If We Don’t Get Any Money, Do I Have To Pay a Fee?

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you only pay legal fees if and when we successfully recover compensation for you, either through a settlement or a court judgment. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing for our time, effort, or legal services. It’s that simple.

This arrangement ensures that anyone, regardless of financial situation, can access experienced legal representation without the burden of upfront costs. We founded The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel because we believe that justice and fair compensation shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy. We take cases on a contingency fee basis because we want more people to be able to access legal representation when they need it. For that reason, if you have been injured and need a personal injury attorney, reach out to The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel. Your consultation is free and comes with no obligation.

Understanding Contingency Fee Arrangements

A contingency fee arrangement is a type of payment structure where your attorney’s fee is contingent (that means it depends) on the outcome of your case. At our firm, this means you don’t pay any legal fees unless and until we obtain a financial recovery for you.

Once we do secure money for you through a verdict or settlement, we are paid our fee from the proceeds of settlement. Typically, our fee is a percentage of the amount we recover on your behalf. This percentage is discussed and agreed upon in writing before we start working on your case, so there are no surprises later.

Contingency fees are common in personal injury cases because they align your attorney’s interests with yours: we’re motivated to get the best possible outcome, because we only get paid if you do. Contingency fee arrangements also reduce the upfront financial burden you face and allow our law firm to take on the risk of your case.

If you have questions about how this works or want to know what to expect in your specific situation, contact us for clear answers.

Understanding Total Legal Costs

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we believe in transparency from the start. While we handle most personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover money for you, there are other potential costs to be aware of.

Total legal costs may include the expenses that law firms incur while working on your case. These are sometimes known as case-related and administrative expenses and can include:

• Court filing fees.
• Expert witness expenses.
• Medical record retrieval.
• Photocopying and other administrative costs.
• Deposition transcripts.

These costs are often paid out of the final settlement or award. We’ll go over these details with you before we begin, so you have a clear understanding of how costs are handled and when they apply.

With us, there are no hidden fees and no surprises. Just honest legal representation aimed at getting you the best possible result.

What Can Affect Your Legal Costs

There are many things that can affect the total legal fees and case costs in your case, including:

• The complexity of the case: Cases involving multiple parties, disputed liability, or long-term injuries usually require substantial time and resources, which affects case costs.

• Length of litigation: If your case can be resolved quickly through negotiation, costs may be lower. If it goes to trial, your lawyer will incur additional expenses, like expert testimony and court fees.

• Type of experts required: Medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, or economists may be needed to support your claim. Each expert has their own fees, and professionals with better credentials or more experience charge higher fees.

• Volume of evidence: A case with extensive documentation—such as medical records, surveillance footage, or multiple witness depositions—can be more expensive to build and present.

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we take pride in managing your case efficiently and keeping costs in check while building the strongest case. Before we move forward, we’ll explain how costs work in your specific case, so you know what to expect.

How To Manage the Financial Side of Legal Claims

Dealing with a legal claim after a serious injury often creates financial worries. At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we’ve worked with many clients who were unable to work because of a serious injury and worried about paying the bills while facing lost income due to their injury. The costs associated with a serious injury can be much higher than many realize.

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we do all we can to reduce the financial pressure. We pursue fair compensation for you, so you have the resources you need to cover your costs, and we work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t be asked to pay anything out-of-pocket while your case is pending. We explain the fee structure and costs in advance in plain English and keep you informed about the financial aspects of your case at every stage.

There are also steps you can take to protect your financial well-being while we fight for the compensation you deserve:

• Review your finances: This is the time to create a budget, listing out all your expenses, assets, income, and debts. You can use the Federal Trade Commission’s resources to create a budget. A budget and a review of your finances can help you see how far your savings will last and what your current financial position is.
• Cut expenses where you can: Once you have a budget, consider where you can save money. For example, cutting dining out or getting rid of non-essential subscription services can help you save money you can put toward keeping your debt current.
• Plan long-term: If you will be unable to work for some time due to your injury, consider whether re-skilling or taking classes can help you qualify for a job you could do.
• Access resources: Research the resources available to you while you are injured. New York State, for example, offers rental assistance, utility assistance, and emergency cash assistance which can help you if you cannot work.
• Review your insurance policies: Read your insurance policies to find out about any insurance which can help you pay for medical care or can replace income while you heal. Check your credit card perks and any support or coverage offered by your employer, school, or professional associations you belong to.
• Talk to your lawyer about your financial worries: If you are worried about paying for medical care or everyday expenses, talk to your attorney. Your attorney can use this information when evaluating settlement offers and may be familiar with resources you can access. Your attorney may also be able to help if your insurance companies don’t treat you fairly when you file a claim. Keep your attorney informed if anything changes financially during your claim and remember that what you share with your attorney is confidential. Your attorney is there to help.

The one thing you don’t want to do after a serious injury is to ignore the financial side of your situation. You do not want to be dealing with collection calls or foreclosure as you’re dealing with a serious injury. Be transparent with your attorney about your situation and start working on uncovering resources and reducing expenses as soon as possible after your injury.

Why Choose The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel?

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we have worked with many clients who have been worried about their financial future. We provide representation and reassurance, working to secure fair compensation for our clients so they can move forward. Our contingency fee structure is designed to be transparent and is meant to help you pursue a claim without paying upfront.

If you have been injured, contact The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation about how we may be able to protect your financial future.