Set aside a well-researched contingency amount, typically between 5% and 10% of the overall project budget.
A retainer agreement is an arrangement where clients make an upfront payment to secure legal services, regardless of the case's outcome. In contrast to contingency fees, where the lawyer takes on financial risk, clients in retainer agreements are responsible for associated costs, including the initial upfront payment.
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.
The recommended percentage for a contingency fund is between 5-10% of the total budget, but this may vary depending on project complexity and past experiences.
Typically, most construction projects use a contingency rate of 5% to 10% from the total project budget. This is typically enough to cover any unexpected costs that may arise throughout the project.
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 result of a settlement agreement involves the responsible party paying a certain amount to compensate for the damages caused to the victim.