October 10, 2025 | Car Accidents in Atlanta
If you were hurt in a car crash in Atlanta, you are likely facing medical bills and time away from work. You may consider hiring a lawyer, but cost is a common concern, especially when you are already dealing with financial stress.
The good news is that most car accident lawyers in Atlanta use a fee structure called a contingency fee. This special payment method is designed to help accident victims like you access the legal help you need without having to pay any money up front. In short, it means the lawyer’s pay is contingent, or dependent, on the outcome of your case.
Understanding the Contingency Fee Model
A contingency fee arrangement is straightforward and makes high-quality legal help accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. As mentioned above, you do not pay any attorney fees unless your lawyer successfully secures compensation for you. This money can come from a settlement with an insurance company or an award from a court verdict.
This setup differs from that of other lawyers who charge by the hour. With a contingency fee, your lawyer’s payment will be a percentage of the total amount of money they recover for you. This percentage is agreed upon and clearly written down in a contract before your lawyer even starts working on your case. This contract is also called a contingency fee agreement.
This payment structure has a major benefit: it ties your lawyer’s success directly to yours. Your lawyer is highly motivated to work hard and achieve the best possible outcome because, if you do not win, they do not receive payment for their time and effort. It is a true partnership aimed at recovering the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
What Percentage Does a Lawyer Take?
The percentage your lawyer receives is not set in stone and can change based on a few factors related to your case. The most important factor is often how far along the case goes before it is resolved.
Your fee percentage may be lower if:
- Your case settles quickly through negotiations with the insurance company.
- Your case is less complex and does not require a lawsuit to be filed.
On the other hand, the percentage may be higher if the case becomes more complicated. A higher percentage is often charged to cover the extra time, work, and risk involved when a case requires extensive legal action, such as filing a lawsuit and going to trial.
Other Costs and Expenses You Should Know About
It is important to understand that the contingency fee only covers the attorney’s fee, or the payment for the lawyer’s legal services. However, there are other costs, often called “case expenses” or “litigation costs,” that are necessary to prepare and fight your case.
These are not the same as your lawyer’s fee and can include things like:
- Court filing fees and other administrative costs
- Costs for gathering copies of your medical records and police reports
- Fees for hiring expert witnesses, such as doctors or accident reconstruction specialists, to testify on your behalf
- Money spent on investigations or private process servers
In most contingency fee agreements, your Atlanta car accident lawyer will advance, or pay for, these costs while your case is ongoing. This means you do not have to pay them out of your own pocket upfront. If your lawyer wins your case, these expenses are paid back to the firm out of the final settlement or award.
The detailed contract you sign will explain exactly how and when these costs will be handled, so there should be no surprises at the end of your case.
Contact Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC for a Free Consultation
Worrying about how to pay for a lawyer should not stop you from seeking justice and fair compensation after a car accident. The contingency fee system is designed to remove this financial barrier. It allows you to get high-quality legal representation right away, without any upfront cost.
If you have been injured in a crash, you need a dedicated legal team in your corner. We are here to answer all your questions about our fee structure and your legal options. Call our Atlanta car accident lawyers at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Goldstein Hayes & Lina Accident Lawyers
3060 Peachtree Rd NW UNIT 1000,
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 869-8600
