ATTORNEY & REPRESENTATION
3 legal terms in this category, with plain-English definitions and real-world car accident examples.
Contingency Fee
A payment arrangement where your attorney only gets paid if you win your case. The fee is typically 33% of your settlement or verdict, and you pay nothing upfront.
Your lawyer takes your car accident case on contingency. You settle for $90,000, and your attorney receives $30,000 (33%). If you had lost, you'd owe nothing.
Contingency Fee Agreement
The written contract between you and your attorney that spells out the percentage they'll take from your settlement or verdict, plus how costs and expenses are handled.
Your agreement says the attorney gets 33% if the case settles before trial and 40% if it goes to verdict. It also states whether court filing fees come out of your share or theirs.
Retainer
An upfront fee paid to hire an attorney. Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency instead, meaning no retainer is required and they only get paid if you win.
Unlike a divorce attorney who might charge a $5,000 retainer, your car accident lawyer takes your case with zero upfront cost under a contingency fee agreement.
NEED LEGAL HELP?
Understanding the terms is the first step. Browse our directory to find a qualified attorney.
Find a Lawyer