Contingency vs. Hourly: How Injury Lawyers Are Paid
How a lawyer is paid matters, especially for an expensive aviation case. Injury claims are usually handled on contingency rather than hourly — here is the difference.
Contingency fees
The lawyer is paid a percentage of the recovery, and only if there is a recovery — no fee if the case does not succeed. This lets an injured person or family get representation without paying up front, and it aligns the lawyer's incentive with getting a strong result.
Hourly fees
The client pays for the lawyer's time regardless of outcome, usually with a retainer up front. This is common in business disputes, but for an injured person or grieving family it would mean paying out of pocket — which is why injury cases rarely work this way.
The bottom line
For aviation accident claims, contingency is the norm: no fee unless the firm recovers for you, a free initial review, and the firm advances the substantial costs of investigating the case. The written fee agreement spells out the terms.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay anything up front for an aviation case?
With a contingency arrangement, no — the fee comes out of a recovery, and if there is no recovery you do not owe an attorney fee. These cases cost a lot to build, and the firm advances those costs. The initial review is free.
This is general information about Aviation Accidents injury claims, not legal advice. Every situation is different.
The law depends on your state
The steps above apply wherever you were hurt. Filing deadlines, fault rules, and limits on damages differ by state — pick yours for what applies to aviation accidents.
Not sure which applies to you?
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