A common concern for accident and personal injury victims is the cost of hiring a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer. Our attorneys at Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers work on a contingency basis. Therefore, you do not need to worry about whether you can afford to hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your case – hiring us costs you nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we obtain compensation for you.
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What Is a Contingency Fee in a Personal Injury Case?
A contingency fee is a payment arrangement used by personal injury attorneys. Instead of billing by the hour or accepting a flat fee, the attorney agrees to accept payment only after they win compensation for the case. The attorney gets paid when you get paid, and there is no upfront retainer fee.
Our lawyers accept contingency fees for all types of personal injury cases, including but not limited to:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Wrongful death
- Motorcycle accidents
- Assault injuries
- Construction accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Dog bites
- Premises liability
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Product liability
- Truck accidents
- Workplace accidents
When we settle your case or receive a jury verdict, we deduct the agreed-upon percentage for our contingency fee from the proceeds. Clients do not owe any contingent attorney’s fees in the unlikely event an attorney does not win the case.
Why Do Our Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Use Contingency Fees?
Injured victims are often out of work while recovering from their injuries. This time away from work can create financial hardship for personal injury and accident victims. The situation can make it challenging to pay a large retainer fee to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Our Philadelphia accident attorneys believe you deserve access to experienced legal counsel. We want you to have the support, advice, and guidance you need as you seek fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
We believe we can win the cases we accept. Therefore, we are confident we will earn our fees when taking your case. Because our fee depends on the outcome of your case, you can be assured we invest all our resources into winning your case.
How Much Are the Contingency Fees for a Personal Injury Case in Pennsylvania?
The contingency fees you agree to pay are based on your case. Many factors can impact the contingency fees for a personal injury case. Factors that affect how much the contingency fees are for a personal injury case include:
- A lawyer’s experience, track record, and skills. Attorneys with less experience may charge lower fees than attorneys with extensive experience, resources, and a winning track record.
- The complexity and type of personal injury case.
- The time and resources the lawyer expects to devote to the case.
- Whether the case settles or goes to trial. Generally, the contingency fee increases if a lawsuit is filed and the case goes to trial.
A standard contingency fee is 33 1/3% of the proceeds from a personal injury settlement or a jury verdict. The contingency fee is based on the gross amount before medical liens and costs are deducted.
Contingency fee agreements should be in writing with clear language explaining the fees. Before signing a contingency fee agreement, read the entire document and ask the attorney questions if there are sections you do not understand. Never sign an agreement that you have not read or do not understand.
Who Pays the Costs of the Personal Injury Case?
The contingency fee represents the attorney’s fee for legal services. It does not necessarily include reimbursement for the costs of the case.
Pursuing a personal injury claim results in costs. The costs of a case depend on the circumstances. The costs of a case increase with the amount of work required to pursue the claim and whether the case settles or goes to trial.
Examples of the costs of a personal injury case include, but are not limited to:
- Fees for obtaining accident reports, medical records, and other documents
- Postage and copy costs
- Travel expenses and mileage
- Costs to consult with and hire expert witnesses
- Deposition fees and costs
- Filing fees for court documents
- Trial preparation
Law firms usually pay the costs of a case as they are incurred. The law firm may then be reimbursed for the costs from the settlement proceeds – depending on the terms of the contingency fee agreement.
It is crucial that you discuss the costs of the case before you sign a contingency fee agreement or retainer agreement. Ask the attorney who is responsible for paying the costs if the attorney does not recover funds for your case. Will you be responsible for reimbursing the law firm for costs out of your pocket?
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers
Our legal team at Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers fight to get you the compensation you deserve. We aggressively pursue the maximum value available for your case. Call now at (215) 875-7030 or contact us online for a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys.
