Contingency Fee

A contingency fee arrangement means your personal injury attorney is paid only if your case results in a financial recovery. No attorney fee is owed unless money is obtained on your behalf. In a personal injury case, such as a truck accident or a slip-and-fall, the law firm typically advances the costs of handling the matter. Then it receives an agreed-upon percentage of any settlement or verdict, allowing you to pursue your claim without out-of-pocket legal fees.

What Cases Operate on a Contingency Fee Basis?

A contingency fee ties a lawyer’s payment to the outcome of your case rather than to hours billed. Personal injury practices use this model because it matches the client’s risk to the lawyer’s, and it commonly applies to claims such as:

• Car accidents
•  Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slip-and-fall
• Premises liability
• Wrongful death and catastrophic harm

Each of these claims shares one trait: an injured person who needs help but cannot risk hourly bills. Cases like car accidents often settle for amounts that would be out of reach if victims had to fund the fight themselves.

A clear fee agreement removes the guesswork from the arrangement. Before signing, you should understand the percentage, when it applies, and how a trial rather than a settlement can change the math.

Are There Any Upfront Costs?

No, a true contingency arrangement asks for no upfront attorney fees and no retainer to start. You sign an agreement, the firm begins work, and your obligation to pay a fee arises only if money comes in, though case expenses may remain your responsibility depending on the agreement.

That arrangement removes the biggest barrier most injury victims face after a crash. Instead of choosing between rent and legal help, you keep your savings intact while the firm advances the cost of building your case.

Are There Case Expenses?

Yes, every injury case incurs expenses beyond attorney’s fees, such as the cost of gathering records and hiring specialists. Most contingency firms front these costs and then deduct them from the recovery. These expenses add up quietly across a claim, and a clear agreement spells out how the firm handles each one:

• Filing fees and court costs
• Medical record and billing retrieval
• Expert witness and accident reconstruction fees
• Deposition transcripts and investigation costs

Are Initial Consultations Free?

Yes, free initial consultations let you understand your options with no risk. You can describe what happened, hear an honest assessment, and decide whether to move forward without spending a dollar. It also allows you to judge whether the firm fits your needs before signing anything.

How Do You Get Paid After a Settlement?

Once your case is resolved, the settlement check is typically deposited into the law firm’s trust account rather than paid directly to you. The distribution generally follows a standard sequence once the funds have cleared:

• Repayment of the case expenses the firm advanced
• The agreed attorney fee percentage
• Outstanding medical liens and bills
• The remaining net amount paid to you

Both you and the attorney must sign the written agreement required by Texas Government Code § 82.065, and the agreement itself specifies the exact percentage and how the funds are split. Asking for a written settlement statement at the end keeps everyone honest, and a good firm walks you through every deduction, so the final number makes sense.

What If You Win but the Defendant Still Doesn’t Pay?

Winning a judgment does not always mean the defendant writes a check, especially when the paying party lacks insurance or assets. Our lawyers can then pursue collection tools to turn that paper victory into actual money.

Collection can involve placing liens on property, pursuing bank account garnishment, or identifying non-exempt assets (property not protected from creditors under exemption laws) to satisfy the judgment. In hard-fought matters like wrongful death claims, persistent enforcement often separates a real recovery from an empty ruling, and a determined approach signals to defendants that ignoring the judgment is not an option.

What If You Meet With a Personal Injury Lawyer Who Bills Hourly?

An hourly arrangement is rare in personal injury work and usually signals a poor fit for an accident claim. Hourly billing forces you to pay regardless of the outcome, shifting all the financial risk onto you.

Injury victims fare better with a contingency model that aligns the lawyer’s payday with your result. Comparing fee structures during an initial meeting costs you nothing and can save you thousands. Contingency keeps your access to the courts open even when money is tight.

Start Your Injury Claim Without Risking a Dollar

Your injuries and bills will not wait, and the sooner a skilled advocate reviews your claim, the stronger your position becomes. With more than four decades of serving personal injury clients in San Antonio and Bexar County and over $500 million in settlements, we at Gamez Law Firm take cases on contingency, so no attorney fee is owed unless our attorneys win.

Call 210-736-4040 or contact us online for a free consultation, and let our team start fighting for your recovery today.