What Is a Contingency Lawyer?

While searching for an attorney to represent you after a serious accident, you may find a lot of information online about personal injury lawyers, but you may run across the term “contingency lawyer.” What does that mean?

If you were injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you can hire a lawyer to help you seek compensation for your accident-related losses. In this scenario, your lawyer will represent you on a contingency-fee basis—which some people refer to as hiring a “contingency lawyer.” Hiring a lawyer who works on a contingency-fee basis (or “on contingency”) is different from hiring almost any other type of professional, so it is important to know what you can expect as you move forward.

5 Important Facts About Hiring a Contingency Lawyer in Arkansas

What do you need to know about hiring a lawyer on contingency? Here are five important facts about hiring a contingency lawyer after an accident in Arkansas: 

1. Contingency Lawyers Provide Free Consultations 

The first step in the process of hiring a contingency lawyer is to schedule a free consultation. Yes, this consultation really is free. Unlike going to a doctor’s office—where it costs hundreds of dollars just to find out if the doctor can help you—you don’t have to pay anything to find out if you have a claim for compensation. 

The purpose of your FREE consultation is two-fold: While the first purpose is to find out if you have a claim, the second purpose is to decide if the lawyer is the right choice for you. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the lawyer about your personal circumstances, or if you aren’t confident in the lawyer’s ability to represent you effectively, you should not hesitate to schedule another FREE consultation at another law firm.  

2. Contingency Lawyers Cover the Costs of Pursuing Their Clients’ Accident Claims

There are several costs involved in pursuing a personal injury claim after an accident—not including legal fees. These costs will exceed what many people can afford to pay. As a result, to ensure that accident victims can still assert their legal rights, a contingency lawyer will cover these costs for his or her clients. If a client’s claim is successful, the lawyer will then recoup these costs from the client’s settlement or verdict.

3. With Contingency-Fee Representation, You Only Pay if You Win 

With contingency-fee representation, not only do you only pay your costs if you win, but you also only pay legal fees if you win. If you don’t win, you owe your contingency lawyer nothing. 

This means that hiring a lawyer on contingency truly costs nothing out of pocket. When you hire a contingency lawyer to handle your personal injury claim, you pay nothing at all unless your lawyer helps you recover financial compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses. 

4. Your Interests and Your Lawyer’s Interests Are Aligned 

Since your lawyer only gets paid if you win, your interests and your lawyer’s interests are fully aligned. When representing you on contingency, your lawyer has every reason to help you recover as much compensation as possible for your accident-related losses. 

The nature of contingency-fee representation also means that an experienced lawyer will only take your personal injury case if he or she believes you can win. Experienced lawyers won’t want to waste your time—or theirs. So, while there are no guarantees, talking to an experienced contingency lawyer is a good way to find out if it is worth pursuing a claim. 

5. You Have No Reason Not to Seek Legal Advice After an Accident 

Since talking to a contingency lawyer costs nothing and allows you to make informed decisions, you have no reason not to seek legal advice after an accident in Arkansas. While many people assume that talking to a lawyer will be stressful, at Oliver Law Firm we work hard to make the process as stress-free as possible. During your FREE consultation, we will explain everything you need to know in language you can understand, we will answer your questions and address your concerns, and we will make sure you feel confident taking your next steps—whatever those next steps may be. 

Speak with a Contingency Lawyer Today for FREE

Were you injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault (or that you think may have been someone else’s fault) in Arkansas? If so, we strongly encourage you to get in touch with Oliver Law Firm right away. 

Contact Oliver Law Firm today online or at 479-202-5200 for a FREE case evaluation. We help clients across Arkansas and throughout the United States from our office in Rogers, AR. Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, so we don’t get paid unless you achieve a favorable outcome in your case.