Most lawyers who handle personal injury claims don’t get paid unless they win the case. This means that the lawyer doesn’t charge an up-front fee or an hourly rate. Instead, they only get paid if they get their client a good settlement or court reward. The contingent fee is usually a share of the total amount that is returned.
When someone gets hurt on the job, the usual contingency fee is one-third (33.33%) of the total settlement or award. Nevertheless, this percentage may change based on several elements, such as how complicated the case is, what stage of the case it is in, and where it is made.
The option fee might be more than the usual one-third rate in some situations. For instance, lawyers may charge a bigger contingency fee if the case goes to trial. This fee is usually around 40% of the total award or settlement. Because going to trial takes more time, work, and risk, this higher fee is meant to pay the lawyer for those things.
Also, keep in mind that contingency fees are usually figured after case costs like expert witness fees, court filing fees, and other costs related to pursuing the case have been taken into account. Most of the time, the lawyer pays for these costs up front and gets paid back from the final settlement or award.
Some lawyers may charge a lower fee or a flat fee in addition to the contingency fee for cases that are easy to understand or have a good chance of success.
For example, if it’s a clear case of slip-and-fall with big losses, an attorney might charge a flat fee or a lower contingency fee because there is less risk and work involved.
In personal injury cases, the contingency fee structure is popular. However, it’s important for clients to fully understand the fee structure and any other costs or expenses they may be responsible for.
Reputable lawyers will give you a thorough written fee agreement that spells out the contingency fee percentage, case costs, and any other rules or conditions.