How much will the attorney fees be?

Typically, clients want an attorney who will work on a “contingency” basis under which the attorney receives a percentage of the award if you win but there nothing if you lose. Typically, contingency fees range from 25% to 50% of the recovery, depending on whether the case is settled, whether it goes to trial, or whether there is an appeal. In our office, our typical contingency fee is 1/3 of all amounts received if the case settled without trial, or 40% if the case goes to trial.

In most injury cases, the law does not allow the recovery of attorney fees. This is why the contingency fee is typically a portion of the recovery. However, there are limited circumstances where an injured party who prevails is entitled to an award of attorney fees. In some of those cases, the lawyer will agree to accept the attorney fees awarded by the court so that the client can keep the entire amount of damages awarded to the client. In other cases, there may be a hybrid arrangement under which the lawyer recovers a percentage of the award, but the attorney fees awarded by the court would apply as the credit to that amount.


Personal Injury Claims