How does a contingency fee agreement work?

Most people can’t afford to pay an attorney’s hourly rate to investigate the cause of an injury or to take a case to trial. For most, the doors of the courthouse would be closed were it not for the contingency fee agreement. The contingency fee agreement places the ordinary person on a level playing field with the corporations or governmental entities who may be responsible for an injury or death. Under a contingency fee agreement, the client hires a lawyer, but if there is no settlement or verdict, the client pays nothing to the attorney for his work in investigating the case, initiating the lawsuit, or taking the case through trial. All costs associated with the investigation and the lawsuit are paid by the attorney. The contingency fee agreement allows any victim access to the legal system, regardless of the victim’s financial circumstances.