A contingency fee agreement is a payment arrangement between you and a personal injury lawyer where the lawyer only gets paid if you win your case or receive a settlement.
Here’s how it works in plain terms:
No upfront payment
You don’t pay the lawyer anything at the beginning. This makes it easier to hire an attorney even if you can’t afford hourly legal fees.
The fee is a percentage of your recovery
If your case is successful, the lawyer takes an agreed-upon percentage of the money you receive (either from a settlement or a court award).
- Typical ranges: 25% to 40%, depending on the complexity of the case and whether it goes to trial.
If you lose, you usually don’t pay attorney fees
If there’s no recovery, the lawyer doesn’t get paid for their time. However, you may still be responsible for certain case expenses.
Case expenses are separate
Costs like filing fees, medical records, expert witnesses, and depositions are often handled one of two ways:
- The lawyer fronts the costs and deducts them from your settlement later, or
- You may be required to reimburse those costs even if you lose (this depends on the agreement)
Everything should be in writing
The agreement will clearly outline:
- The percentage the lawyer takes
- How expenses are handled
- What happens if you switch lawyers or settle early
We ONLY get paid if you do. LaTulip Law Offices, P.C. and our legal team know what it takes to help clients obtain a full financial recovery for current and long-term expenses from all types of personal injuries.