Personal injury attorneys typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they win the case or reach a settlement on behalf of their client. The standard contingency fee arrangement usually involves the attorney receiving a percentage of the total amount recovered. Here’s how it generally works:
Common Contingency Fee Percentages
- Standard Percentage: The most common contingency fee is around 33% or one-third of the settlement or judgment amount.
- Sliding Scale: Some Personal injury attorneys use a sliding scale where the percentage may vary depending on the stage of the case:
- Early Settlement: If the case settles before a lawsuit is filed, the fee might be around 25% to 30%.
- After Filing but Before Trial: If the case settles after a lawsuit is filed but before going to trial, the fee might be 33% to 40%.
- After Trial: If the case goes to trial and is won, the fee could be closer to 40% or higher.