Attorneys in Arkansas typically handle car wrecks on a contingency fee basis. Advertisements typically refer to the contingency fee as a “no win, no fee” agreement. In Arkansas, car accident lawyers typically charge a contingency fee of 33% or 1/3 of the total recovery according to the American Bar Association[1]:
- Contingency fee: The lawyer’s fee is a percentage of the total amount recovered. The fee can vary from 33% up to 45% depending on the case’s complexity.
- No upfront fees: The lawyer doesn’t charge any fees upfront and there are no out of pocket payment from the client.
- Payment only upon success: The lawyer only receives a fee if they successfully recover compensation.
In addition to the lawyer’s fee, attorneys may advance costs such as:
- Police Reports
- Medical records
- Court filing fees
- Expert witness fees
- Accident investigators
- Medical experts
Attorneys in a contingency fee agreement will typically advance these costs and recover these out-of-pocket expenses if there is a recovery, in addition to the fee. We often compare this to a mechanic charging for both parts and labor.
[1] https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_services/milvets/aba_home_front/information_center/working_with_lawyer/fees_and_expenses/