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How Does A Personal Injury Attorney Get Paid?

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Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C.

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Written/Reviewed By:

Barry S. Kantrowitz, Esq.

Last Updated: May 17, 2023

Read Time: 4 mins

Personal Injury Lawyer

Depending on the personal injury attorney you hire, they may have a specific way they require payment, the amount, and specific contractual agreements that they will abide by to get paid the way they prefer. You want to ensure before you even file your civil personal injury claim, that you find the right attorney for your needs.

There are some factors you want to take into consideration when looking for the attorney you would like to hire for your claim. Depending on the type of case you may have, certain attorneys may or may not practice the specific law needed to represent you best. To ensure you will receive proper representation, you may want to ask for referrals from friends or family, or even look at directories to find attorneys within your area. Additionally, check attorney websites to read their biographies as well as any online reviews and check the state bar association. If you are satisfied with a list of attorneys you have selected, the next step within the process should be to call the office to ensure your case meets their criteria and to meet with them. Take into consideration how comfortable the attorney makes you feel and ensure that you are compatible. It is extremely important to find an attorney who fits your needs. Before your meeting with your attorney, you want to ensure that you have all the documents ready and prepared to be as organized as possible. This can include insurance information, identifications, medical bills and estimates, and all other pertinent and related documents related to the accident. Before officially selecting your attorney and signing any contracts, the attorney should talk to you about how they will be receiving payment. There are quite a few ways your attorney can receive payment, and you want to make sure you are comfortable with this before signing any contracts.

Retainers

Retainers and retainer fees are when attorneys are paid a set fee which is agreed upon between the attorney and the client, before the any work is done on the case. The retainer fee can be paid in portions, and can be paid overtime as the attorney works more on the case. These fees can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars and depends on the specific attorney and their conditions. Depending on case type, attorney experience, and several other factors, the attorney is free to decide what the price range should be.

Hourly Fees

Some experienced attorneys can estimate exactly how long a specific type of case or claim will take. Due to this, they may charge an hourly rate instead of a traditional retainer. These fees are usually assigned to work that is not as rigorous and will take significant less time for the attorney, therefore a traditional retainer is not necessary.

Flat Fees

A flat fee is a specific set price which is set for the entire case or legal service and is usually applied to a case type that does not require the attorney to do significant work. For these kinds of fees, there is usually a specific template that the attorney must follow to do the kind of work being requested, and therefore, charges a flat fee for the completion of that document.

Contingency Fees

Contingency fees are fees that are contingent on the success of that specific case. This means that the attorney and client may come to the agreement that once the attorney has won the case, they will get a percentage of the compensation that the client receives. This type of payment is more common for worker’s compensation cases and personal injury lawsuits, and generally, the attorney takes about one third of the money from the settlement or compensation that the client receives.

Consultation Fees

Consultation fees are the initial fees which an attorney can charge for their very first appointment when meeting the potential client and hearing about the case. This appointment is used by the attorney and client to see if they are compatible, if this case is something the attorney has experience with, and if the attorney would potentially be able to win this case. Depending on the experience of the attorney, this price range can stand anywhere from $50-$500, for just this initial consultation. It is important to note that many personal injury attorneys do not charge a consultation fee, and meet with potential clients for free.

If you’ve been injured, a personal injury lawyer can advise you on the complexities of the law and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Thanks to Eglet Law for their insight on how personal injury attorneys get paid after a civil litigation case.

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Client Reviews

    
 
 
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   LWelsh 
 30 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Clever and efficient.
  
 
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   Kenny Perlow 
 51 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. KGG Law, and Barry Kantrowitz in particular, set the bar high for what a thorough, practical, strategic, compassionate and smart lawyer can be. Everything about Barry's advice and representation was exemplary and the stress mitigation that resulted was invaluable. On top of that, the ultimate result Barry achieved was beyond what was reasonable to expect and we are forever grateful. Often, people say that you hire a lawyer to prevent a problem. Sometimes, unfortunately, you need an attorney to solve a problem and I could not recommend Barry and his firm any more highly in that regard.
  
 
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   Aliza Ali 
 115 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My dad had a great experience with this law firm. From the very beginning, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions. They kept us informed throughout the entire process and made what could have been a very stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciated their dedication, honesty, and hard work. Thanks to their support, my dad felt confident every step of the way. We are very grateful for everything they did and would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal representation.
  
 
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   Jana Montero 
 118 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Sam Smith. He was very responsive, thorough, and easy to work with from start to finish. He walked me through everything clearly and made what started as a very stressful situation for me into something completely manageable. I would not hesitate to recommend him and the firm!
  
 
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   Mike Sakmann 
 124 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I sought legal advice regarding an employment matter and had an excellent experience working with Sam Smith, Esq. at KGG Law. Sam was thorough, attentive, and took the time to listen carefully to my concerns before providing clear, thoughtful guidance. I appreciated the professionalism and care shown throughout the process, and I would confidently recommend KGG Law to anyone in need of legal assistance.
  
 
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   Liz Hecker 
 130 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't say enough about this firm. They manage to comfort you during the whole legal process while staying professional and doing what is right. I would recommend them to anyone and also hire them again if I need legal help.
  
 
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   Brandy Miller 
 153 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate is the best. She helped me very quickly, and was very attentive with all of my needs. So thankful for her
  
 
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   Mike Greenspan 
 166 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate Carballo is a dedicated, passionate, and creative attorney whom I had the pleasure to lecture with at a state trial lawyer's conference. Kate's lecture demonstrated how she uses her innovative and "out-of-the-box thinking" to achieve outstanding results for her injured clients. That Kate is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney is a testament to her skills, experience and commitment to excellence.
  
 
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   Jonathan Sampson 
 173 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was referred to KGG law by a friend and could not have asked for better legal representation. They walked me through every step of the process after my accident and began every call with “ how are you feeling” which was just one example of how much they care about their clients. They handled my case very efficiently, professionally and courteously. My attorney Kate Carballo was a rock star! So clearly experienced, she consistently made me feel at ease with the process. Highly recommend
  
 
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   Vinnie Kung 
 176 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with the team at KGG Law. While it was a traumatic time for our family, they made it very easy for us and explained all of our options. They even performed due diligence to make sure that after our settlement, there would be no further issues which I think is even more important than the settlement itself. Thank you!

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