Most personal injury lawsuits cost nothing upfront because attorneys work on contingency fees, typically 33% to 40% of your settlement or verdict.
You pay attorney fees only if you win. You may also need to pay for expenses like filing fees, expert witnesses, and medical records, which may total $500 to $10,000 depending on the case’s complexity.
What Is a Contingency Fee?
A contingency fee is a payment arrangement where your attorney receives compensation only if they win your case.
Instead of paying hourly rates or upfront retainers, you agree to give your lawyer a percentage of whatever settlement or verdict they secure on your behalf.
This arrangement makes legal representation accessible regardless of your financial situation.
You do not need thousands of dollars saved to hire an experienced personal injury attorney.
The contingency fee structure aligns your lawyer’s interests with yours—they only get paid when you get paid, motivating them to maximize your compensation.
If your case does not result in recovery, you owe nothing in attorney fees.
This risk-free arrangement allows injury victims to pursue justice without worrying about accumulating legal bills they can’t afford.
This is especially helpful when you are dealing with medical expenses and lost income from your injuries.
What Is the Standard Percentage of a Contingency Fee?
The standard contingency fee for personal injury cases ranges from 33% to 40% of the total recovery.
Many attorneys charge 33% if your case settles before filing a lawsuit, and 40% if the case proceeds to trial.
This tiered structure reflects the additional work required for litigation.
Some attorneys use a flat percentage regardless of when the case resolves, while others have different rates for different stages: pre-litigation settlement, post-litigation settlement, trial, and appeal.
The specific percentage should be outlined in your fee agreement before you hire an attorney.
These percentages are negotiable in some circumstances.
However, most established personal injury firms have standard rates based on case type and complexity.
When Do You Pay a Personal Injury Lawyer?
You pay a personal injury lawyer only after your case concludes successfully through settlement or trial verdict.
The attorney’s fee is deducted from your total recovery before you receive your portion.
Here is how the payment process typically works:
- When the defendant or insurance company pays your settlement or verdict, the funds go into your attorney’s trust account.
- Your lawyer then deducts their contingency fee percentage, reimburses case costs they advanced, and resolves any outstanding medical liens.
- Your attorney then distributes the remaining amount to you.
You will receive a detailed settlement statement showing exactly how the funds were allocated.
This transparency ensures you understand every deduction from your recovery. If your case does not result in compensation, you owe nothing in attorney fees.
However, you may be responsible for case costs depending on your fee agreement.
What Other Costs Are Associated with a Personal Injury Case?
Beyond attorney fees, personal injury cases involve various costs for building and presenting your claim.
These expenses, separate from contingency fees, include court filing fees, costs to obtain medical records and reports, deposition transcripts, expert witness fees, and investigation costs, such as accident reconstruction.
Many law firms advance these costs on your behalf, meaning they pay the expenses upfront and get reimbursed from your settlement or verdict.
This arrangement prevents you from paying out-of-pocket while your case is pending.
However, you should clarify in your fee agreement whether you are responsible for these costs if your case doesn’t result in recovery.
Simple cases that settle quickly may involve minimal costs, perhaps just a few hundred dollars for medical records and filing fees.
Complex cases requiring extensive expert testimony, multiple depositions, and trial preparation can accumulate costs in the thousands.
Your attorney should provide estimates of expected costs and keep you informed as expenses accrue.
How to Manage Costs for a Personal Injury Lawsuit
To manage the costs associated with your personal injury lawsuit, make sure you understand the attorney’s fee structure and how they handle additional expenses.
Clarify whether they advance all case costs, what happens to those costs if you don’t win, and whether they consult with you before incurring significant expenses.
Investing in your case through quality expert witnesses, thorough investigations, and comprehensive medical documentation often increases your ultimate recovery.
An attorney who cuts corners on case development to minimize costs may ultimately secure less compensation for you.
The goal is maximizing your net recovery after fees and costs, not simply minimizing expenses.
Stay engaged in your case and respond promptly to your attorney’s requests for information or documentation.
Delays can potentially increase the associated costs and reduce the strength of your claim.
Additionally, follow your treatment plan and attend all medical appointments.
Gaps in treatment give insurance companies ammunition to argue you didn’t take your injuries seriously, which could hurt your case.
Monge & Associates Offers Representation for Your Budget
At Monge & Associates, we believe financial concerns should never prevent injury victims from accessing quality legal representation.
That’s why we handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, you pay no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we win your case.
Our personal injury attorneys are so confident in our ability to help injured people, we guarantee it twice.
With our Big Settlement Guarantee, you will pay nothing if we do not beat the amount of any settlement offer you received before hiring us.
With our Client Satisfaction Guarantee, you can take your case file and leave with no fees or costs if you are not 100 percent satisfied in the first 30 days after you hire us.
We are committed to providing exceptional client service and stand behind that commitment with real guarantees.
Don’t let concerns about legal costs prevent you from pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Contact Monge & Associates today at (888) 477-0597 for a free consultation.
We will evaluate your case, explain our fee structure in detail, and help you understand exactly what to expect throughout the legal process—all with no financial risk to you.