General

What is a contingency fee?

A contingency fee is a legal fee paid as a percentage of the money recovered, with nothing owed if the case loses.

Full Answer

Contingency fees are standard in personal injury, wrongful death, employment, and some other plaintiff-side cases. The standard range is 33% to 40% of the recovery, depending on whether the case settles pre-suit or proceeds through trial.

Contingency fees allow injured people to access top-tier representation without paying anything up-front — the lawyer is paid only if the case wins. They also align the lawyer's incentives with yours: a larger recovery means a larger fee for both of you.

Always read the written contingency fee agreement carefully and ask about how case expenses (filing fees, expert witnesses) are handled separately from the fee.

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