Quick answer
A truck accident lawyer fee calculator shows how much of a sample recovery would go to the contingency fee at different percentages, and what would be left before case costs. With a contingency fee, you pay nothing upfront and the lawyer is paid a percentage only if money is recovered. Your signed fee agreement controls.
Before you hire anyone, you should know what it will cost. This truck accident lawyer fee calculator shows how much of a sample recovery would go to the attorney's fee at different percentages, and how much would be left for you before case costs. Enter any number you like. It is an illustration, not a prediction. For how truck claims work overall, see our Phoenix truck accident lawyer guide.
Contingency fee calculator
Type any amount to see how the fee percentage changes what you keep.
| Fee rate | Attorney fee | Before costs, you keep |
|---|---|---|
| 33.3% Example rate | $83,333 | $166,667 |
| 40% Example rate | $100,000 | $150,000 |
Important
These numbers are illustrative only and are not a promise or prediction of any result. Every case is different. Case costs and expenses are separate from the attorney fee.
Your written contingency fee agreement controls the actual fee and how costs are handled.
How a contingency fee works
Most truck accident cases are handled on a contingency fee. That means:
You pay nothing upfront to start.
The lawyer's fee is a percentage of the money recovered through a settlement or verdict.
If nothing is recovered, there is generally no attorney fee.
The fee percentage, and whether case costs come out before or after the fee, depend on the case and are set out in your written fee agreement before you sign. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee, but you may still be responsible for case costs such as filing fees, medical records and fees for accident reconstruction or other outside consultants. The calculator shows example percentages so you can see how a percentage changes what you keep. It does not show our fee.
The fee percentage can make a real difference in what you take home, especially in larger cases. The calculator lets you see that difference on any sample amount.
Fees vs. costs
These two words sound alike, but they are different.
Fees pay for the lawyer's work. Costs are the out-of-pocket expenses of building the claim, such as:
Medical records and police report copies
Court filing and service fees
Deposition and transcript charges
Accident reconstruction and electronic data analysis
Other consultants the case may need
In a truck case, costs can be higher than in a car case, because getting and reading trucking data often takes outside help. See our guide to truck accident evidence for what that data includes.
One key question is whether costs come out before or after the fee is calculated. On the same recovery, that order changes your net amount. With our firm, that order depends on the case and is stated in your fee agreement. The calculator leaves costs out entirely, so ask us to walk you through an example with costs included.
How to read your results
Sample recovery. The gross amount you entered. This is not an estimate of your case.
Fee rows. Each row applies one fee percentage to that amount: 33.3% and 40%. These are examples only, not our fee and not a comparison with other firms.
Attorney fee. The dollar amount of the fee at that percentage.
Take-home before costs. The sample recovery minus the fee. Case costs are not subtracted, so your actual amount would be lower.
Liens matter. A health insurer, hospital, Medicare or AHCCCS, or a workers' compensation carrier may have a right to be repaid from your recovery. Examples include AHCCCS (A.R.S. 36-2915 (opens in a new tab)), hospitals and other providers (A.R.S. 33-931 (opens in a new tab)) and the workers' comp carrier (A.R.S. 23-1023 (opens in a new tab)). The calculator does not include liens or costs, so your actual net could be lower.
What the calculator cannot tell you
It cannot tell you what your claim is worth or whether you will recover anything. Value depends on the injuries, medical bills, lost income, fault, and the insurance available. Commercial trucks often carry higher federal minimum coverage than passenger cars; see our guide to truck insurance limits. For the factors that drive value, read truck accident settlement value in Arizona.
Your written fee agreement controls
Arizona's Rules of Professional Conduct require a contingency fee agreement to be in writing, signed by the client, and to state how the fee is calculated and how expenses are handled (Arizona Supreme Court Rule 42, ER 1.5(c)). The numbers on this page are examples only. If anything here differs from your signed fee agreement, the agreement controls.
We will walk you through the agreement before you sign and answer your questions.
Next steps
Want to know how this applies to your situation? Request a free case review or contact us. For a full overview of how truck cases work in Arizona, start with our guide for a truck accident lawyer in Phoenix. Spanish speakers can use the calculadora de honorarios.
Talk to a Phoenix truck accident lawyer for free
Tell us what happened. We'll review your situation and explain your options. There's no fee unless you recover money.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay anything if there is no recovery?
With a contingency fee, there is generally no attorney fee if there is no recovery. With our firm, you may still be responsible for case costs, such as filing fees, medical records and fees for accident reconstruction or other outside consultants, even if there is no recovery.
Does the fee percentage change if the case goes to trial?
It can. Whether the percentage changes if a lawsuit is filed or the case goes to trial depends on the case, and your written fee agreement says exactly when and how.
Is the calculator result what my case is worth?
No. The amount you enter is only an example. The calculator does not estimate the value of any claim or predict whether money will be recovered.
Are medical liens included in the calculator?
No. Health insurers, hospitals, or a workers' compensation carrier may have a right to be repaid from a recovery. Those amounts are not shown in the calculator.