You pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
Wood Injury Law works on a contingency fee. That means you pay no attorney fees upfront and no attorney fees at all if we don’t recover money for you. The fee is a percentage of the recovery, paid only if there is a recovery.
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How a contingency fee actually works in Arizona
The contingency fee is the standard fee structure for personal injury cases in Arizona and across the country. The fee is a percentage of the recovery rather than an hourly bill. The percentage is agreed in writing before the case is taken.
Typical Arizona PI contingency percentages run 33% to 40% depending on the case stage and complexity. Settlements before suit is filed are usually at the lower end. Cases that go to litigation or trial are at the higher end because the work and risk increase substantially.
Two important things people often misunderstand:
1. The fee comes out of the recovery, not separately. If your case settles for $100,000 and the contingency is 33.33%, the firm receives $33,330 from the settlement, you receive $66,670 (less expenses and any liens). You do not write a separate check.
2. Case expenses are separate from attorney fees. Expenses include medical record retrieval, expert witness fees, court filing fees, deposition costs, and similar. We advance these out of our own funds. They are reimbursed from the recovery if there is one. If we don’t recover, you don’t pay these either — we absorb them.
What “no fee unless we win” really means
It means exactly what it says. If we take your case and don’t recover any money for you — through settlement, judgment, or otherwise — you pay no attorney fees and no case expenses. The firm absorbs the loss.
This structure aligns our incentive with yours. We get paid when you get paid. We don’t get paid for the time we spend if the case doesn’t recover. That’s why we say no to cases we don’t think we can win — taking weak cases would mean we work for free.
What about medical liens and subrogation?
Health insurance, MedPay coverage on your auto policy, Medicare, and Medicaid all have potential reimbursement rights against any settlement you receive. These are called liens or subrogation interests. They are separate from attorney fees. The order in which medical bills are paid, and the negotiation of liens, materially affects your final net recovery.
We handle subrogation negotiation as part of every case we take. Negotiating liens down is part of the work — and a properly negotiated lien can add significant net dollars to your final recovery.
Why Arizona PI works on contingency rather than hourly
Most injury victims cannot afford to pay an attorney $400-$700 per hour out of pocket while they’re hurt, unable to work, and accumulating medical bills. Contingency fee structure was created so that injury victims can hire competent representation regardless of upfront wealth. The attorney takes the financial risk; the client gets the representation.
The other side — the insurance company defending your case — is paying attorneys hourly. They have unlimited resources to fight a claim. Without the contingency fee, injury victims would be unable to compete.
Frequently asked
What’s the contingency fee percentage?
Typically 33% to 40% depending on case stage. Settlements before lawsuit filing are usually 33-35%. Cases that go into litigation or trial are usually 40%. Exact percentage agreed in writing before we take the case.
What if my case settles for less than my medical bills?
This is possible in some cases, especially low-policy-limit cases. We negotiate medical liens aggressively to maximize what you receive. Sometimes a settlement covers liens with little left over for the client; other times the structure works out better. We’re transparent about expected ranges before we take the case.
Do I owe expenses if we lose?
No. If we don’t recover money, you owe nothing — not attorney fees and not case expenses. We absorb both.
How is this different from a flat fee?
Flat fees are typically used for non-injury legal work where the work scope is predictable. Personal injury cases have unpredictable scope and value, which is why contingency works better — fee scales with recovery.
What if I want to switch attorneys mid-case?
This is possible but the original firm typically has a quantum meruit claim for work performed. Talk to us before switching — most issues can be addressed without changing firms.
What’s the next step?
A free 5-minute call with a Wood Injury Law attorney. We tell you whether you have a case worth pursuing and what the contingency arrangement would look like. No paperwork on the first call.
Call (623) 632-0959 · Free 5-minute case review · No fee unless we win
Related: Arizona personal injury overview · Free case evaluation · Detailed fee structure · Talking to insurance