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Our Fees
HOW OUR FEES WORK
- We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
- We are paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict we win for you.
- We pay all the upfront costs of preparing a strong case for you. These are later deducted from your recovery amount.
At Edelman & Thompson, we believe strongly that everyone deserves access to our legal system. That’s why our personal injury lawyers work for clients on a contingency fee basis. We front the cost of preparing a strong case for you. If we are successful in obtaining a settlement or verdict for our clients, our fee is a percentage of that recovery. On work injury cases, our fee is 25%. On most other cases that settle, the fee is 35%, which is much less than the 40 or 50% charged by some other law firms. We are reimbursed for our out-of-pocket expenses only if we win your case.
You’ve got nothing to lose, so call us for free at 816-561-3400. You’ll speak to one of our highly experienced lawyers about your situation. You’ll understand what to do next, even if you don’t end up needing a lawyer. If you think you might need a lawyer, you can meet with one of our attorneys for free, with no obligation.
If you prefer to submit your case for review, an attorney will call you back after you complete this form. You can also use our chat feature in the bottom right of this web page.
Lastly, for our 35% fee cases, if the case goes to trial (Only about 1% do), our contingency fee increases to 40% to cover 1) Additional time to prepare for trial, 2) The additional risk incurred in putting your case in front of a jury. But again, if we don’t win, you don’t get charged a dime, not even for expenses that we fronted including expert testimony, accident reconstruction, exhibit visuals and videos, and much more.
The contingency fee is critical to ensuring that everyone, not just the wealthy, can obtain the legal representation they need and deserve. Without it, insurance companies would know that they could stall cases and increase legal costs against injured people who don’t have the resources to pay upfront fees to attorneys and, ultimately, force them to quit their case or settle for less than they deserve.
Representation by a Contingency Fee Lawyer Can Make a Difference
Another important consideration is that the insurance industry performed a study (The Insurance Research Council) and found that, on average, individuals who were represented by an attorney received three times the amount that individuals who handled their own case, even after attorney fees were deducted. The results of the study were published in a report titled Attorney Involvement in Auto Injury Claims. There are some situations where having an attorney will not add value to your case. We will tell you if that is the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Fees
How much does Edelman & Thompson charge for a personal injury case?
Edelman & Thompson handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront. For most personal injury cases that settle before trial, our fee is 35% of the recovery. If a case proceeds to trial, the fee increases to 40% due to the additional time, preparation, and risk involved. For workers’ compensation cases, our fee is 25%. If we do not recover compensation for you, you do not owe attorney fees.
Do I have to pay any money upfront to hire Edelman & Thompson?
No. We advance all costs necessary to build a strong case, including expenses such as obtaining medical records, hiring experts, accident reconstruction, preparing exhibits, and other litigation costs. You do not pay anything upfront. We are reimbursed for these expenses only if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
What happens if Edelman & Thompson loses my case?
If we do not recover compensation for you through a settlement or verdict, you owe us nothing. We do not charge attorney fees, and we do not seek reimbursement for the case expenses we advanced. Our firm assumes the financial risk so injured people can pursue justice without worrying about legal bills.
Why do personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis?
Contingency fees allow injured people to obtain experienced legal representation regardless of their financial situation. Instead of paying hourly attorney fees, clients pay only if their lawyer successfully recovers compensation. This system helps level the playing field against insurance companies and large corporations that often have significant legal resources.
Is a 35% contingency fee competitive for a personal injury lawyer?
Yes. Many personal injury law firms charge contingency fees ranging from 33⅓% to 40%, with some charging even higher percentages in certain situations. Edelman & Thompson charges 35% on most personal injury cases that settle before trial and 40% only if a trial becomes necessary. We believe this structure provides clients with experienced representation while allowing them to retain more of their recovery.
How do contingency fees protect injured people from insurance company tactics?
Without contingency fees, many injured people would be unable to afford the legal costs of pursuing a claim. Insurance companies can delay cases and increase litigation expenses, putting financial pressure on victims to accept low settlement offers. A contingency fee arrangement allows your attorney to advance the costs of the case and fight for full compensation without requiring you to pay legal fees while the case is ongoing.
