What is a contingency fee agreement?
A contingency fee agreement is a contract in which a personal injury lawyer accepts payment only if the case settles or wins at trial, receiving a percentage of the total recovery instead of an hourly rate.
Under a contingency fee agreement, your lawyer's payment depends entirely on the outcome of your case. If there is no settlement or court award, the attorney receives no fee. If you recover money, the lawyer takes a percentage of that recovery as compensation. This structure removes financial barriers for injury claimants who might otherwise struggle to afford legal representation.
In Texas dog bite injury claims, contingency percentages typically range from 25 percent to 40 percent of the total settlement or judgment, though the exact rate varies by attorney and case complexity. Simpler settlements may fall at the lower end, while cases requiring trial often reach the higher range. Some agreements also specify that the percentage applies only to funds received after deducting costs and court expenses.
This arrangement aligns the lawyer's interests with yours. The attorney is motivated to recover the maximum amount because their fee depends on it. Before signing any agreement, ask your lawyer to explain the exact percentage, whether it changes if the case goes to trial, and which expenses are deducted before calculating the fee.
When searching for dog bite injury lawyers in Texas, discussing contingency terms upfront helps you compare options and avoid unexpected financial surprises.