Cost is one of the first questions people have after an accident.
Most truck accident cases are handled on a contingency fee. That means you don’t pay anything upfront, and attorney fees are only paid if there’s a recovery.
If there’s no recovery, there’s no fee.
What you end up paying depends on the case and how it resolves, but the structure itself is meant to make legal help accessible without adding more financial strain.
At Lorfing Law, we explain how that works in plain terms so you know what to expect before making any decisions.
If you have questions about costs after a truck accident, you can reach out to our Abilene truck accident lawyer for a free consultation.
How Much Do Truck Accident Lawyers Charge?
Contingency Fees Explained
Most truck accident attorneys, including our firm, work on contingency fees. This means we take a percentage of whatever settlement or judgment we recover for you.
Here’s how it works: We handle your entire case—investigation, negotiation, litigation, expert witnesses, and court proceedings—at no cost to you upfront. If we reach a settlement or win at trial, we take a percentage of your recovery as our fee. If the case doesn’t result in a recovery, we receive nothing and you owe us nothing.
This arrangement aligns our interests with yours perfectly. We’re motivated to maximize your recovery because a larger settlement means a larger fee for us. We have every incentive to fight hard for you.
Average Percentage in Texas
Truck accident attorney contingency fees typically fall into these ranges:
Pre-litigation settlements: approximately 33% of the recovery. If we settle with the insurance company before filing a lawsuit, many attorneys charge one-third of what we recover.
Litigation settlements: approximately 40% of the recovery. Once we’ve filed a lawsuit, the case becomes more complex and time-intensive. We must conduct discovery, depose witnesses, hire expert witnesses, and prepare for trial. These costs and efforts justify a higher percentage.
Trial: 40% or higher. If your case goes to trial, the percentage may increase further because trial preparation and trial itself demand substantial attorney time and resources.
Why do percentages increase? Truck accident cases are more complex than typical car accidents. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations create additional legal layers. Multiple parties may be involved, requiring complex liability analysis. The longer and more involved the case, the higher the percentage typically charged.
Some attorneys use different fee structures depending on the case stage, which our firm is happy to discuss during your free consultation.
Do You Pay Anything Upfront?
No. You pay zero dollars upfront when you hire us.
We cover all initial costs ourselves: investigation, accident reconstruction, expert witness consultations, medical record retrieval, and preliminary legal work. You never write a check to us before we recover money.
Additionally, we advance the costs of pursuing your case. These case expenses are separate from attorney fees. Examples include:
- Court filing fees
- Expert witness fees for accident reconstruction, medical causation, or damages calculation
- Medical record retrieval and review
- Deposition transcripts
- Court reporter fees
- Investigation costs
- Diagnostic imaging or medical testing
- Trial preparation costs
Our firm pays these expenses upfront. You reimburse them only if we recover money for you. This means you have absolutely zero financial risk in hiring us.
What Costs Are Taken Out of a Settlement?
It’s crucial to understand the difference between attorney fees and case expenses. They’re deducted separately from your settlement.
Attorney Fees vs Case Expenses
Attorney fees are the percentage we charge for our legal services and time (typically 33–40%). Case expenses are the actual out-of-pocket costs we pay to pursue your claim (filing fees, expert witnesses, etc.).
Both come out of your settlement, but they’re distinct. Example: If you receive a $300,000 settlement, we might take $100,000 as attorney fees (33%) and $15,000 in case expenses. You receive $185,000.
These deductions are legal and standard throughout Texas. Reputable attorneys are transparent about this breakdown upfront.
Common Case Expenses
Truck accident cases typically incur these expenses:
Accident reconstruction experts: $3,000–$10,000. These engineers examine the accident scene, vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions to determine how the accident occurred and who bears responsibility.
Medical expert witnesses: $2,000–$8,000. Physicians testify about your injuries, causation (whether the truck accident caused your injuries), and long-term prognosis. Their expert opinions strengthen damage claims.
Medical records retrieval and review: $500–$2,000. Obtaining and organizing medical records from multiple providers requires staff time and sometimes document procurement fees.
Court filing and administrative fees: $500–$2,000. Court systems charge fees for filing lawsuits, motions, and other court documents.
Deposition costs: $1,000–$3,000. Depositions—recorded testimony of witnesses and parties—require court reporter services and transcript preparation.
