How Much Does It Cost to Hire Your Law Firm, and What Does ‘No Fee Unless We Win’ Mean?

At Chaikin Trial Group, we represent injury victims on a contingency fee basis. This means there are zero upfront costs or out-of-pocket fees to hire our legal team. We cover all initial investigations, expert consultations, case preparation, and court costs so you can focus entirely on your physical recovery without financial strain.

What “No Fee Unless We Win” Means for You

Navigating the aftermath of a serious accident is stressful enough without worrying about hourly legal rates or upfront retainers. Our firm operates on a simple, transparent principle: if we do not recover money for you, you owe us nothing.

Here is how our contingency fee structure works to protect you:

• You Pay Nothing Out-of-Pocket: From the day you retain our services to the resolution of your case, you will never receive a bill for legal hours or case preparation.
• Standard New York Contingency Fee Rate: Personal injury attorneys standardly operate under a 33.33% (one-third) contingency fee rate on the final monetary recovery obtained through a settlement or trial verdict.
• Complete Transparency: Our fee is calculated as a percentage of your total recovery at the conclusion of your case, ensuring our goals are 100% aligned with getting you the maximum possible compensation.
• No Financial Risk: If we are unable to secure a financial settlement or court award on your behalf, our firm absorbs all costs, and you owe zero attorney fees.

What Costs Are Covered Under a Contingency Fee Agreement?

Building a strong personal injury claim requires significant financial resources. Insurance companies have deep pockets and legal teams dedicated to minimizing payouts. To level the playing field, Chaikin Trial Group advances all necessary litigation costs to build a compelling, evidence-backed case.

These litigation expenses standardly include:

• Accident Reconstruction and Investigation: Hiring independent investigators and forensic engineers to document the scene, analyze vehicle damage, and establish liability.
• Medical Expert Witness Consultations: Retaining doctors, surgeons, and medical specialists to provide testimony on the true extent of your injuries and long-term care needs.
• Court and Administrative Fees: Paying for index numbers, document filing fees, process servers, and court reporters for depositions.
• Economic Impact Evaluations: Consulting with financial analysts and vocational experts to calculate your exact lifetime loss of income and diminished earning capacity.
• Medical Records Retrieval: Obtaining complete diagnostic reports, hospital charts, and physician logs needed to substantiate your claims.

All of these advanced expenses are reimbursed to the firm directly from your final settlement or verdict amount—never from your personal bank account during the process.

Why Insurance Companies Prefer You Not to Have a Contingency Fee Lawyer

Insurance adjusters often contact accident victims immediately after an injury, offering quick settlement amounts before the full extent of the damages is known. They do this because they know unrepresented victims are far more likely to accept a lowball offer out of fear of legal bills.

When you retain an experienced trial law firm on a contingency fee basis:

• You Gain Immediate Bargaining Power: Insurance companies recognize that a firm willing to invest its own financial capital into a case is fully prepared to take that case to trial if a fair settlement is not offered.
• You Prevent Early Mistakes: Your attorney handles all communications, settlement negotiations, and legal filings, preventing you from making recorded statements that insurers could use against you.
• Your Compensation Is Maximized: Statistics show that injury victims who hire personal injury representation consistently net significantly higher financial recoveries than those who negotiate alone, even after deducting the contingency fee.

New York Laws and Ethics Governing Personal Injury Attorney Fees

In New York State, contingency fees for personal injury attorneys are heavily regulated to protect clients. Under Court Rules (such as 22 NYCRR 691.20 and related appellate division regulations), attorney fee agreements must adhere to strict cap standards.

For standard personal injury matters (such as car accidents, slip and falls, and construction injuries), New York law sets a standard fee schedule cap at 33.33% of the net or gross recovery (depending on the specific retainer agreement terms selected).

Our retainer agreement outlines every detail in plain English before any work begins, ensuring full compliance with New York State Bar ethical guidelines and legal requirements.

Talk to Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers About Your Case Today

You should never have to compromise on elite legal representation because of financial uncertainty. At Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys bring over 50 years of combined legal experience and have recovered over $100 million for clients across New York City, Long Island, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Westchester County.

We maintain brutal honesty about the results you can expect and maintain transparency from day one so you know exactly where your case stands. Known for our authentic, genuine, and aggressive approach, our attorneys get things done.

Come in as a client, leave as a friend. Contact our legal team today or complete our online form to schedule your 100% free, confidential case evaluation.