What are the typical attorneys fees for injury lawyers in Georgia? The most common structure is 33.3% for any case settled before the lawsuit has to be filed. If the case is filed in the courts, “litigation”, then the fees shifts to 40% of the gross settlement or verdict.
This contingency is normally calculated as a percentage. If the phase is 100 days of effort, contingency at 20% would be another 20 days. As the project progresses, the level of risk reduces as the requirements and issues become known, so the percentage will be reduced.
What Is a Contingency? A contingency is a potential occurrence of a negative event in the future, such as an economic recession, natural disaster, fraudulent activity, terrorist attack, or a pandemic.
The average contingency rate falls between 20-40%, with most lawyers charging around 33% to 35% of the total amount recovered in a case. The exact percentage can vary depending on the complexity of the case, the lawyer's experience, and the stage at which the case is resolved.
While it can be unethical for a lawyer to accept a settlement without your permission, it is not illegal. If it happens, it may be worth consulting with another lawyer about whether you have a legal malpractice claim if you think your case was settled inappropriately.