Contingency fees explained
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee: instead of hourly billing, the lawyer receives an agreed percentage of any settlement or award, and nothing if there is no recovery. The percentage is set in your agreement, varies by lawyer and state (some states cap fees for certain cases), and can step up if the case goes to trial.
Costs are not the same as fees
Case costs (court filing fees, medical records, expert witnesses, depositions) are separate. Your agreement should say whether costs are deducted before or after the percentage is calculated, which changes how much you take home, and whether you owe costs if the case is lost.
Confirm in writing
- The fee percentage at each stage (pre-suit, after filing, trial, appeal)
- How costs are handled and whether you owe them if you lose
- How medical liens and bills will be paid from the recovery
- What happens if you change lawyers
- That you will receive a written settlement statement showing every deduction
General information only; ask the lawyer to explain every term before you sign.