You are hurt, the bills are stacking up, and hiring a lawyer sounds like one more expense you cannot afford. That worry is common, and it’s exactly the problem a contingency lawyer in New Jersey is built to solve.
A contingency arrangement means your lawyer is paid only if your case produces a recovery, and it is how our firm works. This guide explains how that fee works and which cases qualify. It also covers what to ask before you sign and what it looks like to work with us.
What Is a Contingency Lawyer?
A contingency lawyer takes your case without charging an hourly rate or an upfront retainer. The fee is a share of whatever the case recovers for you. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
That arrangement moves the risk. Under an hourly model, you pay for time whether or not the case succeeds. Under contingency, the lawyer bears the cost of the effort, so the lawyer wants the same result you do: the best possible outcome.
The model is common in injury work for a simple reason. People who are hurt often miss paychecks while medical bills arrive, and few can fund a legal case on top of that.
Our fee depends on your recovery, and our motto says the rest: Keith Zaid gets you paid!
How Does a Contingency Fee Work?
The fee has three moving parts: the percentage, expenses, and timing. The percentage is the share of your recovery that goes to the firm.
Case expenses are the costs of building the claim, such as records and expert opinions. Timing means you pay the fee only when you recover money.
Before any work begins, ask for the fee agreement in writing. It should show the percentage and explain how case expenses are handled. If a line is unclear, ask for a plain-language explanation until it makes sense.
With us, the first conversation costs you nothing. You can ask every question you have before you commit to anything.
If you decide to move forward, we gather the evidence, deal with the insurers, and present your claim.
Why Cost Worries Keep People From Calling
Money concerns stop many people before they ever reach out. A 2022 report from Legal Services Corporation found that low-income Americans received no or inadequate legal help for 92% of their substantial civil legal problems. The most common reason was the belief that costs would preclude legal help.
Asking about money is not a sign you are unprepared. It is the first thing a careful person checks, and a good firm expects the question.
The good news is that cost does not have to be the barrier. No matter your income, the same question comes first: What will this cost me? Our free consultation answers it directly, so you can ask on your first call and get a clear answer.
You do not need savings, a payment plan, or a perfect file to start. You only need to pick up the phone or fill out a short form.
Which Cases Can a Contingency Lawyer Handle?
We handle many injury claims this way. Our attorneys take on personal injury claims that range from car and truck crashes to dog bites, construction accidents, and wrongful death.
We also handle slip and fall and other premises claims. Robert Shiekman, a workers’ compensation attorney, joined the firm in 2018, and our team now handles workers’ compensation claims as well.
Not sure which category your injury falls into? Describe what happened in plain terms, and we’ll determine the type of claim and who may be responsible.
Not every situation fits. We do not accept a case unless we expect to win it, so the review you receive is an honest one. If a claim is not strong enough, you hear that plainly and can plan your next step with real information.
What Happens When a Case Does Not Recover Anything
Most people hesitate to ask this question, and it deserves a straight answer. The usual promise is that no fee is owed without a recovery. Whether you owe case expenses in that situation depends on the written agreement.
That is why the agreement matters before you sign it. Ask the lawyer to show you where it addresses an unsuccessful case. A confident lawyer points to the exact line and explains it.
Asking also tells you something about the firm. A lawyer who welcomes the question is likely to stay just as open once your case is underway.
Benefits of Hiring a Contingency Lawyer
Cost is only the first benefit. The structure changes the whole relationship.
Because our pay depends on the outcome, we focus on what moves your claim forward rather than logging hours. That focus keeps your case from drifting.
Access matters too. Someone answers our phone line at all hours, every day of the week. If Spanish is your first language, Hablamos Español means you can go through the fee agreement in your own words.
You also keep control. No outcome is final until you approve it, and you keep the choice at every step.
If you have already hired another firm and have doubts, a free second opinion from us is available.
How Do You Choose the Right Contingency Lawyer?
Start with experience. Ask how many cases like yours the lawyer has handled and who will work on yours day to day. Ask how often you will hear updates.
Then ask about the money, and compare the answers from more than one firm. A clear, written answer from each makes the differences easy to see. Bring your list to a free consultation, and we will go through every item.
Reviews and referrals help you confirm what you hear. Notice how the lawyer talks to you, too. Plain answers and no pressure are good signs.
If you are unsure when to call, read our guide on when to hire a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey. It covers the signs that point to an early call.
Keith Zaid Law: Contingency Representation Across New Jersey, Starting in Atlantic City
Keith E. Zaid was born and raised in Atlantic County. He graduated from Temple University in 1978 and Tulane Law School in 1981. He then started his own practice in Atlantic City, which grew into Keith Zaid Law.
More than 50 years of combined experience stand behind our team, which serves clients across New Jersey. Our clients have received over $50 million in recoveries. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
You can visit us at any of our six offices in Atlantic City, Newark, Cherry Hill, Vineland, Tenafly, or Northfield. If travel is difficult after an injury, we can meet elsewhere.
Want to Know If Your Case Qualifies?
Our case evaluation form takes only a few minutes. An attorney reads what you share, and the review is free. Afterward, you know whether your claim is a fit and what to do next.
To begin, start your free case evaluation.
