Suffering an injury due to an accident can be devastating. The physical pain and emotional strain are heavy enough on their own without the added financial stress. Many people in this situation have concerns about how they’ll pay for medical bills, keep up with day-to-day expenses, and still afford a personal injury lawyer to fight for the compensation they deserve. If you’re struggling to imagine how you could pay for legal representation when you’re already financially stretched thin, take a deep breath—you’re not alone, and there are solutions.
It is possible to secure legal help even if you don’t have the funds to pay out of pocket right now. Many personal injury lawyers understand the challenges accident victims face and offer options that can make their services accessible.
Contingency Fee Agreements
Contingency fee agreements are the most common way accident victims pay for personal injury lawyers. This framework is designed to remove upfront barriers, allowing you to focus on recovery without worrying about immediate legal costs.
A contingency fee means the lawyer only gets paid if they win your case. Instead of charging you upfront, they take a percentage of the settlement or verdict you receive. This percentage is always less than what you, the client, will receive.
This arrangement ensures your lawyer is fully invested in your case’s outcome. They don’t get paid unless they recover money for you, so it aligns their goals directly with yours.
The Benefits of Contingency Fees
As a client, a contingency fee structure has many benefits:
You can hire a lawyer with no money: Many people need legal help but don’t have the money to hire a lawyer out of their pocket. Contingency fees ensure you can afford to hire a lawyer even if you don’t have any money.- You don’t have to worry about the direct cost of your legal case: Even if you had money to pay for an attorney, you might choose not to spend that money if you didn’t have to. When you hire a layer using a contingency fee arrangement, you don’t have to worry about the cost of legal services.
- Your law firm has a clear financial incentive to win: In a contingency fee arrangement, it receives its fee as a percentage of the client’s settlement or jury award. Therefore, the law firm has every incentive to obtain as much compensation as possible for you.
- Your law firm can invest many resources in the case: When you have a law firm handle your case, you know the law firm has financial reasons to win. Therefore, you can expect the law firm to invest many resources, including expert services, into winning the compensation you deserve.
Why Law Firms Offer Contingency Fees
You may wonder why a law firm will agree to accept a case without seeing any upfront compensation from the client.
Personal injury law firms embrace this fee structure because:
- They know many clients don’t have money for a lawyer: Lawyers understand that many clients worthy of legal representation don’t have much money. These clients may have never had much money, while others may be in temporary but difficult financial circumstances. A contingency fee allows a lawyer to represent any client needing help.
- The law firm can afford to handle all case costs: Law firms that use contingency fees have the resources necessary to pay the upfront cost of a case. While some law firms have more resources than others, any firm that uses a contingency fee should have enough money to complete the case capably.
- The law firm is confident that it will succeed: If a law firm is going to cover the upfront cost of a case, it must be confident that it can win. Otherwise, the law firm will be taking a massive risk of significant financial loss. Therefore, law firms usually accept cases on a contingency basis because they believe the case is strong enough to win.
Other Payment Options
While most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, others may offer other payment options:
Payment Plans
Although less common in personal injury cases (where contingency fees are more typical), some lawyers do offer payment plans for the portion of their fees not covered by a contingency agreement or for specific legal services you may need during your case. If a lawyer doesn’t offer contingency fees, it’s worth asking if they’re open to setting up a monthly installment plan.
With a payment plan:
- The lawyer may allow you to divide their fees into smaller, more manageable payments over time.
- This might involve an upfront retainer fee, with the balance spread across several months.
Payment plans aren’t always the best solution for financially strapped clients, particularly when there’s no guarantee of winning the case. Still, it can be an option to explore if you prefer more flexible arrangements.
Legal Aid Services
Another possible avenue for securing legal help is through legal aid organizations. Legal aid programs provide free or low-cost legal assistance to those who qualify based on income and other factors. While their resources may be limited, it’s worth seeing if your situation falls within the scope of their offerings.
Depending on your location and the organization’s scope, legal aid programs might assist by:
- Connecting you with pro bono (free) lawyers
- Guiding you through the initial stages of filing claims
- Advising on small-scale legal disputes
Bear in mind that legal aid attorneys often focus on specific areas of law, such as housing disputes or family issues. Personal injury cases can be complex, and you might not get fully dedicated representation. Still, this could be a valuable starting point while you explore other options.
To find legal aid services near you, search online for programs in your community or use websites like the Legal Services Corporation to locate providers by state. Many nonprofit organizations also offer assistance to individuals in financial distress.
Pro Bono Legal Services
“Pro bono” means “for the public good.” It refers to legal work done voluntarily and without payment. Some lawyers, as part of their commitment to giving back, take on cases pro bono for clients who genuinely cannot afford representation.
How do you find pro bono lawyers?
- Contact local bar associations. They often maintain lists of attorneys who accept pro bono cases.
- Nonprofit organizations. Groups focusing on issues like workers’ rights or victims’ advocacy may partner with pro bono attorneys.
