Can’t Afford a Lawyer? Learn About Contingency Fees

Legal fees can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re already dealing with an injury, missed work, or mounting medical bills. For many people, hiring a lawyer seems out of reach.

But that’s where a contingency fee can change everything.
With this type of agreement, your lawyer only gets paid if you win your case. You owe nothing upfront, and no attorney’s fees if the case isn’t successful.

It’s not just a fee structure—it’s a partnership. When your attorney’s pay depends on your outcome, you can trust they’re fully invested in fighting for every dollar you deserve.

How do contingency fees work?

A contingency fee means your lawyer only gets paid if you recover money—either through a settlement or a court verdict.

Their fee is a percentage of what you win, and it’s collected at the end of the case.

Unlike hourly billing or upfront retainers, contingency fees allow you to hire a lawyer without paying anything upfront. If your case isn’t successful, you typically owe nothing for the lawyer’s time.

However, some case-related costs—like court filing fees, expert reports, or medical records—may still apply. Some law firms cover these expenses and only recover them if you win. Others may require reimbursement even if the case is lost, so it’s important to clarify this in advance.

In California, all contingency fee agreements must be:

• In writing
• Signed by both you and the lawyer
• Clear about the fee percentage, expenses, and what happens if the case is dropped or reassigned

In certain cases, such as medical malpractice or cases involving minors, California law limits how much a lawyer can charge. This is another reason why reviewing the agreement carefully—and asking questions—is essential before signing.

Advantages of Contingency Fee Agreements

For many people, especially personal injury victims, the biggest barrier to hiring a lawyer is cost. A contingency fee helps remove that obstacle by making quality legal help available—without upfront payment.

Here are the key benefits of this payment model:

Access to Legal Representation

Contingency fees allow people to pursue justice, even if they can’t afford to pay a lawyer out of pocket. This is especially important after a serious injury or unexpected financial hardship. You don’t need savings to have someone fight for your rights.

No Upfront Costs

You won’t be asked to pay a retainer or hourly rate. Instead, your attorney is paid a percentage of the final settlement or court award. This gives you breathing room to focus on your health and recovery while your lawyer handles the case.

Motivated Representation

If your lawyer doesn’t win, they don’t get paid. That means they have every incentive to build a strong case and fight hard on your behalf. Your success is directly tied to theirs.

Reduced Financial Risk

With a contingency agreement, there’s little to no financial risk. If the case isn’t successful, you typically won’t owe any legal fees. This makes it possible to pursue a claim without the fear of going into debt.

Caring Experienced Attorney to Stand With You

Contingency fees naturally align the goals of the client and the lawyer. Your attorney only gets paid if you win, which means both of you are focused on the same outcome: a successful case and fair compensation.

Types of Cases That Use Contingency Fees

Contingency fee agreements are most commonly used in civil cases where the client is seeking financial compensation.

These cases often involve injury, loss, or harm—and would otherwise be too expensive to pursue upfront.

At Prestige Law Firm P.C., contingency fees help injured clients access trusted legal support without taking on financial risk.

Personal Injury

This includes car accidents, slip and falls, workplace injuries, and trucking collisions. Clients typically seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Cases involving surgical errors, misdiagnosis, or medication mistakes are complex and costly to litigate. Contingency fees make it possible for clients to hold negligent providers accountable without paying upfront.

Wrongful Death

When someone dies due to another party’s negligence—such as in a car crash or medical error—family members can pursue compensation. Prestige Law Firm P.C. offers compassionate, contingency-based representation in these difficult cases.

Other Common Civil Cases

Outside of Prestige Law Firm P.C.’s focus, contingency fees are also used in product liability claims, class action lawsuits, employment discrimination cases, and environmental litigation.

How Contingency Fees Are Calculated

A contingency fee is usually calculated as a percentage of the total amount recovered—whether through settlement or a court verdict. While exact rates vary by firm and case, most personal injury lawyers charge based on how far the case progresses.

At Prestige Law Firm P.C., typical rates are:

• 33.33% if the case is resolved before a lawsuit is filed
• 40% once a lawsuit is filed but before trial prep begins
• 45% to 50% if the case proceeds into expert discovery or approaches trial

These tiers reflect the added time, risk, and cost required as a case moves deeper into litigation. Complex cases—such as those involving catastrophic injury, disputed liability, or multiple parties—may also require a higher fee structure due to the additional legal and financial resources involved.

Regardless of when or how your case is resolved, Prestige Law Firm P.C. ensures all contingency agreements are clearly explained and signed in writing before any work begins. We walk you through the fee percentages, how case expenses are handled, and what to expect at each stage.

Understanding the terms upfront helps prevent surprises and builds the trust essential to a strong attorney-client relationship.

Conclusion

Understanding how contingency fees work can remove one of the biggest barriers to getting the legal help you need. With no upfront costs and no payment unless you win, this fee structure makes it possible to pursue justice—especially after a serious injury or unexpected loss.

But choosing the right lawyer matters just as much as choosing the right fee model.

At Prestige Law Firm P.C., we do more than offer contingency-based representation—we provide personalized, results-focused legal support backed by over two decades of experience.

Whether you’re recovering from a car accident, workplace injury, or wrongful death, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

We proudly serve clients across Van Nuys, Palmdale, and greater Los Angeles County, and we don’t get paid unless you do.

📞 Call (818) 788-0808 or (661) 341-3939

📧 Email: paul@prestigelaw.com
Schedule your free consultation today—let’s fight for the compensation you deserve.