One of the most common concerns for accident victims is how much it costs to hire a knowledgable Geneva personal injury lawyer. After all, if you’re dealing with medical bills, lost wages, or property damage, adding legal fees to the mix may feel overwhelming.
Fortunately, many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they don’t charge attorney fees unless they win your case. However, there are other fee structures used by some attorneys.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of fee arrangements and what you can expect when hiring a personal injury attorney.
Flat Fees
A flat fee is a fixed amount that a lawyer charges for handling a specific legal task. This arrangement is more common in straightforward legal matters like drafting a will or reviewing a contract. They are not common in personal injury cases because they often involve unpredictable timelines and legal costs.
Flat fees are rare for injury claims but may occasionally apply to discrete tasks, such as reviewing a settlement offer.
Hourly Fees
Under an hourly fee arrangement, the attorney charges you for each hour (or portion of an hour) they work on your case. You’ll typically receive itemized invoices showing the time spent on research, phone calls, document preparation, and court appearances.
While this method is standard in many legal fields, it’s not always practical for personal injury victims, who may not have the means to pay legal bills as they go. Hourly fees are more common in cases involving complex business litigation or unusual legal issues outside of standard personal injury practice.
Retainer Agreements
A retainer is an upfront payment that functions like a deposit. The lawyer bills hourly fees against the retainer as the work progresses. If the retainer is depleted before the case is resolved, you may be asked to replenish it.
Retainers are often used in legal matters where the outcome is uncertain or where the attorney and client agree to a hybrid billing model. In personal injury law, retainers are typically not required unless a contingency fee arrangement is unavailable or inappropriate.
Contingency Fees
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, a model specifically designed to support injured individuals during financially difficult times. These fees are used in cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, workplace accidents and many other injury cases.
With a contingency fee, you pay nothing upfront. Instead, your lawyer only gets paid if they recover compensation for you through a settlement or verdict. Their fee is a pre-agreed upon percentage of your award, usually between 33% to 40%. Under the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, this percentage must be reasonable.
This fee structure allows accident victims to hire a skilled attorney without taking on financial risk. It ensures that you have access to high-quality representation even if you can’t afford to pay out of pocket due to medical bills and other accident-related damages.
This model also aligns your attorney’s interests with your own. Because the lawyer’s fee depends on your recovery, they have a strong incentive to maximize the value of your claim. The more compensation you receive, the more they earn.
Considerations for Contingency Fees
Before signing a contingency fee agreement, your attorney should explain:
- The exact percentage they will take (typically between 33% and 40%)
- Whether case costs (like filing fees or expert witnesses) are deducted before or after their fee is calculated
Of course, your Geneva car accident lawyer should also clearly describe what happens if the case is unsuccessful.
Contact a Geneva Personal Injury Lawyer for Help After an Accident
Thanks to contingency fees, hiring a personal injury lawyer doesn’t have to create additional financial stress. If you’ve been injured and are unsure about your options, you should speak with a Geneva personal injury lawyer for help understanding your rights and options. Fortunately most injury law firms offer free consultations.
Contact Feagans Law Group today to schedule your complimentary case review with an experienced attorney.