When you’ve just suffered a severe personal injury the last thing you need is another financial burden.
The concern about legal costs can be a significant barrier, deterring individuals from seeking the justice and compensation they desperately need. At Ryan Orsatti Law, we believe that access to high-quality legal representation should never be limited by your current financial situation.
We understand that your focus should be on healing, not on worrying about legal fees. That’s why we operate on a fee structure designed specifically to remove that financial stress and align our interests directly with yours.
When you choose us, you’ll have the privilege of working directly with attorney Ryan Orsatti. He is a dedicated partner who genuinely cares about you and your case. He will ensure you clearly understand how your legal representation will be paid for, with no hidden surprises.
If you’ve been injured in truck collision due to someone else’s negligence in San Antonio or anywhere across Texas, don’t let financial concerns prevent you from seeking justice. Contact truck accident attorney serving San Antonio today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. You pay no fees unless we win your case.
The Contingency Fee Model
The vast majority of reputable personal injury law firms in Texas, including Ryan Orsatti Law, operate on a contingency fee basis. This is fundamentally different from how other types of lawyers (like divorce lawyers or corporate lawyers) typically charge.
What is a Contingency Fee?
In a contingency fee agreement, the lawyer’s payment for their legal services is contingent upon the successful outcome of your case. Simply put:
- You pay no upfront legal fees.
- You pay nothing at all if your lawyer doesn’t win your case.
- The lawyer’s fee is a pre-agreed percentage of the compensation they recover for you through a settlement or a court verdict.
This system is designed to provide access to justice for everyone, regardless of their financial means. It means you can afford top-tier legal representation even if you’re out of work, facing mounting medical bills, and don’t have savings to pay hourly legal fees.
How Does a Contingency Fee Work in Texas?
Here’s a breakdown of how the contingency fee structure typically operates:
Free Initial Consultation
Your journey always begins with a free, no-obligation consultation. During this meeting, you discuss the details of your accident, your injuries, and the impact on your life. We will assess the merits of your case, explain the legal process, and clearly outline our contingency fee agreement.
No Upfront Costs or Hourly Billing
Once you decide to hire us, you won’t pay any money out-of-pocket for our legal services. We do not charge hourly rates, and we do not require a retainer. Our fees are directly tied to our success in securing compensation for you.
The Percentage:
The contingency fee is a percentage of the gross settlement or judgment you receive. In Texas, the standard contingency fee for personal injury cases typically ranges from 33% to 40%.
The exact percentage can vary based on several factors, which are always clearly outlined in your written fee agreement. More complex cases, which require extensive investigation, expert testimony, and prolonged litigation, may warrant a slightly higher percentage.
Stage of Resolution: The percentage often has a sliding scale:
- Lower percentage (e.g., 33.33% or 1/3): If your case settles early, before a formal lawsuit needs to be filed.
- Mid-range percentage (e.g., 36%-38%): If a lawsuit is filed, but the case settles before going to trial.
- Higher percentage (e.g., 40%): If your case proceeds all the way to a jury trial due to the significant additional time and resources involved.
No Win, No Fee
This is the cornerstone of the contingency fee model. If we do not win your case – meaning we don’t recover any compensation for you through settlement or verdict – you owe us nothing in legal fees. This significantly reduces your financial risk and demonstrates our confidence in the merits of your claim.
Payment from Recovery
If we are successful in obtaining compensation for you, the total settlement or verdict funds are first deposited into a secure client trust account. From this account, our agreed-upon contingency fee is deducted, along with any case expenses, as discussed below. The remaining balance is then given to you.
Understanding Case Expenses vs. Attorney Fees
While attorney fees are contingent on winning, a personal injury case often involves other costs, known as case expenses or litigation costs. These are distinct from the attorney’s fees for their time.
What are Case Expenses?
Case expenses are the out-of-pocket costs incurred during the investigation, preparation, and prosecution of your claim. These can include:
- Court Filing Fees: Costs associated with filing the lawsuit and various motions with the court.
- Investigation Costs: Fees for obtaining police reports, accident reconstruction reports, medical records, billing statements, and potentially hiring private investigators.
- Expert Witness Fees: In many serious injury cases, expert testimony is crucial. This can involve medical specialists, accident reconstructionists, or economic experts. Their fees can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars.
- Deposition Costs: Fees for court reporters to transcribe sworn testimony during depositions, as well as videographers if depositions are recorded.
- Process Server Fees: Costs to formally serve legal documents on defendants.
- Postage, Photocopying, and Administrative Costs: General administrative expenses.
- Travel Expenses: If the case requires travel for depositions, court appearances, or investigations.
- Trial Exhibit Costs: Costs for creating visual aids, models, or other exhibits used to present your case at trial.
Who Pays for Case Expenses?
This is an important point to clarify in your initial consultation:
- We generally advance these case expenses for you.
