If you've been hurt in an accident, the last thing you should have to worry about is whether you can afford a lawyer. The good news is that most personal injury attorneys in California, Gold Coast Law included, work on what's called a contingency fee. In plain English, that means you don't pay anything out of pocket. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery we obtain for you, and if there's no recovery, there's no fee.
What Is a Contingency Fee?
A contingency fee is a payment arrangement where the attorney's fee is contingent, meaning it depends, on winning your case. Instead of charging an hourly rate or asking for a retainer, your lawyer agrees to take a percentage of whatever they recover for you, whether through a settlement or a verdict at trial.
The percentage is agreed to in writing before the representation begins, and it covers the legal work from start to finish. If your case doesn't result in a recovery, you owe no attorney's fees.
Why Contingency Fees Exist
Hiring a lawyer is expensive. Insurance companies and large defendants have entire teams of attorneys on staff. If injured people had to pay hourly rates to fight back, very few would ever get justice. Contingency fees level the playing field. They open the courthouse door to people who would otherwise be priced out.
They also align our incentives with yours. We don't get paid unless you do, and we don't get paid more by dragging the case out. Our goal is to obtain the highest possible recovery in the shortest reasonable time.
What's Included, and What Isn't
The contingency percentage covers our legal work: the investigation, the negotiations with the insurance company, the demand letters, court filings, depositions, and trial if needed. Case costs (things like filing fees, expert witnesses, and medical record requests) are typically advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the recovery at the end.
Everything is spelled out in the written fee agreement before you sign. There are no hidden costs and no surprise invoices.
Who This Helps
Contingency representation is especially important for working families and individuals who have just been hit with unexpected medical bills, time off work, and the stress of recovery. You shouldn't have to choose between paying rent and hiring an attorney to fight for fair compensation.
If you're worried about cost, please don't be. Call Gold Coast Law at 1-866-306-3011 for a free consultation. We'll explain exactly how contingency fees work in your specific case, answer your questions, and help you decide what's right for you, with no obligation.