Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer Fees in Portland

Bad faith insurance lawyer fees in Portland, Maine average about $30,550 — roughly 102% of the U.S. average and below the Maine state average of $33,450.

Low

$8,150

Average fee

$30,550

of the recovery

High

$127,350

What this typically includes

Reading the policy and the denial, reconstructing the claim timeline, serving any statutory notice or demand the state requires, and proving the underlying benefit was owed before the tort claim can be reached. Then the bad faith case itself: obtaining and fighting over the insurer’s claim file, deposing the adjuster and the supervisor, retaining claims-handling and valuation experts, and trying the case through the punitive phase. Case costs — experts, depositions, records, filing fees — are advanced by the firm and repaid from the recovery, separate from the attorney fee.

Portland, ME Common-law bad-faith tort

Maine handles insurance bad faith through court-made law rather than a dedicated bad-faith statute. So what an unreasonable denial, delay, or lowball offer is worth here has been settled case by case. It can differ markedly from a neighboring state.

Most states in this position recognize a first-party bad-faith tort reaching consequential losses and, where the conduct is egregious, punitive damages. But the strength of that tort and the proof it demands vary. So the position in Maine is worth confirming locally.

Bad faith lawyers in Maine work on contingency, commonly 33.3% before suit and rising once a lawsuit is filed. So your upfront cost is $0, and no fee is owed if there is no recovery.

Because Maine's rule is court-made rather than statutory, whether any fee award is available is worth settling before you sign. Some states let you recover the fees spent obtaining the withheld benefits as damages.

Check the policy's suit-limitation clause, and whether ERISA governs your plan. Either can end the claim before the merits are reached.

Get in touch with a bad faith insurance lawyer in Portland

Browse these bad faith insurance attorneys serving Portland. Give a call or request an estimate and connect with local firm that fits your case.

We’re still adding bad faith insurance attorneys in Portland. Request a free case evaluation and we’ll connect you with a local firm.

How Portland compares

Average bad faith insurance lawyer fees, Portland vs. Maine vs. the U.S.

Portland

$30,550

Maine

$33,450

U.S. average

$30,000

Portland comes in about 2% higher than the national average for bad faith insurance lawyer fees.

What affects bad faith insurance lawyer fees in Portland

In Portland, the cost of living sits at 102% of the U.S. average — both of which influence what local attorneys charge. Beyond location, these factors determine bad faith insurance lawyer fees:

Statutory or common-law remedy — Whether your state supplies a bad-faith statute with fee shifting changes the value.
First-party or third-party — An excess-judgment case is worth far more than a denied first-party claim.
Size of the underlying claim — The tort recovery is built on the benefit that should have been paid.
Punitive damages exposure — Conduct bad enough to support punitives raises the recovery and the fee with it.
Claim-file discovery fights — Privilege battles over the adjuster’s file add months of work and expert cost.
ERISA coverage — Employer health and disability plans preempt state bad-faith remedies entirely.

How to choose a bad faith insurance lawyer in Portland

Fees matter, but the right bad faith insurance attorney in Portland also often improves your timeline and your outcome. Before you hire:

Confirm the fee structure. Most bad faith insurance cases are handled on a contingency fee — the attorney is paid a percentage of your recovery only if you win, with nothing upfront. Get it in writing before you sign — our contingency fees guide explains exactly what to look for.
Look for bad faith insurance experience. Choose an attorney who regularly handles bad faith insurance cases in Maine, not a generalist.
Use the free consultation. Most Portland bad faith insurance attorneys review your case at no cost — use it to compare two or three.
Verify licensing. Confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the Maine state bar.
Clarify what's included. Ask which case costs are separate from the fee and how they are billed — see attorney fees vs. case costs.

See how bad faith insurance fees work

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Average attorney fees in Portland by case type

National benchmarks adjusted by Portland's cost-of-living index (102). Open a case type for its full Portland fee breakdown.

