Omaha Contingency Fee Lawyer
Legally Reviewed By: Robert M. Knowles
Attorney & Partner At Knowles Law Firm
Financial barriers should never prevent injury victims from accessing high-quality legal representation. Yet, many Nebraskans hesitate to pursue valid claims because they worry about paying attorney fees during an already difficult financial period. Contingency fee arrangements eliminate this obstacle by aligning the attorney’s compensation directly with your case outcome—when you don’t recover compensation, you pay absolutely nothing in legal fees, regardless of how many hours your Omaha injury attorney invested in your case.
The attorneys at Knowles Law Firm have championed Omaha injury victims for 55 years through contingency fee representation. Our approach removes financial risk from the legal process while still providing access to premier legal advocacy. With multi-million dollar settlements secured for our clients, we demonstrate that exceptional representation remains available to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances or ability to pay upfront costs.
How Contingency Fee Arrangements Work
The contingency fee model fundamentally changes the traditional attorney-client financial relationship. Instead of requiring hourly billing or upfront retainers, contingency fee lawyers receive payment only when they successfully resolve your case.
Under this arrangement, your attorney agrees to handle all aspects of your case without any immediate payment. Only when your case concludes with a settlement or court award does the attorney receive a percentage of the recovery as their fee. If your case does not result in compensation, you owe nothing for the attorney’s time and effort.
This system creates perfect alignment between your interests and your attorney’s goals. Your lawyer has direct financial motivation to maximize your recovery amount rather than prolonging work to increase billable hours. The contingency model also means your attorney carefully evaluates case merit before accepting representation—they want to invest time in winnable cases since they assume the financial risk.
For injury victims, contingency fees provide several key advantages:
- No upfront costs during a financially challenging time
- Access to high-quality legal representation regardless of personal financial situation
- Confidence that your attorney believes in the merit of your case
- Freedom from monthly legal bills regardless of case length
- Zero financial risk if the case proves unsuccessful
This approach makes legal representation accessible to everyone, removing financial barriers from the pursuit of justice.
Case Expenses in Contingency Fee Arrangements
Beyond attorney fees, personal injury cases generate various expenses during preparation and litigation. These costs may include:
- Filing fees for court documents
- Expenses for obtaining medical records
- Expert witness consultation and testimony fees
- Deposition costs, including court reporter and transcripts
- Accident reconstruction analysis
- Fees for independent medical examinations
- Visual exhibits for settlement negotiations or trial
Handling these expenses varies between law firms. At Knowles Law Firm, we typically advance these costs on your behalf, recovering them from the final settlement or judgment. This approach means you face no out-of-pocket expenses throughout your case, further reducing financial pressure during recovery.
Some firms may require clients to pay these expenses regardless of the case outcome, while others might charge interest on advanced costs. During your initial consultation, we clearly explain our specific policies regarding case expenses so you fully understand all potential financial aspects before proceeding.
— Benjamin Knowles
Types of Cases Handled on Contingency
Contingency fee arrangements primarily apply to cases where monetary damages form the central recovery goal. The structure works effectively for various personal injury matters.
Personal Injury Claims
The contingency model perfectly suits injury cases, including:
- Motor vehicle accidents (cars, trucks, motorcycles)
- Premises liability incidents like slip-and-falls
- Workplace injuries involving third-party liability
- Defective product injuries
- Medical malpractice situations
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Wrongful death claims
These cases typically involve significant damages and insurance coverage, making contingency arrangements feasible for both clients and attorneys.
Understanding Contingency Fee Percentages
The percentage of attorneys’ receive from successful cases varies based on several factors. Standard contingency rates typically range between 25% and 40% of the recovery amount, with the specific percentage depending on:
- Case complexity and anticipated work hours
- Likelihood of proceeding to trial versus settling
- Expected timeline to resolution
- Amount of expenses the firm must advance
- Potential recovery size
Many firms, including Knowles Law Firm, utilize sliding scale percentages that increase if a case proceeds further into litigation. For example, a case settling before filing a lawsuit might carry a lower percentage than one requiring extensive trial preparation.
Nebraska law requires contingency fee agreements to be in writing, clearly stating the exact percentage and explaining how case expenses will be handled. During your initial consultation, we provide a transparent explanation of our fee structure and answer any questions about financial arrangements.
Why Choose Knowles Law Firm for Contingency Representation
Selecting the right contingency fee attorney significantly impacts your case outcome. Unlike firms prioritizing quick settlements to maximize return on investment, Knowles Law Firm focuses on achieving optimal results for each client. Our approach includes:
- Thorough case investigation before filing
- Comprehensive documentation of all damages
- Professional negotiation with insurance companies
- Access to leading expert witnesses across various fields
- Meticulous trial preparation when fair settlements aren’t offered
- Regular communication about case progress
- Clear explanations of settlement offers and litigation strategies
Let us handle all aspects of your claim while you recover physically and emotionally. We provide dedicated attention throughout the process, keeping you informed and involved in key decisions.
The contingency model means we succeed only when you do. This creates accountability and ensures we remain dedicated to maximizing your recovery rather than our billing hours.
Contact an Omaha Contingency Fee Attorney
If you’ve suffered injuries through someone else’s negligence, financial concerns shouldn’t prevent you from exploring your legal options. The contingency fee model eliminates upfront costs while providing access to quality legal representation.
The Omaha personal injury lawyers at Knowles Law Firm have dedicated their careers to helping injury victims throughout Omaha and across Nebraska. We understand your physical, emotional, and financial challenges and work tirelessly to secure compensation while removing financial risk from the process. Our extensive experience with contingency representation allows us to efficiently evaluate potential claims and provide honest assessments of your case prospects. Contact us today at (402) 431-9000 or through our contact form.
About Our Attorney
Robert M. Knowles
Attorney & Partner at Knowles Law Firm
Robert has tried cases in both state and federal courts and was selected as one of the top 100 litigation lawyers in Nebraska for 2014 by the American Society of Legal Advocates. Less than 1.5 percent of lawyers nationally are selected for this recognition. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell which is the highest rating an attorney can obtain. He was also selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2019 Top Rated Lawyer.
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