What Is a Contingency Fee?

You’ve been injured in an accident and spoken with a few Los Angeles injury lawyers, and they’ve mentioned that they will take your case on a contingency basis. No money out of your pocket up front sounds good, but what exactly does it mean when your personal injury lawyer tells you he will work for you on a contingency fee? At Ghozland Law Firm, this means that our clients do not pay unless we win. In other words, as our client, you will not be required to pay any costs until we recover financial compensation for you.

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What is a contingency fee?

Legally speaking, a contingency fee is a payment to an attorney for legal services that depends, or is contingent, upon financial recovery or award in the case. Under this type of payment structure, your lawyer does not collect a fee if you do not win. If you win, the payment to your attorney is a percentage of the amount recovered, which can differ for each attorney and/or law firm. Be sure to discuss your attorney’s contingency fee arrangement with him to learn more.

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Contingency fees and personal injury cases

In California, contingency agreements are frequently used in personal injury cases (and are generally not applicable in criminal cases). A contingency fee agreement must be in writing and include:

• The method by which the fee is to be determined
• The percentage or percentages that shall accrue to the lawyer in the event of settlement, trial or appeal
• The percentage or percentages that shall accrue to the lawyer in the event of settlement, trial or appeal
• Litigation and other expenses to be deducted from the recovery
• Whether litigation expenses are to be deducted before or after the contingent fee is calculated

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As with any aspect of the retainer you have with your attorney, please be sure to discuss each of these points in more detail with your personal injury lawyer before signing on the dotted line.

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Why choose a contingency fee lawyer?

Personal injury lawsuits can be timely and expensive. Between hiring experts, medical expenses, and more, the costs add up. Fortunately, a contingency fee arrangement provides individuals who may not be able to afford attorneys fees upfront with access to the courts and to the ability to recover financially for injuries suffered, such as medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering.

Again, contingency fees are generally used in lawsuits involving personal injuries. If you have been injured as a result of another’s negligence, whether it be the negligence of an individual or business entity, reach out to experienced trial lawyers who will work with you on a contingency fee basis.

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For a free, no obligation consultation about how we work and whether we can represent you in your accident case, contact the injury attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm today.