How Much Does a NYC Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Greenstein & Pittari, LLP – New York City Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Serving All Five Boroughs

If you’ve been injured in New York City, you’re probably facing the same problems as many accident victims:

• Medical bills are piling up
• You may be unable to work
• Everyday expenses keep coming
• And you’re wondering: “How much does a NYC personal injury lawyer cost-and can I afford one?”

Here’s the good news:

You can hire a New York City personal injury lawyer at Greenstein & Pittari, LLP without paying anything up front.
We only get paid if we recover money for you.

We handle NYC personal injury and car accident cases on a contingency-fee basis, so cost is never a barrier to quality legal representation.

This page is designed to rank for and answer searches like:
“How much does a NYC personal injury lawyer cost?”
“Do New York car accident lawyers charge 33 percent?”
“Can I afford a personal injury attorney in New York City?”

Our NYC Personal Injury Lawyer Fee Promise

Greenstein & Pittari, LLP is a New York City personal injury law firm dedicated to helping accident victims in all five boroughs.

We know you’re not just a file number. You’re a person whose life has been disrupted. Our fee structure is designed to open the courthouse doors to injured New Yorkers, not shut them.

No Fee Unless We Win Your NYC Personal Injury Case

For standard NYC personal injury and car accident cases, we offer:

• No hourly billing
• No upfront legal fees
• No attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you

Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict, consistent with New York personal injury fee rules. You’ll know the percentage before you sign anything.

Free Consultation with a NYC Personal Injury Lawyer

We offer free, no-obligation consultations for people injured in:

• Car, truck, and taxi accidents in New York City
• Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare crashes
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents in NYC streets and crosswalks
• Construction and worksite accidents across NYC
• Slip, trip, and fall incidents in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island
• Dangerous property and premises liability cases
• Defective product and wrongful death claims

You can speak with a NYC personal injury attorney, get answers about legal fees, and understand your rights without paying anything up front.

What Is a Contingency Fee in a NYC Personal Injury or Car Accident Case?

Just to let you know, a contingency fee means our payment is contingent on winning your case.

• If we win or settle your NYC injury case → our fee is a percentage of the total recovery
• If we do not recover money → you do not owe an attorney’s fee

You’re not just paying for forms or one phone call. You’re paying for:

• A full investigation of your NYC accident
• Gathering medical records, photos, and witness statements
• Dealing with New York insurance companies and adjusters
• Drafting legal documents and handling court filings
• Negotiating settlements and, when necessary, taking your case to trial in NYC courts

This is the standard model used by reputable NYC personal injury law firms because it:

• Allows injured New Yorkers to hire a lawyer even with no savings
• Shifts the financial risk to the law firm
• Aligns our interests with yours-we only win when you do

We take on the financial risk and workload so you can focus on healing.

Typical NYC Personal Injury Lawyer Percentages

If you searched “What percent does a New York personal injury lawyer take?”, this section is for you.

In most New York personal injury and car accident cases (not including medical malpractice), the standard contingency fee is:

Up to 33⅓% % (one-third) of the amount recovered, consistent with New York court rules.

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP:

• Our fee structure is clear and transparent
• Our agreement is in writing
• We explain everything before you decide to hire us

You will know:

• The exact percentage
• How expenses are handled
• How your net recovery is calculated

No hidden clauses. No surprise math at the end.

What Are Case Expenses in a NYC Personal Injury Case – and Who Pays Them?

When people search “extra costs for NYC personal injury lawyer,” they’re usually asking about case expenses.

Your contingency fee pays for our legal work.
Case expenses are the out-of-pocket costs required to prove and pursue your New York claim.

Everyday NYC Personal Injury Case Expenses

• New York court filing fees
• Fees to serve summons and complaints on defendants
• Court reporter and deposition transcript costs
• Fees for New York hospital records and medical charts
• Police reports and other official NYC records
• Expert witness fees (doctors, accident reconstruction, engineers, economists, vocational experts)
• Private investigation and scene inspections
• Accident reconstruction and engineering analyses
• Trial exhibits, demonstrative evidence, and courtroom technology
• Copies, certified mail, and other administrative costs

Who Pays These Costs in a New York City Case?

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP:

• We advance all necessary case expenses so you do not pay out of pocket as the case goes on
• In a successful case, expenses are reimbursed from the recovery according to your written fee agreement
• You receive a detailed, itemized closing statement showing:

• Total settlement or verdict
• Costs and expenses advanced
• Attorney’s fee
• Your final net amount

If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fee. How expenses are treated in that scenario is explained in your retainer agreement, which we review with you line by line.

How Much Do NYC Personal Injury Case Expenses Usually Total?

Expenses vary widely depending on the type of New York City accident case:

• A simple Manhattan rear-end car crash that settles early might involve modest costs
• A complex Brooklyn construction accident, Bronx truck collision, or catastrophic injury case may require:

• Multiple expert witnesses
• Many depositions
• Comprehensive medical, engineering, and economic analysis
• Extensive trial preparation in the New York Supreme Court

Before moving forward, we can talk about the likely scope of expenses and let you know as your case progresses.

Do You Have to File a Lawsuit to Get Compensation in NYC?

Not always. Many New York personal injury and car accident claims settle without ever filing a lawsuit.

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we often secure full compensation through pre-suit negotiations by:

• Proving liability under New York law
• Documenting your medical treatment and injuries
• Establishing the full value of your NYC injury case
• Negotiating aggressively with insurance companies that handle New York claims

We file lawsuits when:

• Liability is contested
• The insurance company denies your claim
• The adjuster makes a lowball offer
• Your injuries are serious, and you need significant compensation

Even after a lawsuit is filed in the New York Supreme Court, most NYC personal injury cases still settle before trial. We are always prepared to go to trial when it is in your best interest.

