If you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip-and-fall, workplace incident, or any other situation caused by someone else’s negligence, one of the first steps most people take is calling a personal injury attorney for a free consultation. For many Western New York residents, that call goes to Cellino Law in Buffalo, where Ross Cellino and Timothy Cellino—two of the region’s best-known personal injury lawyers—have been helping injured people for decades.
We sat down with Ross and Tim Cellino to get the inside scoop on what really happens during one of their free consultations, why they offer them, and how clients can get the most out of that first meeting.
Why Do Law Firms Offer Free Consultations in the First Place?
Ross Cellino starts with the obvious: “Most people have never needed a personal injury lawyer before. They’re hurt, they’re stressed, the medical bills are piling up, and they don’t know if they even have a case. Charging someone just to walk in the door and find out if we can help them feels wrong.”
Tim adds, “A free consultation is our way of removing that barrier. We want people to feel comfortable calling us right away—even the same day as the accident—because the sooner we get involved, the stronger the case usually becomes.”
In short, the consultation is free because the lawyers only get paid if you win (the classic contingency fee model). If they don’t think you have a case worth pursuing, they’ll tell you upfront and you owe nothing.
What Actually Happens When You Call Cellino Law?
When you dial the number (or fill out the online form), you won’t get voicemail hell or a paralegal who can’t answer basic questions. You’ll speak with an experienced intake specialist who starts gathering the basic facts:
- When and where did the accident happen?
- Were the police called? Was there a report?
- What injuries did you suffer?
- Have you received medical treatment yet?
- Is anyone already contacting you from an insurance company?
“We train our staff to treat every caller like it’s their own family member on the line,” says Tim. “We know you’re calling at one of the worst moments of your life.”
If it sounds like you may have a case, they’ll schedule a consultation—usually within 24–48 hours, often the same day. You can meet in person at one of their Buffalo-area offices, or they’ll come to your home or hospital room if you can’t travel.
The First 10 Minutes: Making You Feel Comfortable
Ross explains that the very first thing they do is try to take the pressure off.
“People walk in scared. They think they’re going to be judged or quizzed like it’s a deposition. We start by saying, ‘We’re on your side. Nothing you tell us today can be used against you. Just tell us what happened in your own words.’”
They’ll offer coffee or water, let you sit wherever you’re comfortable, and often bring in a notepad instead of a laptop so it feels more like a conversation than an interrogation.
The Story: Your Version of Events
The heart of the consultation is your story.
“We want to hear it from beginning to end without interruption,” Ross says. “Where were you going? What do you remember seeing or feeling right before impact? What did the other driver do? Did anyone say anything at the scene that seemed important?”
Tim jumps in: “Clients are always afraid they’ll forget something crucial. We tell them not to worry—there will be plenty of time later to dig into details. At this stage, we’re listening for the big picture.”
They’ll gently ask follow-up questions:
- Did you take any photos of the accident scene or your injuries?
- Do you still have the clothes you were wearing?
- Has anyone from an insurance company already asked you to give a recorded statement? (Spoiler: the answer should almost always be “no” until you have a lawyer.)
The Injuries: More Than Just the Obvious Ones
Both attorneys stress that many people downplay their injuries during the first meeting.
Ross gives an example: “A client will say, ‘I just have a little whiplash,’ but when we dig deeper we find out they haven’t been able to work for two weeks, they’re taking pain pills around the clock, and they can’t pick up their toddler anymore. That’s not ‘a little whiplash.’ That’s life-changing.”
They’ll ask detailed questions about:
- Emergency room visits, follow-ups, diagnostic tests
- Medications and out-of-pocket costs
- How the injury is affecting daily activities—sleep, work, hobbies, intimacy
- Any prior injuries to the same body part (they need to know the full history)
The Paperwork You Should Bring (But Won’t Be Turned Away Without)
Ideally, you’ll bring:
- Police accident report
- Insurance cards and correspondence
- Medical bills and records so far
- Photos of the vehicle damage, scene, or injuries
- Pay stubs if you’ve missed work
But if you show up empty-handed, that’s fine.
Tim laughs: “Half our clients walk in with nothing but the clothes on their back and a hospital bracelet. We can get everything else later. The important thing is that you come in.”
The Liability Discussion: Do You Actually Have a Case?
This is the part everyone wants to know: “Can you win?”
Ross and Tim will give you their honest opinion—often in plain percentages.
“We might say, ‘Liability looks 90% in your favor based on what you’ve told us and the police report,’ or ‘This is more of a 50-50 case because the other driver is claiming you ran the red light.’ We never sugar-coat it,” Ross explains.
They’ll also explain New York’s “serious injury” threshold for car accidents and how it applies (or doesn’t) to your situation.
Valuation: What Might the Case Be Worth?
People always want a dollar figure. The Cellinos are careful here.
Tim says, “We can’t give an exact number on day one—anyone who does is guessing. But we can give a realistic range based on similar cases we’ve handled.”
They’ll break it down:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering (often the largest component)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Spouse’s potential loss-of-consortium claim
“We’ve recovered over $2 billion for clients over the years,” Ross notes, “so we have real data on what Erie County juries award for broken legs, herniated discs, traumatic brain injuries, and so on.”
The Insurance Game: What the Other Side Is Already Doing
Most people are shocked to learn that the insurance adjuster who called “just to check on you” is actually building a case against you.
“They’re hoping you’ll say the pain is ‘not that bad’ or that you feel ‘fine,’” Tim warns. “Everything is recorded. That’s why we tell every client: from this moment forward, you don’t speak to the insurance company without us.”
Signing Up: What Happens If You Hire Cellino Law
If you decide to move forward, you’ll sign a contingency fee agreement (typically 33.3%). You pay nothing out of pocket—ever. The firm advances all costs for investigators, expert witnesses, court filing fees, medical records, etc., and only gets reimbursed if you win.
You’ll also sign medical authorization forms so the firm can start collecting records immediately.
“We send out preservation letters to trucking companies or property owners the same day,” Ross says. “Video footage gets erased, black-box data gets overwritten, witnesses forget—so speed matters.”
The “No Pressure” Guarantee
Both attorneys emphasize that there is zero pressure to sign that day.
Tim says, “We’ve had people take weeks to decide. That’s fine. We want clients who trust us, not people who feel cornered.”
If you leave without signing and later change your mind, the door is always open.
Red Flags: When They Tell You NOT to Hire a Lawyer
Surprisingly, Ross and Tim turn down cases every single week.
“If the liability is clearly against you, or the injuries don’t meet New York’s threshold, or the potential recovery wouldn’t even cover medical bills—we’ll tell you upfront,” Ross says. “We’d rather lose a case than take one we can’t win. Our reputation is everything.”
They’ll often refer those people to other types of attorneys (workers’ comp, Social Security Disability, no-fault benefits) at no charge.
Final Thoughts from Ross and Tim Cellino
Ross sums it up: “A free consultation should leave you feeling better than when you walked in—whether you hire us or not. You should understand your rights, know what not to say to insurance companies, and have a realistic idea of what your case is worth.”
Tim adds, “We’ve been doing this in Buffalo for over 60 years combined. We know every insurance adjuster, every defense lawyer, every judge. You’re not just hiring a lawyer—you’re hiring a team that knows how to win in Western New York.”