If you’re thinking of filing a personal injury lawsuit, you’re probably wondering “how do personal injury attorneys get paid?” Many people who most need to hire a personal injury attorney don’t have the money up-front to pay. People who need a personal injury attorney are typically struggling with medical bills, lost wages, property damages and other expenses, and don’t have money sitting around to pay an attorney. Fortunately, personal injury attorneys understand this and structure their fees accordingly. Most personal injury attorneys use a contingent basis to get paid.

Paying a Personal Injury Attorney: Contingent Fee

When you hire a personal injury attorney, one of the documents you typically have to fill out is a contingent fee agreement. The contingent fee agreement basically says that if you win the case, your personal injury attorney gets to keep a portion of your settlement or jury award. The contingent fee varies, but is often one third of your monetary award. For example, if you win a personal injury case for $100,000, your personal injury attorney might take $33,333; a third of your recovery.

Most people who need a personal injury attorney don’t have cash to pay for one up front, and wouldn’t get a recovery at all without an attorney, so they feel that the one-third fee is a fair prospect. Even better, though; if you don’t win the case, you don’t pay anything. Because a personal injury attorney takes his pay from your award, no award equals no pay. So not only is your personal injury attorney advocating for you; he also wants to win the case so he can get paid himself.

Expenses

In addition to the contingent fee, many personal injury attorneys will also deduct expenses from your settlement. If a personal injury attorney has to hire an expert witness, have graphics made, hire a private investigator or pay for other expenses during the case, the attorney may deduct those expenses from your settlement in addition to the contingency fee. With expenses, you may be paying 33% and expenses