- Reach out directly. Share your situation with lawyers in your area. If they can’t take your case pro bono, they might refer you to someone who can.
While the availability of pro bono services can be limited—especially in areas dealing with high volumes of civil legal disputes—it’s always worth asking. You might find someone willing to provide representation free of charge or at a reduced cost.
Pre-Settlement Loans (Lawsuit Funding)
If your case has progressed, and you’re waiting on a settlement or trial outcome, you may be able to explore pre-settlement loans or lawsuit funding. These loans are advances against the compensation you hope to recover. While they aren’t technically “legal fees,” they can help cover immediate expenses like medical bills, household costs, or even legal consultations.
Some factors to keep in mind with pre-settlement loans include:
- Repayment occurs only if you win. If your case settles successfully, the lender takes repayment directly from your settlement amount.
- Interest rates can be high. These are not traditional loans and often have significant fees attached. It’s important to read all terms carefully.
Pre-settlement funding should be approached with caution. While it can provide breathing room when you’re facing financial stress, high costs mean it is more of a last-resort option.
The Benefit of Having a Lawyer Handle Your Case
When you agree to hire a personal injury attorney, your lawyer agrees to handle every step of your case. Many cases begin as insurance claims, and some become lawsuits—usually if liable parties won’t offer a fair financial settlement.
The services your lawyer is likely to provide include:
Proving Negligence
Your lawyer will be seeking compensation from someone. Therefore, your lawyer must prove that the liable parties did something to cause you harm—in most cases, lawyers refer to this as negligence.
Negligence occurs when:
- Someone owes another person a duty of care
- A person violates the duty of care
- The violation of the duty of care causes a harmful event
- The harmful event causes the victim to suffer damages
When a motorist speeds and hits another vehicle, they are negligent. The doctor is negligent when a doctor commits malpractice and injures a patient. Your lawyer will work to prove whose negligence has caused you to suffer injuries or lose a loved one.
Obtaining Evidence of the Negligence That Caused You Harm
Your lawyer will pursue all evidence that is relevant to your case. The type of event that caused you harm will determine the types of evidence your lawyer collects.
For instance, in a case of medical malpractice, a lawyer may secure:
- Statements a doctor has made admitting to negligent care
- Medical experts’ testimony about how the medical professional committed malpractice
- The client’s medical records (which can be evidence of a misdiagnosis, for example)
- Photographs of an unsanitary work environment
Evidence in a car accident case may look completely different. Whatever your unique circumstances, your injury attorney will seek evidence to benefit your case.
Documenting Your Damages
Your legal team will need to prove how the liable parties’ negligence has affected you.
Some common documentation of plaintiffs’ damages include:
- X-rays, MRIs, and other medical images of injuries
- Photographs of injuries
- Medical bills
- Past income statements that display the value of your lost income
- Any other evidence of your economic and non-economic damages
Expert testimony may be necessary. For example, many traffic accident victims suffer post-traumatic stress disorder. Your lawyer may hire a mental health expert to diagnose such a condition, and this diagnosis may serve as documentation of your damages.
Calculating a Case Value
Your lawyer’s success will depend on them obtaining the compensation you deserve. This means your lawyer must establish how much compensation you deserve.
Your case value will include:
- Current and future economic damages
- Current and future non-economic damages
Your personal injury attorney will work to ensure you face no financial burden once your case is complete.
Negotiating a Settlement
Attorneys are experienced negotiators, as most cases involve some degree of financial negotiations. Your lawyer will prepare for and lead settlement negotiations on your behalf. They will enter negotiations with ample documentation of your damages, evidence of negligence, and a precise settlement target. Most civil cases lead to a settlement, and your lawyer will work to secure a fair settlement for you.
Leading Any Necessary Lawsuit and Trial
Some civil cases lead to lawsuits and trials. Personal injury lawyers handle these aspects of cases, which involve:
- Drafting and filing a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires
- Guiding you through any necessary deposition
- Making opening statements
- Presenting all relevant evidence
- Questioning witnesses
- Requesting a fair financial award from the jury
- Overseeing the many other developments that happen during a trial
Filing a lawsuit does not mean your case will go to court. Your attorney will likely continue to negotiate a settlement after filing the lawsuit. If liable parties continue to reject your lawyer’s settlement demands, a trial may happen.
Trust Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz to Fight for You
At Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz, we understand the struggles you’re facing. Being injured is hard enough without the worry of how to pay for a lawyer. That’s why we offer contingency fee arrangements—you won’t pay a cent unless we recover compensation in your case.
With over 100 years of combined experience and millions recovered for our clients, our team is committed to guiding you through this difficult time with care, compassion, and legal support. Your story matters to us, and we’ll fight relentlessly to secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
If you’re in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Bloomfield, or anywhere in Southeast Missouri, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact us today at (573) 335-6651 or through our online form for a free consultation. Together, we’ll find the best path forward for you and your family.