimed that the staff of the home failed to properly care for him, and the jury awarded $1,677,835.

VERDICT

$2,995,000

The firm’s client, a 47-year-old male, slipped and fell on a public sidewalk in the Bronx. It had snowed four to five days prior to the date of the accident, and the sidewalk was covered with ice. The client suffered a lumbar fracture and a herniated disc. The jury found the city liable and awarded the client a $2,995,000 personal injury settlement in the Bronx.

VERDICT

$2,610,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Luis Molina $2.61 million for injuries sustained when he fell down a subway station stairway. Mr. Molina was caused to slip and fall as a result of a plastic bag that had blown onto the steps from a street opening. As a result of the fall, Mr. Molina suffered a herniated disc and a tear of his right shoulder’s rotator cuff. The jury found that the NYC Transit Authority was liable for the accident.

VERDICT

$2,253,714

A Bronx jury awarded Ms. Colon $2.25 million for a trip and fall accident. Ms. Colon was caused to fall when she moved to the right to allow another pedestrian to pass, and her foot rolled to the outside due to the sidewalk being unlevel with the adjoining grass. The jury found the defendant liable and awarded Ms. Colon $2,253,714.00 for her pain and suffering.

VERDICT

$1,900,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Arvella Floyd $1.9 million for a fractured wrist which required multiple surgeries, including an open-reduction internal fixation and a carpal tunnel release. Ms. Floyd was injured when the hot water knob of the shower fell off after numerous complaints to the superintendent, and scalding water spewed toward her, causing her to
fall and break her wrist.

VERDICT

$1,350,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Juanita Young $1,350,000 for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Ms. Young, who is legally blind, was handcuffed from behind, with her children watching, and taken to the top of the stairs to exit the building. The officer proceeded to push her down the stairs multiple times.

What Our Clients Say About Us

david Santiagodavid Santiago
18:05 21 Mar 24
Maria RoqueMaria Roque
20:49 15 Mar 24
Excellent person, very Professional, they assist you in any language, your call is always answered. I recommend you for any case of support you have, your refund is satisfactory. and fast
S SS S
14:09 02 Mar 24
I am completely satisfied, and recommend Harris Keenan & Goldfarb as Attorneys to represent anyone. Their care for me physically, and overall helped me stay strong in spite of my injuries. Always available to answer questions, and inform.They got me Justice, and achieved a substantial outcome for my case.I am very impressed, and thankful for their outstanding performance on my behalf.I am very pleased, and significantly satisfied with their representation.‐-Sherylon Wilkins
Robert LennonRobert Lennon
15:26 21 Feb 24
Patient and diligence is how I describe the effort of HKG the work was thorough, honest and fair, I have no complaints. Special thanks to attorney Blake and his paralegal Thierry.
Gene Matos (fanboye)Gene Matos (fanboye)
18:48 15 Jan 24
I first crossed paths with Seth Harris when serving jury duty many years ago. He was so professional and personable, that when my mom was seeking legal counsel for medical malpractice, I told her she had to reach out to his firm. We had meetings with a few different firms, but Harris Keenan & Goldfarb was the only firm that did not try to get us to sign paperwork before even meeting. They took the time to listen and understand our situation before we signed anything, and they were transparent and responsive the whole time. I would like to give special thanks to Samantha Walton, Marla Stein, Val Wallace and Seth Harris for helping my mom through this tough time. They were honest and upfront, and even though Seth Harris wasn't personally on the case, he took the time to meet with us and give us his thoughts on it.
Solange IsaacSolange Isaac
17:52 08 Jan 24
I am pleased with the services provided by Ms Sheri on my case. The team at Harris, Keenan, & Goldfarb were very nice and explained everything to me. Everything that I had questions on they answered without frustration and were prompt and knowledgeable.6 years ago I had a slip and fall accident at my employers place of business. I reached out to them because I knew that I was being wrongfully treated. They took care of the case, restored my self confidence, and brought so much peace to my problem riddled life.I can recommend without a shadow of a doubt the services of Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb to anyone who is in need of someone who will have your back!
Brittany DempseyBrittany Dempsey
16:02 08 Jan 24
My mother had an accident with her ankle back in 2019. I immediately contacted Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb on the day of the accident. They were extremely prompt and helpful. They attended to my mother's case beautifully and she's been recovering well. I'd like to thank you for being so diligent, kind and above all professional. I'd recommend this law firm to anyone who are injured and in need of legal assistance. My mother, Andrea, and I thank you for everything.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions that prospective clients have about personal injury claims include:

  • Do I need an attorney?

    When you have suffered an injury, it can be difficult to know what to do next. If the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. However, filing a personal injury claim can be a complex and time-consuming process. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal system and fight for the maximum possible compensation.

  • How do I know I have a case?

  • When should I contact an attorney?

  • How do I determine which one to choose?

  • Once I hire an attorney, what should I expect?

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