Most car wreck attorneys in Texas charge 33% to 40% of any settlement won and work on a “no win, no fee” basis, also known as a contingency fee. This means you don’t pay anything upfront when you hire a personal injury lawyer. You only pay if you win.
This fee method allows injured Texans to get representation without worrying about costs during an already stressful time.
The higher fee percentages may apply if the case goes to court (litigation).
When you’re hurt in a car crash and thinking about hiring a lawyer, the biggest question is often: how do attorney fees actually work?
Most car accident lawyers don’t charge by the hour. Instead, they use something called a contingency fee agreement—which means you only pay if they win.
A contingency fee means your lawyer only gets paid if you recover money from your case—either through a settlement or court verdict. Their fee is a percentage of your total recovery.
If you lose your case, you pay nothing in attorney’s fees.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Hourly Fee: Rare in injury cases. You pay for every hour worked, win or lose.
Flat Fee: Also uncommon. Typically used for simple, fixed-scope legal work.
Contingency Fee: Most common in injury law. No upfront payment, and the fee comes from your final settlement.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we work exclusively on contingency for car accident cases. No money out of pocket. No hourly billing. You only pay when we win.
If your case settles successfully, what does your lawyer get?
In Texas, most personal injury lawyers take between 33% to 40% of the final settlement or court award. The exact percentage depends on several factors:
33% (One-Third): This is the standard for pre-litigation cases that settle without filing a lawsuit.
40% or More: If your case goes to court or trial, your lawyer may take a slightly higher percentage to cover the increased time and resources required.
These percentages may sound high, but remember—you’re getting an entire legal team behind you without paying anything upfront. And the better your lawyer, the more they may recover.
Bonus Tip: Ask your attorney to explain the fee breakdown before signing anything. At our firm, we’re always transparent about what you’ll pay and why.
No. Not when you work with us.
Most car accident lawyers, including Jim Adler & Associates, don’t charge upfront legal fees. That’s because we work on a “no win, no fee” basis.
You won’t pay anything upfront for:
Case investigation
Filing documents
Legal strategy
Negotiations or settlement talks
Sometimes, yes. Court filing fees, expert witness fees, or medical record retrieval costs may be incurred during your case. These are usually fronted by the law firm and reimbursed from your settlement.
You’ll never be surprised—we’ll explain everything ahead of time.
Not all accident cases are equal. The cost structure may vary depending on how complex your case is and how much work is involved.
Here’s how legal fees can shift depending on the situation:
May require extra investigation to track down the driver.
May involve working with uninsured motorist coverage.
Legal fees could be on the higher end if litigation is required.
Often straightforward and settled quickly.
Lower percentage fees may apply if resolved early.
Typically involve commercial insurance, multiple parties, and federal regulations.
These cases are more complex and resource-heavy, which can increase the contingency percentage.
If the insurance company denies your claim or acts in bad faith, your attorney may need to escalate the case to court.
This added complexity can push fees toward the higher end of the range.
At the end of the day, you’ll never pay more than agreed—and you’ll never pay unless we win. That’s our promise.
Most car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis—usually 33% to 40% of your final settlement. That means you only pay if they win your case.
No. If your lawyer works on contingency, you won’t pay any legal fees upfront. You might still be responsible for court filing fees or expert witness costs, depending on the agreement.
Jim Adler & Associates works on a no-win, no-fee model, so you pay nothing upfront. Fees are collected only if we win your case.
In some cases, yes. Especially if your case settles quickly, you can discuss adjusting the fee percentage. Always get it in writing.
If there’s no recovery, you owe nothing in attorney fees. However, you may still be responsible for certain out-of-pocket costs, depending on the terms of your agreement.
Remember: you are the client and have the right to understand and agree to every term of the representation. A quality attorney will welcome your questions about fees and will strive to earn your trust through clarity and good service.
Hurt in an accident? Tell us what happened. We’ll give you straight answers — fast, free, and with no strings attached.*
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San Antonio, TX 78216
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*No fee if no recovery. Client is responsible for paying court costs and expenses, regardless of recovery. The results of your case may vary depending on the facts presented and your legal situation. By submitting any forms on this website, you are also agreeing to our Terms & Privacy Policy and you are providing consent to receive communications from us which may include calls, texts, emails, and/or prerecorded messages. “The Texas Hammer®,” “El Martillo Tejano®,” and related marks are registered trademarks of Jim Adler & Associates and are protected under U.S. trademark law. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or imitation of these marks is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.
