Short answer: Most personal injury lawyers in Atlanta, including Leeds Law Firm, PLLC, work on a contingency fee. You pay nothing up front and nothing by the hour. The lawyer's fee is a percentage of the money recovered for you, and if there is no recovery, there is no attorney's fee. At our firm, the first consultation is free.
What is a contingency fee?
A contingency fee means the lawyer's payment is contingent on winning money for you, through a settlement or a verdict. Instead of billing hourly, the lawyer takes an agreed percentage of the recovery when the case ends.
This is how most injury cases in Atlanta are handled, for a simple reason: people hurt in a car wreck, truck crash, or fall usually cannot afford to pay a lawyer by the hour while they are out of work and dealing with medical bills. A contingency fee lets anyone hire a lawyer, regardless of what is in their bank account today.
At Leeds Law Firm, personal injury cases are handled on a contingency basis, which means we don't receive a fee unless we recover money for you.
Does Georgia require the fee agreement to be in writing?
Yes. Under the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct (Rule 1.5(c)), a contingent fee agreement must be in writing and must explain how the fee is calculated, including the percentage that applies if the case settles, goes to trial, or is appealed, and whether case expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated.
Before you sign with any Atlanta injury lawyer, read that agreement and ask:
- What percentage do you take if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed?
- Does the percentage change if a lawsuit is filed or the case goes to trial?
- Are case expenses taken out before or after your percentage is calculated?
- If we lose, do I owe anything for expenses?
A good lawyer will answer all four plainly. We go over every one of these with clients before they sign.
What is the difference between attorney's fees and case costs?
These are two different things, and mixing them up is the most common source of confusion.
- Attorney's fees are what the lawyer earns for their work. With a contingency fee, this is the agreed percentage of the recovery.
- Case costs (expenses) are the out-of-pocket costs of building the case: things like police and accident reports, medical records, court filing fees, deposition transcripts, and expert witnesses. Many firms advance these costs and are repaid from the recovery at the end of the case.
Your written agreement should say exactly how costs are handled. Ask about it before you sign.
Is the consultation really free?
At Leeds Law Firm, yes. The first consultation is free, and talking to us does not obligate you to hire us. You can call our Atlanta office in Buckhead or reach us 24/7, and hablamos español.
A free consultation is the right time to ask about fees, to find out whether you have a claim, and to learn what deadlines apply. In Georgia, most personal injury claims must be filed within a limited time after the injury, so it is worth getting answers early.
Does hiring a lawyer cost more than handling it myself?
Not necessarily. Because the fee is a percentage of the recovery, the real question is what you walk away with, not what the lawyer takes. Insurance companies handle claims every day and know the rules better than most injured people. Georgia's fault rules, insurance limits, and medical billing rules all affect what a claim is worth, and the at-fault driver's insurer will use any mistake you make to pay less.
A lawyer handles the insurance company, gathers the evidence, values the claim, and pushes back on lowball offers, so you can focus on getting better. For more on how fault and insurance limits work, see our guide to Georgia car accident laws.
What kinds of Atlanta injury cases does Leeds Law Firm take on contingency?
We represent people hurt in:
- Car accidents
- Truck and 18-wheeler accidents
- Motorcycle and bicycle crashes
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Slip and falls
- Apartment shootings and other negligent security cases
- Wrongful death
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Atlanta?
Most charge a contingency fee: a percentage of the money recovered, with nothing paid up front. Leeds Law Firm handles personal injury cases on contingency, and the first consultation is free.
Do I pay anything if I lose my personal injury case?
With a contingency fee, there is no attorney's fee if there is no recovery. How case expenses are handled if you lose depends on your written agreement, so ask before you sign.
Does a contingency fee agreement have to be in writing in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia's Rules of Professional Conduct require contingent fee agreements to be in writing and to state how the fee is calculated.
Is the consultation free at Leeds Law Firm?
Yes. The first consultation is free and does not obligate you to hire the firm. We are available 24/7, and hablamos español.
Where is Leeds Law Firm's Atlanta office?
3340 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1800 (Tower Place 100), Buckhead, Atlanta, GA 30326. Phone: (678) 509-6133.
Talk to an Atlanta personal injury lawyer for free
If you were hurt in Atlanta and are worried about what a lawyer will cost, call us. The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we recover money for you. Contact Leeds Law Firm or call (678) 509-6133.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
