It is standard practice for lawyers to charge contingency fees in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. As a result, if you think you may have a personal injury or medical malpractice claim, it will be worth learning more about this type of fee structure. While many people find it confusing initially, it is actually pretty straightforward, and contingency-fee representation allows you to file a lawsuit even if you can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket for legal representation.
At Coplan + Crane, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means that if you were hurt because of someone’s negligence, whether you were hurt by a careless driver, a medical professional, or another party or parties, you don’t pay us anything unless we reach a successful outcome in your case. It also doesn’t cost you a penny to discuss your case with us in a FREE case evaluation.
5 Key Aspects of Contingency Fees in Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Cases
So, how do contingency fees work? Here are five key aspects of contingency-fee representation in personal injury and medical malpractice cases:
1. FREE, No-Obligation Initial Consultation
When you hire a lawyer “on contingency,” the first step in the process is to sit down for a free, no-obligation consultation. Yes, this really is free. It costs you nothing to learn about your legal rights; and, regardless of what you learn during your initial consultation, you are under no obligation whatsoever to move forward with filing a claim.
If you have questions about filing a personal injury or medical malpractice claim, it is in your best interests to schedule an initial consultation promptly—today if possible. Not only are there mistakes that you need to be careful to avoid, but your lawyer may also need to act quickly to preserve critical evidence before it disappears.
2. No Retainer Fee
The second key aspect of contingency-fee representation is that you do not have to pay a retainer fee. In fact, as we discuss in greater detail below, you do not have to pay anything out of pocket. In some types of cases, lawyers collect retainer fees to make sure they will get paid for their services. But, this is not how personal injury and medical malpractice cases work.
Instead, your lawyer’s ability to get paid depends on (or is “contingent” on) his or her ability to help you recover just compensation. Not only does this ensure that you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket, but it also ensures that your interests and your lawyer’s interests are aligned. Since your lawyer’s ability to collect a fee is contingent on the success of your case, you can feel confident knowing that your lawyer is committed to helping you secure the compensation you deserve.
3. No Monthly Legal Bills
Just as you don’t have to pay anything upfront, you also don’t have to pay anything on a monthly basis. When you hire a personal injury or medical malpractice lawyer on contingency, you will never receive a monthly legal bill. You are not racking up billable hours, so you don’t have to worry about how you are going to pay your lawyer while you are also trying to keep up with your medical bills and normal monthly expenses.
4. You Only Pay if You Win
Since your lawyer’s legal fees are contingent on the success of your case, you only pay if you win. This is the core aspect of contingency-fee representation. When you hire a lawyer on contingency, your lawyer only gets paid if he or she helps you win a settlement or verdict.
5. Your Legal Fees Are Based on the Amount of Your Award
If your lawyer helps you win a settlement or verdict, your legal fees will be calculated as a percentage of your award. This percentage will be clearly disclosed during your initial consultation. Since contingency fees are percentage-based, you will take home money if your case is successful.
All of this means that you never have to worry about paying anything out of pocket during or after your case. If your case is successful, your legal fees will be deducted from your settlement or verdict. If your case is unsuccessful for any reason, you owe nothing. As a result, contingency-fee legal representation is truly no-risk legal representation—the key is to make sure you choose a lawyer who is capable of helping you win the financial compensation you deserve.
Talk to a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer in Illinois for Free
Do you have a personal injury case in Illinois? If you need to learn about your legal rights, we encourage you to schedule a free, no-obligation initial consultation at Coplan + Crane.
Contact Coplan + Crane today online or at 708-358-8080 to schedule a FREE case evaluation. We welcome clients from across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas.