Accident scene investigation: $1,000–$5,000. Professional investigators photograph the scene, measure distances, and interview witnesses. This evidence is crucial for proving liability.
Medical imaging or testing: $500–$2,000. Sometimes additional diagnostic imaging or medical testing helps establish injury severity or causation.
Trial preparation and presentation: $2,000–$10,000+. If your case goes to trial, preparing exhibits, graphics, and trial materials requires significant expense.
These expenses add up, but they’re investments in strengthening your case. Better expert witnesses, more thorough investigation, and professional presentation increase settlement value. The increased recovery typically exceeds the additional expenses.
Example: How Truck Accident Lawyer Fees Work
Let’s walk through a realistic scenario to show exactly how fees and expenses work.
Settlement amount: $300,000
Attorney fee (33% for pre-litigation settlement): $100,000
Case expenses incurred:
- Accident reconstruction: $6,000
- Medical expert review: $3,000
- Medical records retrieval: $800
- Court filing fees: $400
- Investigation costs: $2,000
- Total expenses: $12,200
Your net recovery: $300,000 − $100,000 − $12,200 = $187,800
In this example, you receive $187,800 from a $300,000 settlement. This is your money to use for medical bills, living expenses, rehabilitation, or any purpose you choose.
Is this fair? Consider what you would have received without an attorney. Most accident victims who negotiate alone receive significantly less—often 20–30% less than represented clients. You might have settled for $200,000 and received $200,000 without an attorney. Instead, with legal representation, you recovered $300,000 and received $187,800. The attorney fee was more than offset by the increased recovery.
This is why hiring an experienced attorney is usually the right financial decision.
Why Truck Accident Cases Often Cost More
Truck accident cases cost more to pursue than typical car accident cases. Understanding why helps justify higher case expenses.
Truck accident litigation involves federal regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets strict rules on driver hours-of-service, vehicle maintenance standards, cargo loading procedures, and driver qualifications. Proving regulatory violations requires legal expertise and often expert testimony. This adds cost.
Multiple liable parties increase complexity. A car accident might involve two drivers. A truck accident might involve the truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, the maintenance contractor, and a manufacturer. Each defendant requires separate investigation and analysis. More parties mean more depositions, more discovery, more legal work.
Commercial trucking involves sophisticated defendants. You’re not suing an individual driver; you’re suing a trucking company with a legal team and experienced insurance defense counsel. Fighting these entities requires more preparation, investigation, and expert testimony.
Truck accidents often cause severe injuries requiring ongoing medical care. Establishing damages in serious injury cases requires medical experts, life care planners, and economists to project future costs. These experts charge substantial fees.
The higher case expenses reflect the complexity and sophistication of truck accident litigation. Investing in thorough investigation and expert testimony typically results in significantly higher settlements that offset these expenses.
Is Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer Worth the Cost?
Absolutely. Statistical data consistently shows that represented clients recover substantially more than unrepresented clients.
Insurance companies know that most accident victims won’t hire attorneys. They leverage this knowledge to pressure people into lowball settlements. An unrepresented victim often receives 30–50% less than a represented victim in the same circumstances.
Example:
An unrepresented person suffering a $400,000 injury might settle for $150,000 because they don’t understand their claim’s value and lack leverage. A represented person with the same injury might settle for $350,000 because their attorney knows what similar cases are worth and has the resources to litigate if necessary.
Hiring an attorney doesn’t just add cost—it dramatically increases recovery. The increased recovery almost always exceeds attorney fees and case expenses, leaving you with substantially more money than you’d receive alone.
Additionally, attorneys handle the burden of pursuing your claim. You focus on recovery while we handle paperwork, negotiations, expert coordination, and legal proceedings. This reduces your stress during a difficult time.
Our attorneys have recovered hundreds of settlements for truck accident victims. We know what cases are worth, how to prove liability, and how to maximize compensation. This expertise translates to real money in your pocket.
How to Choose the Right Truck Accident Lawyer in Texas
Not all personal injury attorneys have equal experience with truck accidents. Choosing wisely matters.
Experience with trucking cases: Ask potential attorneys how many truck accident cases they’ve handled. Experience with trucking law, federal regulations, and trucking industry practices is crucial. Attorneys who primarily handle routine car accidents may lack the specialized knowledge truck cases demand.