Case type	How it’s billed	Low	Average	High
Bad Faith Insurance	Contingency	$8,150	$30,550	$127,350
Divorce	Flat fee	$2,050	$7,650	$20,350
Immigration	Flat fee	$510	$3,550	$15,300
Real Estate	Flat fee	$810	$1,550	$3,550
Probate	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,600	$15,300
Car Accidents	Contingency	$2,050	$6,100	$15,300
Personal Injury	Contingency	$3,050	$10,200	$30,550
Patent	Flat fee	$5,100	$10,200	$18,350
Estate Planning	Flat fee	$510	$2,050	$5,100
DUI	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$10,200
Child Support	Hourly	$1,000	$3,550	$10,200
Criminal Defense	Flat fee	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Child Custody	Hourly	$2,050	$8,150	$25,450
H-1B Visa	Flat fee	$2,050	$3,550	$6,100
Trademark	Flat fee	$610	$1,200	$2,550
Living Trust	Flat fee	$1,200	$2,550	$5,100
Traffic Ticket	Flat fee	$100	$310	$760
Family Law	Hourly	$1,550	$7,150	$20,350
Speeding Ticket	Flat fee	$100	$310	$760
Bankruptcy	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,050	$4,600
Premises Liability	Contingency	$5,600	$17,850	$81,500
Pedestrian Accident	Contingency	$3,550	$12,200	$40,750
Chapter 7	Flat fee	$1,000	$1,550	$2,550
Traffic Violation	Flat fee	$100	$310	$760
Clemency	Flat fee	$2,050	$6,100	$15,300
Bicycle Accident	Contingency	$2,550	$8,150	$25,450
Medicaid Planning	Flat fee	$3,050	$6,600	$15,300
Adoption	Flat fee	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Medical Malpractice	Contingency	$25,450	$101,850	$356,500
Expungement	Flat fee	$510	$1,550	$4,050
Workers Compensation	Contingency	$1,550	$4,050	$10,200
SSDI	Contingency	$2,050	$4,050	$9,350
Uncontested Divorce	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$2,550
Uber Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,150	$33,600
Tax	Hourly	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Rideshare Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,150	$33,600
Eviction	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$3,050
Employment	Contingency	$2,550	$10,200	$40,750
Small Claims	Flat fee	$100	$510	$1,550
Bus Accident	Contingency	$4,050	$12,200	$45,850
Pardon	Flat fee	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Disability	Contingency	$2,050	$4,050	$9,350
Chapter 13	Flat fee	$3,050	$4,050	$6,100
Drunk Driving Accident	Contingency	$4,050	$15,300	$61,100
Defense	Flat fee	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Prenuptial Agreement	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,550	$7,650
Auto Dealer Fraud	Contingency	$2,550	$7,650	$25,450
Guardianship	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$12,200
Closing	Flat fee	$710	$1,200	$2,550
Social Security	Contingency	$2,050	$4,050	$9,350
Business	Hourly	$1,550	$6,100	$25,450
Construction Accident	Contingency	$12,200	$50,950	$203,700
Alimony	Hourly	$3,050	$9,150	$25,450
Domestic Violence	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$12,200
Green Card	Flat fee	$2,050	$4,050	$8,150
Business Litigation	Hourly	$15,300	$61,100	$254,650
Police Misconduct	Contingency	$8,150	$40,750	$254,650
K-1 Visa	Flat fee	$1,550	$2,550	$4,050
Foreclosure	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,550	$7,650
Annulment	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,050	$10,200
Sexual Abuse	Contingency	$20,350	$86,600	$407,450
Juvenile	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,550	$10,200
Debt Settlement	Contingency	$1,000	$3,050	$8,150
Lemon Law	Contingency	$2,050	$5,100	$15,300
Divorce Mediation	Hourly	$2,550	$5,600	$12,200
Unpaid Wages	Contingency	$2,050	$8,150	$35,650
Non-Compete Agreement	Flat fee	$510	$2,550	$50,950
Consumer Protection	Contingency	$2,050	$5,100	$15,300
Life Insurance Denial	Contingency	$8,150	$50,950	$203,700
Personal Loan	Hourly	$510	$2,050	$5,100
Hostile Work Environment	Contingency	$4,050	$15,300	$66,200
Wrongful Death	Contingency	$15,300	$61,100	$254,650
Age Discrimination	Contingency	$5,100	$20,350	$86,600
Construction Defect	Hourly	$8,150	$45,850	$203,700
Elder Law	Hourly	$1,550	$5,100	$12,200
Restraining Order	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,550	$7,650
Debt Collection Defense	Flat fee	$510	$1,550	$5,100
Visitation	Hourly	$1,550	$5,100	$20,350
Brain Injury	Contingency	$20,350	$117,150	$509,300
Power of Attorney	Flat fee	$200	$410	$1,000
Birth Injury	Contingency	$101,850	$458,350	$1,527,900
CPS Defense	Hourly	$2,550	$7,650	$25,450
White Collar Crime	Hourly	$15,300	$76,400	$407,450
Wrongful Termination	Contingency	$3,050	$12,200	$45,850
Tenant	Hourly	$1,000	$2,550	$6,100
EB-2 NIW	Flat fee	$4,050	$7,150	$12,200
O-1 Visa	Flat fee	$3,550	$6,100	$10,200
Name Change	Flat fee	$310	$760	$2,550
F-1 Student Visa	Flat fee	$760	$1,850	$5,100
Misdemeanor	Flat fee	$760	$1,550	$3,550
Gun Charges	Flat fee	$1,550	$6,100	$76,400
Chapter 11	Hourly	$25,450	$76,400	$407,450
Citizenship	Flat fee	$510	$1,000	$2,550
Severance Agreement	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$5,100
LLC Formation	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$2,550
House Purchase	Flat fee	$810	$1,300	$2,550
Arbitration	Hourly	$6,600	$28,500	$96,750
IRS Audit	Hourly	$1,000	$4,600	$20,350
CDL Ticket	Flat fee	$410	$920	$2,550
Truck Accident	Contingency	$5,100	$16,300	$50,950
Defamation	Hourly	$5,100	$15,300	$50,950
SSI	Contingency	$1,000	$3,050	$9,350
Surrogacy	Flat fee	$3,550	$8,150	$15,300
Probation Violation	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,550	$7,650
HOA	Hourly	$1,550	$4,050	$10,200
Reckless Driving	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,550	$5,100