Is Hiring a NYC Personal Injury Lawyer Worth the Cost?

Many injured New Yorkers wonder:

“If a lawyer takes one-third, shouldn’t I just handle the claim myself and keep everything?”

In practice, insurance companies in New York count on you not having a lawyer.

Without a New York personal injury attorney:

• Adjusters may pressure you to give recorded statements that hurt your case
• You might accept a quick, low settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries
• You may not claim future medical costs, lost earning capacity, or non-economic damages like pain and suffering
• You could miss important New York deadlines (statutes of limitations, No-Fault deadlines, notice requirements for city and state entities)
• Insurers may unfairly blame you under New York comparative negligence laws, reducing your recovery

With an experienced NYC accident lawyer:

• Your full damages are calculated, present and future
• Insurance companies know you are serious about your rights
• You gain leverage and negotiation power
• Your case is built with trial in mind, even if it settles
• You have a legal team ready to take your case to a New York jury if the insurer refuses to pay fairly

In case after case, represented accident victims in New York recover significantly more money, even after attorney’s fees, than those who go it alone.

The Importance of a Clear Written Fee Agreement in New York

Under New York’s Rules of Professional Conduct, a contingency fee agreement must:

• Be in writing
• Clearly state the percentage
• Explain how expenses will be handled

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP:

• We take the time to go through the agreement line by line
• We invite and encourage questions
• We refuse to rush you into signing something you don’t fully understand

If you’re confused at any point, we explain it again-that’s our job.

FAQ: NYC Personal Injury Lawyer Costs & Fees

1. Do I have to pay anything up front to hire a NYC personal injury lawyer at Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?

No. We do not charge retainers or hourly rates in NYC personal injury or car accident cases. We work entirely on contingency. If we don’t recover money for you, you don’t owe an attorney’s fee.

2. What percentage do NYC personal injury and car accident lawyers usually charge?

Most New York personal injury lawyers charge up to 33⅓% % (one-third) of the recovered amount in many non-medical-malpractice cases, consistent with New York court rules. We tell you the exact percentage that applies to your case before you hire us.

3. Are contingency fees negotiable in New York?

Sometimes. The fee must be reasonable and comply with New York law. In certain high-value or unusual cases, the percentage may be discussed before you sign the retainer.

4. Will I owe anything if we lose my NYC personal injury case?

You will not owe an attorney’s fee if there is no recovery. How case expenses are handled in that rare situation is governed by your written fee agreement, which we review with you in advance.

5. Who pays for expert witnesses, medical records, and court costs in NYC?

Our firm generally advances those costs while your case is ongoing. In a successful case, they are reimbursed from the recovery according to the retainer agreement.

6. What’s the difference between attorney’s fees and case expenses?

• Attorney’s fees are what you pay us for our legal work (knowledge, time, and advocacy).
• Case expenses are payments made to third parties (courts, experts, hospitals, investigators, etc.).

Both are clearly itemized in your closing statement.

7. Are medical malpractice fees the same as other NYC injury lawyer fees?

No. New York medical malpractice fees are calculated using a sliding-scale formula set by law. The percentage decreases as the recovery increases. We’ll walk you through the formula step by step if your case involves medical negligence.

8. Will hiring a New York City personal injury lawyer really get me more money overall?

While no specific result is guaranteed, data and experience show that represented accident victims usually recover substantially more, even after attorney’s fees, than people who try to deal with insurance companies on their own.

9. Can I switch lawyers if I’m unhappy with my current NYC attorney?

In most cases, yes. You have the right to change lawyers. Any fee issues between your prior attorney and our firm are typically resolved between the law firms out of the same contingency percentage, not by you paying two full fees.

10. How long do I have to bring a NYC car accident or personal injury claim?

In many New York personal injury cases, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit, but shorter deadlines may apply, especially if your case involves a city, state, or other municipal entity. You’ll need to speak with a NYC personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

NYC-Focused Representation – All Five Boroughs & Beyond

Greenstein & Pittari, LLP represents accident victims throughout:

• Manhattan
• Brooklyn
• Queens
• The Bronx
• Staten Island

We also have convenient office locations in:

• Harlem
• The Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Queens
• Staten Island
• Yonkers
• Nassau County

Wherever you live or where your New York accident happened, our team of NYC personal injury lawyers is ready to help.

Why Choose Greenstein & Pittari, LLP in New York City?

• Local NYC law firm with a Harlem office and multiple locations
• No fee unless we win – Our “Fee Guarantee” reflects our commitment to injured New Yorkers
• Bilingual services available for our diverse New York City communities
• Hundreds of positive client reviews and testimonials
• We deal with New York insurance companies so you can focus on recovery
• Top-rated, award-winning personal injury attorneys
• We practice exclusively personal injury law and fight for clients every day across NYC

Our motto says it all: “Don’t Be a Victim Twice.”

Injured in New York City? You Can Afford a Lawyer. You Can’t Afford to Go Without One.

Cost should never be the reason you walk away from the compensation the law allows.

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP:

• We work on a contingency fee basis
• We never charge upfront legal fees
• We only get paid if we recover money for you

Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462)

The call is free.
The consultation is free.
You don’t pay us unless we are successful.

If you or a loved one was injured anywhere in New York City, contact Greenstein & Pittari, LLP today.

Justice in New York is affordable – and it starts with a conversation.