Contingency In Law In Oakland
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Contingent fees create an undue emphasis on the extent of the plaintiff's damages, and they encourage the filing and prosecution of cases with large damages but little negligence. Take the case of parents who come to the attorney's office with a brain-damaged child requiring custodial care.
The result of a settlement agreement involves the responsible party paying a certain amount to compensate for the damages caused to the victim.
A settlement can take anywhere from a few weeks to over five years to close. Straightforward personal injury cases, like a car accident lawsuit from a rear-end collision, are more likely to resolve quickly. A medical malpractice case is more likely to take several years.
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.
The contract is characterized as "contingent" because the terms are not final and are based on certain events or conditions occurring. A contingent contract can also be viewed as protection against a future change of plans.
