Many attorneys, particularly those who work with personal injury clients, take cases on contingency. This means their fee depends upon them winning compensation for you. If they do not secure a settlement or verdict in your favor, you owe nothing.
How Does a Contingency Agreement Work?
When you hire a lawyer on contingency, they agree to represent you in exchange for a set percentage of your settlement or civil court verdict. Contingency fees only apply to cases where a client seeks monetary awards. This includes personal injury cases, workers’ compensation cases, and wrongful death cases.
Under a contingency-fee arrangement, your lawyer assumes the financial risk. If they do not win your case, you do not owe them a fee. You also do not owe anything up front. This allows you to seek justice even if you have financial hardships. However, if your case is unsuccessful, you may still owe case-related expenses like court filing fees.
What Types Of Compensation Can I Persue?
The higher the amount of compensation a lawyer working on contingency can win for you, the more money they stand to make. This means that an advantageous settlement benefits everyone. In general, when it comes to cases involving personal injuries, you can seek awards for:
- Medical treatment – Including all of your past and future accident-related expenses, such as surgeries, rehabilitation services, and nursing care
- Lost wages – Including your back pay and the loss of your future earnings if you can no longer work because of your injuries
- Property damages – Including the value of any personal property harmed during your accident, such as your vehicle, electronics, and jewelry
- Pain and suffering – Including your physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional suffering
- Wrongful death – Including the loss of your loved one’s earnings, services, and support, as well as your pain and suffering
How Will Your Lawyer Secure These Awards?
Many personal injury cases begin with an insurance claim. Your lawyer will:
- File your claims
- Handle your paperwork and deadlines
- Communicate with all involved parties
- Negotiate your settlement on your behalf
If insurance does not offer a satisfactory solution, your lawyer can pursue awards in civil court. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 states that you have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
If you want to sue a municipality, you could have less time, however. There are also circumstances that could warrant a timeline extension. Your lawyer will explain these time limit details to you.
Determining Your Contingency Fee
Before entering into a contingency agreement, it is important to understand what your lawyer’s fees pay for. The size of your fee should relate to how much work your lawyer needs to do for your case.
If your attorney expects an easy settlement out of court, your fee likely will be lower than if they believe your case will be difficult. This is because a harder case could result in a trial. Some attorneys offer a sliding scale fee.
The Legal Information Institute (LII) affirms that the legal ethics rules lawyers need to follow state that lawyers must:
- Present clients with a written contingency agreement for them to sign
- Clearly outline the method by which they determine their fees
- Notify the client of any and all expenses for which they will be liable
- Not enter into contingency agreements for cases involving domestic matters, such as divorce cases or criminal defense
Contingency Fees Are Not the Only Thing to Consider Before Hiring a Lawyer
You should not hire an attorney based on fees alone. You want a lawyer that is the right fit for you and your specific case. When choosing representation:
- Consider recommendations from your friends and family
- Make sure they have experience and a successful record with your type of case
- Find out how they would seek to resolve your case, how long they believe it will take, and what the potential outcomes may be
- Ask about the legal team that will assist with your case
- Make sure you feel comfortable speaking with them and opening up about your accident and injuries
- Inquire about how they will communicate with you regarding your case and how often you can expect an update
Loncar Lyon Jenkins Takes Cases on Contingency
We can help you recover damages on contingency for a variety of personal injury cases, including:
- Car, truck, DWI, and motorcycle accidents
- Catastrophic injuries
- Slip and falls
- Construction accidents
- Dog bites
- Oilfield accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Wrongful death
- Brain injuries
Call Our Team So We Can Get Started
If you suffered an injury because of another party’s negligent or reckless actions, it is time to call in the Strong Arm. Loncar Lyon Jenkins will assist you with insurance claims, negotiations, and taking your case to trial, if necessary.
To get started on your case today, call (877) 239-4878 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
