How Personal Injury Lawyers Get Paid

We motorcycle accident lawyers, like most personal injury lawyers, are paid on what is called a ‘contingency fee’. A contingency fee means that us getting paid is contingent on the amount that we recover for you. In other words, we only get paid if you get compensated for your injuries, and that number goes up or down relative to how much you recover. Our fee, which is pretty standard across the board, is one-third of the recovery you get after we begin working with you. So, for example, if your bike gets totaled or requires work from damage sustained in the accident, we do not collect on any of that compensation. Every dollar that is meant for the bike or equipment, gear, etc., goes directly to you for necessary repairs. Another portion that we do not collect on is the money from insurance for medical bills, called Med-Pay or PIP (personal injury protection) benefits. Those go straight to paying for your bills, although you will need to pay back the insurance company after the settlement. (See our related blog on reimbursing insurance companies.) If your case goes to trial, the fee increases to 40%, but that is rare. And, should trial be necessary, it is because we believe that, even with the increased fee included, your recovery will be greater because of it. The increase is simply to cover the extra work that is necessary to ensure we make that happen. We refuse to let insurance companies take advantage of your misfortune and will always make sure that you get what is fair despite the insurance company’s best efforts. This is the main reason that, should you believe you can represent yourself, it is important to hire a lawyer, even if it’s not us. Insurance companies see a self-representative as an easy target to undercut and save some money. We deal with insurance companies on a daily basis, know all of the ins-and-outs, and understand what is, and what is not, a good offer given the case. And also remember, the choice about when to settle is always up to you. If you are satisfied with the amount we recover for you, then so are we. If you think that there is more out there, we will fight our darndest to get it. But, no matter what, don’t make recovery from your injuries harder than it needs to be. Always seek legal advice before proceeding in any lawsuit. Consultations are free, and we are always happy to help.