Suspended License	Flat fee	$760	$1,800	$3,050
Asylum	Flat fee	$3,050	$6,100	$15,300
Franchise	Hourly	$2,050	$7,650	$61,100
EB-5 Visa	Flat fee	$12,200	$25,450	$50,950
Discharge Upgrade	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$10,200
Copyright	Flat fee	$310	$1,550	$7,650
ERISA	Contingency	$3,050	$15,300	$76,400
Driving Without a License	Flat fee	$250	$610	$1,550
Marriage Green Card	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,050	$7,650
Hit and Run Accident	Contingency	$2,550	$8,150	$30,550
Overtime	Contingency	$2,550	$9,150	$40,750
Timeshare Exit	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,600	$15,300
Fraud Defense	Flat fee	$2,550	$7,650	$25,450
Civil Lawsuit	Hourly	$3,050	$15,300	$50,950
Irrevocable Trust	Flat fee	$2,550	$6,100	$15,300
Property Tax Appeal	Contingency	$150	$510	$2,050
Slip and Fall	Contingency	$4,050	$12,200	$40,750
Special Education	Hourly	$2,050	$7,650	$25,450
Entertainment	Hourly	$760	$3,550	$25,450
EB-1 Visa	Flat fee	$5,100	$9,150	$16,300
Special Needs Trust	Flat fee	$2,050	$4,600	$10,200
Student Loan	Flat fee	$760	$2,550	$8,150
Civil Rights Violation	Contingency	$5,100	$25,450	$152,800
Immigration Bond	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,050	$6,100
Motorcycle Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,150	$30,550
Dog Attack Injury	Contingency	$3,050	$10,200	$30,550
Insurance Claim	Contingency	$2,050	$7,650	$25,450
Discrimination	Contingency	$3,050	$12,200	$45,850
Professional License Defense	Hourly	$2,550	$8,150	$25,450
Commercial Real Estate	Hourly	$2,550	$9,150	$45,850
Intellectual Property	Flat fee	$510	$2,550	$15,300
Security Clearance	Flat fee	$2,550	$7,650	$20,350
Deportation	Hourly	$3,050	$8,150	$20,350
Mesothelioma	Contingency	$50,950	$356,500	$1,018,600
Trust Administration	Hourly	$2,550	$6,100	$20,350
Shoplifting	Flat fee	$760	$1,550	$4,050
Startup	Flat fee	$2,550	$7,650	$30,550
Burglary	Flat fee	$3,550	$9,150	$25,450
E-2 Visa	Flat fee	$3,550	$6,100	$10,200
Partnership Dispute	Hourly	$20,350	$76,400	$305,600
Mediation	Hourly	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Postnuptial Agreement	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,050	$9,150
Property Damage	Contingency	$1,550	$6,100	$20,350
Product Liability	Contingency	$15,300	$61,100	$254,650
Breach of Contract	Hourly	$3,050	$20,350	$76,400
Health Insurance Denial	Hourly	$760	$3,550	$15,300
Criminal Appeal	Flat fee	$7,650	$20,350	$50,950
Paternity	Hourly	$1,000	$3,050	$12,200
Debt Collector Harassment	Contingency	$1,550	$4,050	$15,300
Boundary Dispute	Hourly	$2,550	$12,200	$45,850
Corporate	Hourly	$3,550	$12,200	$61,100
Whistleblower	Contingency	$5,100	$20,350	$101,850
Legal Malpractice	Contingency	$10,200	$40,750	$152,800
Quiet Title	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$25,450
Construction	Hourly	$3,550	$25,450	$152,800
Immigration Waiver	Flat fee	$2,550	$5,100	$10,200
Asset Protection	Flat fee	$3,050	$8,150	$25,450
Federal Criminal Defense	Flat fee	$10,200	$35,650	$152,800
Assault	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$15,300
Contract Review	Flat fee	$310	$810	$3,050
Landlord	Hourly	$760	$3,050	$15,300
Unemployment Appeal	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$3,550
Legal Separation	Hourly	$2,550	$8,150	$25,450
Deed Transfer	Flat fee	$250	$610	$1,850
L-1 Visa	Flat fee	$3,050	$5,600	$9,150
Security Deposit	Flat fee	$410	$1,000	$3,050
Custody Modification	Hourly	$1,850	$6,100	$22,400
Work Permit	Flat fee	$460	$970	$2,250
Employment Contract	Flat fee	$610	$1,650	$4,600
Civil Appeal	Flat fee	$8,150	$22,400	$61,100
Contested Divorce	Hourly	$10,200	$20,350	$50,950
Wage Garnishment	Flat fee	$410	$1,250	$3,550
Stepparent Adoption	Flat fee	$1,550	$2,550	$8,150
Mergers and Acquisitions	Hourly	$7,650	$25,450	$101,850
Retaliation	Contingency	$4,600	$16,300	$71,300
Murder	Flat fee	$25,450	$76,400	$254,650
DACA	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$3,050
Mass Tort	Contingency	$8,150	$35,650	$152,800
Will Contest	Hourly	$6,100	$25,450	$101,850
Loan Modification	Flat fee	$760	$2,050	$5,100
Business Sale	Flat fee	$4,050	$9,700	$30,550
Nonprofit Formation	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,800	$8,650
Will	Flat fee	$150	$410	$1,000
Felony Defense	Flat fee	$3,550	$10,200	$30,550
Drug Possession	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$15,300
Theft	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,550	$12,200
House Sale	Flat fee	$810	$1,450	$2,550
Tax Debt Relief	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,550	$10,200
Disability Discrimination	Contingency	$3,550	$14,250	$61,100
Commercial Lease	Flat fee	$1,200	$3,550	$12,200
Bail Hearing	Flat fee	$810	$2,300	$5,100
Credit Report Errors	Contingency	$3,050	$7,650	$28,500
Removal of Conditions	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,250	$6,100
Family-Based Petition	Flat fee	$920	$1,850	$4,050
Hurricane Damage Claim	Contingency	$3,550	$13,250	$45,850
VA Disability	Contingency	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Long-Term Disability	Contingency	$2,550	$8,150	$25,450
Nursing Home Abuse	Contingency	$15,300	$61,100	$203,700
Sexual Harassment	Contingency	$5,100	$18,350	$76,400
Spinal Cord Injury	Contingency	$30,550	$152,800	$763,950
Elder Abuse	Contingency	$12,200	$42,800	$142,600
Drug Trafficking	Flat fee	$12,200	$40,750	$178,250
Child Support Modification	Flat fee	$920	$2,450	$6,950
Sex Crime Defense	Flat fee	$14,250	$48,900	$193,550

