Information About Attorney’s Fees
Our initial consultation is free of charge. We will thoroughly investigate your case and make a determination whether you should go forward with your claim. We feel it is our job to keep you out of litigation unless absolutely necessary. In the event that we determine that you have a valid claim, then our fee is one-third of any recovery, no recovery no fee. In New York medical malpractice cases, the fee is actually less. The initial fee is thirty percent of the first $250,000.00 recovered with a smaller percentage thereafter. In any case, if there is no recovery then there is no fee and our fee never goes up. Even if your case requires trial, appeals or multiple trials you will never pay a higher percentage. Many firms will charge a sliding scale or higher rate of fee if they must try you case to verdict, we do not do that at Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP.
Once we decide to take on your case then you need not advance us any money for costs incurred. Instead, you will receive a quarterly statement showing the costs that we are incurring and when, and only when, your case is resolved would you be responsible for reimbursing our costs out of the settlement or verdict obtained. Keep in mind that these costs can be quite minor if the matter is not put into suit (often only a few hundred dollars prior to litigation).
A Note For People With Auto Accident Claims
For our auto accident clients, we will also handle all aspects of your “no-fault” claim to insure that all of your medical bills are paid. You may also be entitled to full reimbursement for your lost wages or any out-of-pocket expenses for such things as mileage to and from your doctor or to hire someone to help clean your home. We charge no fee whatsoever in handling that part of your case. If necessary we will even go to court or file for arbitration on your behalf and our fee for those filings and work is paid by the insurance company. In addition, if necessary we will make sure you are represented by attorneys that limit their practice to no-fault cases to make sure that you get the best representation possible.