Just about all automobile accident lawyers in Connecticut are paid on a contingency fee basis – the legal fee is a percentage of any gross settlement amount or court verdict.
The percentage is sliding scale set by statute. For example, 33% of the first $300,000, 25% of the next $300,000 and so on down to 10% for any amount which exceeds $1.2 million.
I understand the temptation to not hire a lawyer. But all the studies I have seen confirm that injured parties represented by an attorney receive two to three times more than those representing themselves do.
The contingency fee structure may be beneficial to clients for several other reasons.
First, a client is not required to advance money to a lawyer to secure representation. Secondly, a client gets a fair and honest assessment of their case since a lawyer working on contingency ordinarily will only take a case that is strong or has significant damages. Finally, a contingent fee serves as great motivation to a personal injury lawyer to maximize recovery for the client.
An attorney in Connecticut is required to provide a client with a written Retainer Agreement setting forth the fee structure, payment of expenses and scope of representation. Clients are ultimately responsible for litigation related expenses such as court filing fees, cost of obtaining medical records, deposition transcript services and the like. Insist on a Retainer Agreement and read it carefully to avoid any misunderstandings.