Bad faith insurance lawyer fees in other Maine cities

Compare local bad faith insurance attorney fees across Maine.

Auburn Bangor Brunswick Lewiston South Portland Sanford Biddeford Westbrook Saco Augusta Waterville Orono

FAQs - Bad faith insurance attorney fees in Portland

Bad faith insurance lawyer fees in Portland average about $30,550, with a typical range of $8,150 to $127,350. That is roughly 102% of the U.S. average, adjusted for the local cost of living.

Portland's cost-of-living index is about 102% of the national average, so bad faith insurance attorney fees here tend to run 2% higher than the U.S. norm.

The figures here are local averages. For a number tied to your specific situation, request a free match with a bad faith insurance attorney in Portland, or enter your ZIP code for a more precise estimate.

We take the national benchmark for bad faith insurance cases and adjust it by Portland's cost-of-living index — about 102% of the U.S. average — giving a local Low, Average, and High of $8,150, $30,550, and $127,350.

Portland averages about $30,550 for bad faith insurance lawyer fees, compared with roughly $33,450 across Maine and $30,000 nationally.

Many bad faith insurance attorneys in Portland offer a free initial consultation to review your case before you commit. Check each firm's listing above for details.

Look for a Portland attorney who regularly handles bad faith insurance cases, check reviews and their standing with the Maine state bar, and use free consultations to compare a few before you decide.

Attorney fees pay for the lawyer's time and skill, while case costs are separate out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees, records, and expert witnesses. In a Portland bad faith insurance matter, always confirm how the costs are handled alongside the fee.

In Portland, bad faith insurance lawyer fees are typically paid as a contingency fee — a percentage of your settlement, paid only if you win, with $0 upfront. Case costs are usually billed separately from the fee.

For most bad faith insurance matters, yes — the right attorney can improve your outcome by more than the fee, and many work on terms that limit your risk. Use a free Portland consultation to weigh it for your situation.

ZIP codes covered

These Portland bad faith insurance fee estimates apply to ZIP code 04101.

Last updated Oct 1, 2026 · Fee figures are local averages for informational purposes only and are not legal advice or a quote. See how we estimate fees.