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.
Contingency costs can be incurred during any of the construction project phases. For example, a design error may lead to an unexpected increase in material expenses before ground-breaking. At the same time, a stretch of inclement weather might delay or complicate final detailing and sign-off steps.
Contingent means that an event may or may not occur in the future, depending on the fulfillment of some condition that is uncertain. This term is often used in contracts where the event will not take effect until the specified condition occurs.
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.
A contingency can cover a range of unexpected costs during a construction project. Some examples are unforeseen site conditions, changes in project scope, unplanned repairs, delays in timeline and regulation changes such as building codes or zoning requirements.