Hiring a lawyer seems expensive, right? You instantly think of high-priced hourly rates accumulated with every email and invoices filled with mysterious “disbursements” you never knew existed. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that one of the first questions people ask after being injured in an accident is, “How much is a lawyer going to cost?”
If you’ve been seriously injured in a car crash, a slip and fall, a dog bite, or any other type of accident in or around Toronto, the thought of paying out-of-pocket for legal assistance can feel overwhelming. This is especially true if you’re already coping with lost income, medical bills, pain from the accident, and significant stress. But here’s the good news: in most personal injury cases in Toronto, you don’t pay anything upfront when you hire a lawyer. And if you don’t win, you don’t owe any legal fees.
Let’s break this down and examine what personal injury legal services truly cost in Toronto and why hiring a lawyer might put more money in your pocket rather than less.
The Contingency Fee Model: What It Means for You
Most personal injury lawyers in Toronto (including us at Bergel Magence) work on what’s called a contingency fee basis – we don’t get paid unless you get paid. If your case is successful through a settlement or court judgment, our fee comes from the amount you receive. If your case isn’t successful, you don’t owe us any legal fees.
This model is designed to help anyone seriously injured in an accident, regardless of socioeconomic background. You shouldn’t have to be wealthy to get justice if you’ve been hurt. Contingency fees ensure that everyone can afford a good lawyer, regardless of their current financial situation.
This fee varies among firms, but in Ontario, the typical contingency fee ranges from 25% to 33% of your final settlement or court award. As of July 1, 2021, the Law Society of Ontario requires all lawyers offering contingency fee agreements to use a standard form that clearly outlines the percentage and what is included and what is not. This is a significant win for transparency.
Here’s an example: Let’s say you settle your case for $100,000. If your lawyer charges a 30% contingency fee, their legal fee will be $30,000. You would then receive the remaining $70,000 minus any disbursements or costs owed to third parties.
This structure means your lawyer is incentivized to get the best result possible. If you don’t win, your lawyer doesn’t get paid.
What About Disbursements?
Disbursements refer to the out-of-pocket expenses a law firm incurs while working on your case. These include medical record requests, expert reports, court filing fees, accident reconstruction analyses, and costs for transportation or translation services.
In most cases, law firms will front these costs for you and only recover them if the case is successful. At Bergel Magence, we believe our clients shouldn’t have to worry about these upfront, especially when they’re already dealing with the fallout of a serious injury.
Disbursements can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity of your case. They are always clearly itemized and separate from the lawyer’s contingency fee.
Are There Any Hidden Fees?
No… At least, there shouldn’t be.
Thanks to new rules implemented by the Law Society of Ontario in 2021, all contingency fee agreements must clearly explain how the fees work. This includes details about disbursements, HST, and what happens if you change lawyers before the case is resolved.
If you’re unsure about any part of your legal agreement, ask your lawyer to walk you through it. At Bergel Magence, we ensure everything is clear and transparent so there are zero surprises.
Will I Owe Anything If I Lose?
This is one of people’s biggest concerns. What if you go through the entire legal process and don’t get a settlement?
As mentioned earlier, if your lawyer works on a contingency fee basis, you don’t owe them legal fees if your case is unsuccessful. That’s the core promise of the model.
However, depending on the circumstances, there could still be risks. In some cases that go to court and are unsuccessful, the losing party might be ordered to pay a portion of the winning side’s legal costs (a cost award). That’s why it’s essential to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side to assess the strength of your case early on and guide you accordingly.
At Bergel Magence, we take cases we believe in, discussing with our clients their case and all risks before moving forward.
How Do Personal Injury Lawyers Compare to Other Types of Lawyers?
Personal injury law is one of the few areas of legal practice where the contingency model is widely used. For example, most other types of lawyers—corporate, family, estate, and criminal lawyers—charge hourly rates or flat fees. According to the Canadian Lawyer 2023 Legal Fees Survey, the average hourly rate for a senior lawyer in Toronto is anywhere from $350 to $700 per hour, depending on the practice area and firm size.
So, if you had to pay out-of-pocket for a personal injury case that could drag on for a year or more, you’d likely be looking at tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills, regardless of the outcome. The contingency model avoids that completely.
Why is it Necessary to Have a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Insurance companies know the average person doesn’t understand the full value of their claim. They’ll offer lowball settlements early, hoping you will take the money and walk away. When you have a lawyer, especially one with a track record of winning, you are far more likely to get a larger settlement.
In fact, a 2017 study by the Insurance Research Council in the U.S. found that injured people who hired lawyers received settlements that were 3.5 times larger on average than those who negotiated without one. While that’s based on U.S. data, the numbers are similar in Canada.
Hiring a lawyer doesn’t just mean legal representation. It means someone in your corner who knows how to navigate the system, build a compelling case, push back against delay tactics, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
So Now What?
So, how much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Toronto? The honest answer is nothing upfront, and a percentage of your recovery only if you win. That means you can access experienced legal help without taking on financial risk.
At Bergel Magence, we’ve spent over 50 years helping injured clients across Ontario get the justice and compensation they deserve. We don’t charge anything unless we win your case. Our experienced legal team will fight on your behalf, bringing you the justice and compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been injured and have questions about your rights, contact Bergel Magence today.
Contact Bergel Magence Personal Injury Lawyers
📞 416-665-2000
🌐 www.
📞 416-665-2000
🌐 www.
