Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Alabama

There is no set standard percentage or cap via statute or case law. Typically lawyers charge contingency rates anywhere from 40% to 50% for negligence cases. Remember, they don't get paid unless they win. Also, they shoulder all the costs up front and have to eat that if they don't win.

That is a point of negotiation between the client and lawyer. Typically, they might range anywhere from 33-60%, depending upon how much financial risk the lawyer is undertaking. For example, a simple accident case might not involve very much expenses or risk of losing for an attorney and the contingency fee might only be 33% but if it is a complex case in which the attorney will have to shell out thousands for trial preparation and might possibly lose, the fee might be 50-60%.

If you're wondering about a particular fee arrangement, speak to some other attorneys and get some comparisons.