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(281) 587-1111
(281) 587-1111
(281) 587-1111
March 8, 2023 by Greg Baumgartner
If you have been injured in an accident in Houston, the last thing you need is the added burden of finding a way to come up with the money to hire a lawyer to protect your legal rights and interests. With this reality understood, many personal injury lawyers utilize what is known as a contingency fee arrangement.
The contingent fee arrangement is used in Houston for all types of personal injury cases, like car wrecks, 18-wheeler accidents, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death cases.
A contingency fee is a type of payment arrangement in which an attorney agrees to represent the client in exchange for a percentage of any settlement or award obtained on the client’s behalf. The fee is paid only if the lawyer wins money for their client.
If no money is won for the client, the client does not owe a fee to the lawyer under most contingent fee arrangements. You should always read the engagement or fee documents and ask questions before signing any such documents. Fees and expenses can vary by state and law firm. Read the paperwork closely to learn the cost of hiring an attorney.
Personal injury lawyer contingency fee lets accident victims get a good lawyer they may otherwise not be able to afford.
First, as was mentioned, this arrangement allows you to obtain experienced legal representation without coming up with the money for a retainer. Getting the best personal injury attorney costs no more than a lesser lawyer.
Second, because a personal injury attorney agrees to a contingency fee agreement, you can rest assured that a lawyer identifies merit in your case. An attorney will not want to spend time and money on a case they don’t believe they will win!
Third, you will not be required to fund the lawyer or the case out of your pocket. The fee and expenses usually come from the damages the attorney recovered. It is best not to worry about how much the lawyer makes; instead, focus on how much money you put in your pocket.
Through a contingency fee agreement, a lawyer who takes your case also addresses the expense associated with the personal injury claim. In any personal injury case, there will be costs related to pursuing a settlement with an insurance company or judgment in a lawsuit.
For example, an expert witness may be required to support the contentions or the costs of filing fees or court reporters. Court filing fees and expenses like court reporters and investigation fees add up.
For an injury law firm to take a personal injury case on a contingency fee basis, they must estimate the odds of winning and the time required to know if it is a case they want to handle.
Initial investigations are usually conducted in serious injury or wrongful death cases. One should always carefully read any contingency fee agreement before signing.
With a contingency fee arrangement, at least on personal injury matters, an attorney or law firm usually pays the case’s expenses. These costs are reimbursed out of the claim if money is paid in the case.
Remember that your attorney is spending money they have already made on expenses in another case. Lawyers will not usually spend their money unless they believe it will help your case.
The contingency fee concept is not without some critics. These individuals try to argue that contingency fee agreements cause the proliferation of meritless or frivolous lawsuits. Personal injury lawyer contingency fees are vital to protect the rights of many.
The reality is that this contention is without merit. An attorney will not want to invest time, effort, and other resources in a truck accident lawsuit they don’t believe they will win! Accordingly, an 18-wheeler settlement would pay the lawyer out of the settlement, with the net to the client. If the attorney does not like the odds, he will decline the case.
Without a contingency fee arrangement, many hardworking people would be unable to protect their legal interests due to the costs of a trial lawyer. They would not be able to seek justice in situations in which they have been injured and suffered losses because of the negligence of some other party.
Without contingency fee arrangements, the alternative is attorney fees of several hundred dollars an hour or more, every hour, billed in 15-minute increments, and retainers in the thousands or tens of thousands.
Hourly attorney’s fees are paid win, lose, or draw. But with contingent fee arrangements, the attorney is only paid if money changes hands. Most people do not know how expensive litigation is and how much attorney work is necessary to bring a case to a successful conclusion. Studies have shown that those with an experienced personal injury lawyer get more money.
If you are injured because of the negligence of some other party. In that case, you must not let a lack of ready money for attorney fees dissuade you from seeking talented, committed legal counsel.
A personal injury lawyer contingent fee arrangement is beneficial to both you and your attorney. Injury victims may not have the money to pay for an hourly lawyer.
Personal injury lawsuits in Texas are very time-consuming and expensive to handle.
At Baumgartner Law Firm, we take all the cases we accept on a contingency fee basis. Some of the cases we accept include:
An experienced, reputable personal injury attorney in Texas, like a member of the legal team in Houston at the Baumgartner Law Firm, can provide you with the experienced, diligent representation you need on a contingency fee basis—call (281) 587-1111 for a FREE consultation on an injury accident.
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
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Since founding the Baumgartner Law Firm in 1985, Greg Baumgartner has established himself as a leading personal injury attorney in Houston, Texas, with a focus on representing severely injured accident victims and families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. His commitment to excellence in legal advocacy has earned him recognition from prestigious organizations, including Super Lawyers and the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and others. With decades of experience, Greg is consistently peer-reviewed and holds a preeminent rating, reflecting his dedication to achieving justice for his clients.
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