Trial experience: Insurance companies are more likely to offer fair settlements when they know you have an attorney willing and able to take cases to trial. Ask about trial experience. An attorney who’s tried dozens of cases commands more respect and negotiating power than one who primarily settles.
Transparent fee structure: Reputable attorneys explain their fee structure clearly upfront. They discuss contingency percentages, what expenses you might owe, and any situations where percentages might increase. If an attorney is vague about costs, look elsewhere.
No hidden costs: Confirm there are no hidden fees or surprise expenses. You should understand exactly what you’ll owe if we recover money for you.
Communication and accessibility: You’ll be more comfortable with an attorney who communicates clearly, returns calls promptly, and explains legal concepts in understandable language. Meet with potential attorneys before hiring.
Local experience: Attorneys familiar with local courts, judges, and local insurance practices have advantages. We’re based in West Texas and know the courts and insurance companies operating here.
Our firm meets all these criteria. We have over 150 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases, with hundreds of truck accident trials and settlements. We’re transparent about our fee structure, have zero hidden costs, and pride ourselves on clear communication with clients.
What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Do?
Uncertainty about what attorneys actually do sometimes prevents people from seeking representation. Understanding our role helps you appreciate the value we provide.
- Investigate the accident thoroughly: We hire investigators to examine the accident scene, interview witnesses, obtain surveillance footage, retrieve the truck’s black box data, review driver logs and maintenance records, and identify all liable parties. Thorough investigation is the foundation of a strong case.
- Collect and organize evidence: We obtain police reports, medical records, employment records, and other evidence supporting your claim. We organize this evidence into a cohesive narrative that proves liability and damages.
- Handle insurance company communications: We communicate with insurance adjusters, protecting you from giving statements that damage your claim. We negotiate aggressively for fair settlements.
- Hire expert witnesses: We retain accident reconstruction engineers, medical experts, life care planners, and economists to strengthen your case and establish damages.
- Calculate damages comprehensively: We ensure all damages are properly calculated: past and future medical expenses, lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages.
- Prepare for litigation: If settlement negotiations fail, we file a lawsuit and prepare your case for trial. This includes discovery, depositions, motion practice, and trial preparation.
- Represent you at trial: If your case reaches trial, we present evidence, examine witnesses, and argue your case before a judge or jury.
Throughout this process, we shield you from stress while fighting for maximum compensation. You can focus on recovery while we handle the legal battle.
Learn more about what a truck accident lawyer does and how we can help your case.
Speak With a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Stop worrying about costs. Our contingency fee arrangement means you have zero financial risk in hiring experienced legal representation.
Contact Keith & Lorfing today for your free consultation.
We’ll evaluate your case, explain your options, discuss our fee structure in detail, and answer all your questions. Zero obligation. Zero upfront cost. Just honest legal advice from attorneys who’ve recovered hundreds of substantial settlements.
Call (325) 480-8100 or visit our contact page to schedule your consultation. We’re here to help. Our truck accident lawyer in Texas team is ready to fight for you.
FAQs
What percentage do truck accident lawyers take in Texas?
Most truck accident attorneys charge 33% for pre-litigation settlements and 40% for litigated cases. Some may charge higher percentages if the case goes to trial. These percentages are standard throughout Texas and aligned with industry norms. Always confirm the exact percentage with your attorney upfront.
Do truck accident lawyers charge hourly fees?
Some attorneys charge hourly fees, but this is uncommon in personal injury truck accident cases. Hourly billing creates misaligned incentives—attorneys profit more from extended disputes than from quick settlements. Contingency fees align incentives with yours: we succeed when you succeed. Most reputable truck accident attorneys work on contingency.
What if I lose my case?
If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing. Not attorney fees, not case expenses—nothing. This is the advantage of contingency representation. You have zero financial risk. We bear the financial risk, which is why we carefully evaluate cases before accepting them.
Are case expenses deducted from my settlement?
Yes. Case expenses (filing fees, expert witnesses, investigation costs, etc.) are deducted from your settlement separately from attorney fees. You reimburse these expenses from your recovery. Our firm covers them upfront, so you have no out-of-pocket costs during the case.
Is a free consultation really free?
Yes. Our consultations are absolutely free. No obligation, no hidden fees, no pressure to hire us. We discuss your case, explain our fee structure, answer your questions, and help you understand your options. Many accident victims find consultations helpful even if they decide not to hire an attorney.
