After a serious accident, many McAllen injury victims assume that quality legal representation requires a hefty retainer, hourly billing, and high out-of-pocket expenses. That assumption is wrong more often than not. McAllen personal injury attorneys throughout Texas typically operate on a contingency fee basis: a structure designed for people who are already facing financial hardship. Under this arrangement, your attorney’s payment is tied directly to the outcome of your case.
How a Contingency Fee Agreement Actually Works
A contingency fee means your attorney only gets paid if they win your case. You typically pay nothing when you hire the firm, and you owe no attorney’s fees while your case is active. When your lawyer secures a settlement or court award, their fee is deducted from that recovery as an agreed-upon percentage, typically between 33% and 40%. If your attorney recovers nothing, you owe nothing in legal fees. The percentage and terms are spelled out in a written agreement before any work begins.
Why Most McAllen Personal Injury Attorneys Work on Contingency
This payment structure exists because injury victims rarely have spare cash after a catastrophic accident. Medical treatment, lost wages, and household expenses already strain your budget. Charging hourly would prevent the very people who most need legal representation from ever setting foot in a law office. The same is especially true in wrongful death cases, where families are suddenly burdened with funeral costs, loss of income, and overwhelming emotional hardship.
Contingency fees also align your attorney’s interests directly with yours. Because their compensation depends on the result, your lawyer will be fully motivated to dig into the details of your case, build the strongest possible argument, and aggressively pursue the full value of your claim. It creates a true partnership, with both you and your attorney working toward the same goal from day one.
What’s Not Included in Your Contingency Fee Agreement?
The percentage your attorney earns covers their legal services, but case-related expenses are handled separately. These costs may include filing fees, expert witness fees, deposition transcripts, medical record requests, accident reconstruction reports, and postage.
Some firms front these expenses and deduct them from your settlement at the end; others may ask you to cover certain costs as they come up. Always read your agreement carefully so you know exactly which expenses fall outside the contingency arrangement.
Questions to Ask Before Signing a Fee Agreement
Before you hire a Texas personal injury lawyer, take the time to clarify the financial terms. A reputable personal injury lawyer in McAllen will welcome these questions and answer them in plain language. These may include:
- What percentage will you charge if my case settles versus if it goes to trial?
- Who pays the case expenses if we don’t win?
- Are case expenses deducted before or after your fee is calculated?
- Will I receive regular updates on accumulated expenses throughout my case?
Hire a McAllen Personal Injury Attorney with No Upfront Costs
Cost should never be the reason an injury claim goes unfiled. At De La Garza Law Firm, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. If you were hurt due to another person’s negligence, schedule a free case review today by calling our office or completing our online contact form.
