Contingency Fee Representation
How contingency fees and case expenses work
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By Amber Russell, Founder · Reviewed and updated May 25, 2026
If LOAR accepts your personal injury case, you do not pay an hourly fee to hire us. Our fee is paid from the recovery only if we are successful.
What this means for you
- No hourly attorney bills.
- No upfront attorney fee to begin the case.
- LOAR is paid only if there is a recovery.
- Case expenses are typically advanced by the firm and addressed from the recovery.
- The fee agreement is explained in writing before representation begins.
Plain English
How can I afford a lawyer after a serious injury?
A serious injury can create medical bills, missed work, stress, and uncertainty. Most people could not afford to pay a trial lawyer by the hour while also trying to recover physically and financially.
A contingency fee changes that. Instead of charging hourly fees, LOAR is paid a percentage of the financial recovery obtained through settlement or judgment. If there is no recovery, LOAR does not collect an attorney fee.
This model gives injured people access to legal representation against insurance companies, corporations, and defendants with more resources.
The Basics
Three things to know about contingency fees.
1. No hourly billing
You do not receive monthly invoices for attorney time. The fee is tied to the result, not hours billed.
2. The firm shares the risk
LOAR invests time, resources, and case expenses before knowing whether the case will resolve successfully.
3. The agreement is written
If we represent you, the contingency fee percentage and expense handling are explained in a written agreement.
Case Expenses
What about costs like experts, records, and filing fees?
Serious injury cases often require more than attorney time. They may involve medical records, filing fees, deposition costs, investigation, accident reconstruction, expert witnesses, mediation, trial exhibits, and other litigation expenses.
In many cases, LOAR advances approved case expenses so the client does not have to pay those costs out of pocket as the case moves forward. If a recovery is obtained, LOAR’s attorney fee is calculated first, and the approved case expenses the firm advanced are then reimbursed from the proceeds under the written fee agreement. If there is no recovery, LOAR absorbs those case expenses and the client does not reimburse the firm. Medical bills, treatment costs, insurance liens, and other personal obligations are separate from LOAR’s case expenses and remain the client’s responsibility.
Medical records: records and bills needed to understand injuries and treatment.
Investigation: photos, reports, witness work, scene documentation, and preservation efforts.
Experts: medical, engineering, reconstruction, economic, or other expert support where needed.
Litigation: filing fees, depositions, mediation, exhibits, and trial preparation expenses.
Example
How a recovery may be distributed.
Total settlement or judgment
$100,000
Attorney fee
Percentage stated in written agreement
Case expenses
Reimbursed if applicable
Medical bills / liens
Addressed from available recovery where applicable
Client net recovery
Calculated after fees, expenses, and obligations
This is a simplified example, not a promise or estimate. Every case is different. The actual fee, expenses, liens, medical bills, and client recovery depend on the facts, agreements, and applicable law.
Why It Matters
Contingency fees help level the playing field.
Plaintiffs’ work often means standing beside individuals and families against insurers, corporations, trucking companies, property owners, or other well-resourced defendants. Without contingency fee representation, many injured people could not afford to pursue accountability.
This structure also aligns incentives. LOAR succeeds only when the client’s case succeeds. That is why we evaluate cases carefully, invest in preparation, and focus on matters where we believe we can make a meaningful difference.
You should be able to ask for help without worrying about an hourly bill arriving every month.
That is the purpose of contingency fee representation.
Common Questions
Contingency fee FAQs.
Do I pay anything up front?
In most personal injury matters LOAR accepts, there is no upfront attorney fee. The fee arrangement will be explained in writing before representation begins.
What happens if there is no recovery?
If there is no recovery, the client owes LOAR no attorney fee and does not reimburse LOAR for the case expenses the firm advanced. The written fee agreement explains how fees and expenses are handled.
Will I know the fee percentage before I sign?
Yes. The contingency fee percentage and how expenses are handled should be explained in the written agreement before the firm begins representation.
Are contingency fees only for personal injury cases?
They are common in personal injury and certain plaintiff-side matters, but not every case type is handled the same way. LOAR will explain the applicable arrangement during consultation.
Why does LOAR evaluate cases before accepting them?
Because the firm invests time, resources, and expenses into the cases it accepts. LOAR looks for serious injury, clear responsibility, meaningful damages, and a viable path to recovery.
Have questions about fees?
A consultation is free. We can explain whether LOAR may be able to help and how the fee arrangement would work.
Attorney responsible for this website: Amber Russell. Principal office: Austin, Texas. No upfront attorney fee. If no recovery is obtained, the client owes LOAR no attorney fee and does not reimburse LOAR for case expenses the firm advanced. If a recovery is obtained, the attorney fee is calculated first and approved case expenses are then reimbursed from the proceeds as stated in the written engagement agreement. Medical bills, treatment costs, insurance liens, and other personal obligations are separate from LOAR’s case expenses and remain the client’s responsibility. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.