While contingency fee agreements are negotiable and not set by law, many contingency fee arrangements will increase the lawyer’s legal fee if a lawsuit is filed. This is because the amount of work and attention devoted to your case will increase dramatically after a lawsuit has been filed. Litigation is a complicated and time-consuming process, and because defense attorneys are paid by the hour, they have little incentive to settle early or work efficiently–thus also increasing the work for your plaintiff’s attorney.
