Contingency fees condition the payment of attorney fees on the outcome of the case. In personal injury cases taken on contingency, you generally don’t pay for an attorney’s time and work invested in your San Antonio injury case if you don’t recover compensation for your claim. Here are some more details on how contingency fees work in Texas.
The Contingency Fee Arrangement
When you are injured in a truck accident, you may not have the necessary funds to pay upfront for an attorney’s services, in addition to paying for your medical bills, car repairs, etc. For this reason, many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.
Under this fee arrangement, your attorney agrees to take your case at no upfront cost to you. Furthermore, your lawyer waives their right to be compensated for their work on your case if they do not successfully resolve it. Rather than charging you a typical hourly rate, your lawyer agrees to receive a percentage of your award or settlement.
Taking a case on a contingency-fee basis can be risky for a lawyer. They could wind up taking your case, investing time and resources in it, and not winning, so they wouldn’t get paid. For this reason, many personal injury lawyers will carefully evaluate cases and only take those that they think they will be successful in, so they don’t waste their valuable time. Attorneys who work under a contingency-fee agreement are highly incentivized to fight for maximum compensation because the more money they can secure for their client, the more they can earn for their firm.
Your written contingency fee waiver explains the mechanisms involved in your contingency fee agreement, including the percentage they will charge and how legal expenses like court filing fees or record request fees will be paid.
Factors That Affect Contingency Fees in Texas
Attorney fees must be reasonable. Some factors that affect the reasonableness of these fees are:
- The nature and extent of your injuries
- The novelty and complexity of your case
- How experienced your attorney is
- Whether taking your case may prevent your attorney from taking others
- Your needs
- The damages involved in your case
- Whether your case settles or is tried
- The likelihood of success
Difference in Attorney Fees and Legal Costs
Attorney fees are different than legal costs, which are the costs that someone pays out-of-pocket to pursue a case, such as:
- Medical record retrieval costs
- Phone charges
- Printing costs
- Court filing fees
- Costs associated with deposing witnesses
- Picture development costs
- Expert witness fees
You should ask your lawyer how these additional costs are handled and whether they are taken out before or after the contingency fee is calculated.
Contact Us to Learn About How Contingency Fees Would Work in Your Case
If you were injured in a truck accident, you may be able to hire a San Antonio accident attorney on a contingency-fee basis. At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we believe in transparent pricing. We can explain our fee structure and what you can expect from your money. Call us today at 210-225-0909 to take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation.