Hiring a lawyer isn’t inexpensive. If you’ve been injured in an accident and been out of work, it can be even more daunting. Fortunately, many personal injury attorneys work on what is called a “contingency basis.” Here’s how that works.

What Are Contingency Fees?

Contingency fees are payments to the attorney that are only owed if the attorney wins. Generally, the attorney takes one-third of the settlement that you receive from the insurance or court. If you lose, the attorney receives nothing. Attorneys take a risk on the case, understanding that they only get paid if they win.

Read Your Contract Before Signing, You May Still Owe

Be aware that you may still owe court costs, filing fees, service and expert fees, even if you lose your case. Make sure to understand the provisions of your contract before signing with an attorney. When your case is settled, the attorney may take out the out-of-pocket expenses from your settlement before you receive any money. You should be aware of your responsibilities.

Are Contingency Fees Common in All Areas of Law?

Contingency fees are common in car and motorcycle accident cases and other types of personal injury cases. In most areas of the law, contingency fees won’t apply. Lawyers who take contingency cases do so with the understanding that they won’t get paid until the case is settled. It’s difficult to run an office without any money coming in. Lawyers who take cases on contingency fees carefully select cases to make sure that they get paid for their time.

Will an Attorney Take Your Case?

Whether an attorney will take your case depends on many factors. The attorney will want to talk to you about your situation. Most attorneys who take on personal injury cases offer a free consultation. The attorney will need to ask you questions about your case to see if the firm has the interest and knowledge to take it on. The attorney will also need to check for conflicts of interest in the case.

Your attorney will evaluate your potential as a witness and the particulars of your case. Cases that are handled on a contingency fee have many variables. The attorney may point out weaknesses in your case that will make it difficult to win. There are no guarantees in the law, but your attorney may also point out the probability of success. All of these factors go into the decision as to whether the attorney will take your case or not.

If you don’t have money to hire an attorney after a motorcycle accident, don’t give up. A motorcycle accident lawyer may take your case based on a contingency fee.