This means you don’t have to pay these costs out-of-pocket as they arise. This is a significant benefit, as these expenses can quickly accumulate, especially in nuanced cases.
- These advanced expenses are then reimbursed to the firm from your final settlement or judgment.
This reimbursement typically occurs before the attorney’s contingency fee is calculated, or it may be deducted from the gross recovery along with the attorney’s fee. Your fee agreement will clearly specify this.
- What if We Lose?
You typically will not be responsible for reimbursing these advanced case expenses. This is a testament to our confidence in our ability to win and our commitment to taking on the financial risk alongside you.
Our no win, no fee guarantee usually extends to case expenses as well, making your pursuit of justice as straightforward as possible.
The Value of a Personal Injury Lawyer
While a percentage of your recovery might seem like a cost, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney on a contingency fee basis almost always leads to a significantly better outcome for the injured client. Here’s why the value far outweighs the cost:
Leveling the Playing Field
Insurance companies have vast resources, legal teams, and adjusters whose primary goal is to minimize payouts. Without an attorney, you are at a severe disadvantage. A lawyer levels the playing field, ensuring your rights are protected and you are treated fairly.
Maximizing Your Compensation
Studies consistently show that injury victims who hire an attorney recover significantly more compensation than those who try to handle their claims alone, even after attorney fees and expenses are deducted. An experienced lawyer knows how to:
- Thoroughly investigate the accident and establish fault.
- Accurately calculate all your damages, including future medical costs and lost earning capacity, which self-represented individuals often overlook.
- Gather and present compelling evidence.
- Negotiate effectively with aggressive insurance adjusters.
- Prepare and litigate your case in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
Taking On Financial Risk
By working on a contingency fee, your lawyer assumes all the financial risk of pursuing your claim. You don’t pay anything unless they win. This motivates your attorney to achieve the best possible result for you.
Handling the Legal Hurdles
Personal injury law is intricate. There are strict deadlines (statutes of limitations), complex rules of evidence, negotiation tactics, and court procedures. An attorney handles all these legal burdens, allowing you to focus solely on your physical and emotional recovery.
Access to Resources
Reputable personal injury firms have established networks of expert witnesses, medical professionals, and investigators. These resources are often essential for building a strong case but are costly and difficult for individuals to access independently.
Peace of Mind
Knowing that an experienced and dedicated legal professional is fighting for your rights provides immense peace of mind during a stressful and challenging time.
Factors That Influence the Overall Cost
While the attorney’s percentage is fixed by agreement, several factors can influence the overall amount of money you ultimately receive from a settlement or verdict:
- Severity of Your Injuries: More severe injuries generally lead to higher medical bills, greater lost wages, and more significant pain and suffering, resulting in a higher potential settlement value.
- Clarity of Liability: If fault is clear and undisputed, the case may settle faster and with less litigation expenses. If liability is contested, it often requires more investigation, expert testimony, and may lead to a trial that increases expenses.
- Insurance Policy Limits: The amount of available insurance coverage from the at-fault party can cap your potential recovery, regardless of the full extent of your damages.
- Negotiation vs. Trial: As mentioned, cases that go to trial generally incur more expenses and often a higher contingency fee percentage due to the increased time and work involved.
- Medical Liens: If you received medical treatment through a lien (meaning the healthcare provider agrees to wait for payment until your case settles), those medical bills will be paid directly from your settlement before you receive your funds.
Why Choose Us?
Your financial future is our priority. We are committed to providing exceptional legal representation without adding to your financial strain. Our contingency fee structure is a testament to this commitment.
- No Upfront Costs: You pay no fees unless we secure a victory for your case, making your pursuit of justice risk-free. We advance all necessary case expenses, ensuring that financial barriers never prevent you from getting the justice you deserve.
- Direct Attorney Involvement & Personalized Care: You’ll have the privilege of working directly with attorney Ryan Orsatti himself. He is deeply invested in your recovery and your case, offering personalized attention, clear communication, and unwavering support. We will explain all costs and fee structures upfront, ensuring complete transparency.
- Experience That Pays Off: With over 12 years of dedicated experience in Texas personal injury law, Attorney Ryan Orsatti has a proven track record of maximizing compensation for clients. He knows how to effectively negotiate with insurance companies and, if necessary, fiercely litigate in court to achieve the best possible outcome.
- Relentless Advocacy: Legal Excellence is our driving force. We tirelessly advocate for your rights, fighting to ensure every aspect of your damages, from medical bills to pain and suffering, is fully accounted for.
Don’t let concerns about legal costs prevent you from seeking the justice and compensation you may deserve. The contingency fee system is designed to provide you with powerful legal representation without financial stress.
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence in San Antonio or anywhere across Texas, take the first step towards recovery and financial stability. Our personal injury lawyers are available 24/7, and we are ready to fight for you. Se habla español.
Contact Ryan Orsatti Law today at (210) 525-1200 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.