Cost of an Attorney—Hourly Rate vs. Contingent Fee

Frank Kearney was a guest on a local TV show speaking about our firm’s work with families of special needs children and our approach to medical malpractice cases. He explains how medical malpractice cases work, from how a case is investigated to the benefits of a successful case, and everything in between.

Here’s a clip of Mr. Kearney explaining the cost of hiring an experienced medical malpractice attorney.  Many people don’t realize that it doesn’t cost any more to hire an experienced, Board certified attorney with a track record of successful medical malpractice cases than it does to hire a lawyer right out of law school.

Frank Kearney, Esq:

“Most of the families that we work with can’t afford the services of a lawyer billing on an hourly rate and there are very different reasons for that. As a civil justice attorney, what I do, my law firm and I, work on a contingent fee, which means it’s a percentage of any total verdict or award after the case is finished. And these cases can go on for several years and many times do.

We also front all the costs and expenses associated with the case. For example, when there’s been a violation of a patient safety rule by an HMO or a hospital, it takes a very thorough investigation. We need experts, and physicians, primarily in all different specialties to review the case, to review the chart, to work with you. Obviously, all those things cost money before you even file a case or when you’re still investigating it. So we don’t require our families to front those costs in the beginning because again, if you have a special needs child or if you’re dealing with a death in the family due to a medical error, you know, that’s a 24/7 occupation. You can’t be worried about your lawyer calling you up saying, ‘Oh you need to pay me this much this month, or this much next week, I need this, or I need that.’

It’s just not the best way to help families—we don’t think.” If you missed it, here’s a YouTube link to watch Mr. Kearney’s full interview.