What Does It Cost to Hire a Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney?
Most Connecticut personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay attorney fees up front. Instead, your lawyer receives a percentage of the compensation they recover for you.
Strict regulations govern contingency fee agreements. Under the Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct, contingency fee agreements must be in writing and signed by the client before or soon after representation begins. The agreement must clearly state the fee percentage and who will be responsible for any additional expenses associated with pursuing the case.
What Does the Contingency Fee Cover?
A contingency fee covers the attorney’s legal services throughout your case. This typically covers the time the attorney spends investigating the accident, gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, preparing legal filings, and representing you in court.
Personal injury cases often involve additional expenses, such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, deposition costs, and record retrieval fees. You are generally not responsible for these expenses right away. Many firms—including ours—cover these costs while your case is pending. Once the case resolves, we deduct those expenses from the final settlement or verdict in addition to your attorney’s fees.
Is There a Limit on Contingency Fees in Connecticut?
Connecticut law limits attorney contingency fees in most personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage cases to protect clients from unfair fee arrangements. The maximum percentage allowed depends on the amount of money recovered. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-251c, attorneys may charge no more than:
- 33.33% of the first $300,000 recovered
- 25% of the next $300,000
- 20% of the next $300,000
- 15% of the next $300,000
- 10% of any amount over $1.2 million
These percentages apply to the client’s gross recovery before case expenses have been deducted. However, a client may waive the fee limits if the case is unusually complex and the attorney follows Connecticut’s disclosure and waiver requirements. Even then, the total fee cannot exceed 33.33% of the recovery.
Table 1: Attorney's Fees for Various Damage Awards
Damage Award or Settlement
Contingency Fee the Law Allows
Percentage of Total Award to Attorney
Amount Client Receives *
Percentage of Total Award to Client
$100,000
$33,333
33.33%
$66,667
66.67%
$500,000
$150,000
30%
$350,000
70%
$1,000,000
$250,000
25%
$750,000
75%
$5,000,000
$660,000
13.2%
$4,540,000
86.8%
$10,000,000
$1,160,000
11.6%
$8,8840,000
88.4%
Why Contingency Fees Work in Your Favor
The contingency fee model makes legal representation accessible to anyone who has a strong personal injury case, regardless of their financial situation. It also aligns the attorney’s interests with the client’s. Because the lawyer is paid only if they recover compensation for the client, they have a direct incentive to pursue the best possible result.
Contingency fees also encourage attorneys to carefully evaluate cases before accepting them. In an hourly-fee arrangement, an attorney may take on any case for payment, regardless of the outcome. Alternatively, personal injury lawyers assume financial risk when they agree to work on a contingency basis. As a result, they typically focus on cases they believe have a realistic chance of recovering compensation. This gives clients an additional layer of reassurance about the strength of their personal injury case.
What Percentage Does KJSR Charge for Personal Injury Lawyer Fees?
Our firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. In most cases, we charge 33% of the final settlement or verdict.
For example, if we recover a $100,000 settlement on your behalf and our contingency fee is 33%, our fee would be $33,000. The remaining $67,000 would be distributed to you after addressing any outstanding medical liens.
While Connecticut law generally limits contingency fees using a sliding-scale structure, clients may waive those limits in qualifying cases. We routinely request these waivers in every medical malpractice case and many other particularly complex cases.
There are no upfront costs to work with our attorneys. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Does KJSR Handle?
Our attorneys represent injured individuals and their families throughout Connecticut in a wide range of practice areas, all on a contingency fee basis. If you or a loved one was injured because of someone else’s negligence, we can help you pursue personal injury compensation. We handle the following cases on a contingency fee basis:
I had the privilege of being represented by Mr. John Kennedy. He was someone I could trust to be honest and walk me through a difficult time. Taylor, his paralegal, took the time to explain each circumstance that came about. I appreciate the work that was done by Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Nelligan. I would recommend Attorney John Kennedy because of his integrity and genuine concern he showed to me. My experience with them was something I will never forget and will always be thankful for.
Shannon E.
Remarkable law firm! Attorney John Kennedy and his staff were professional and welcoming. If you need a lawyer, stop looking, you’ve found one of the best! He never stopped fighting for me as if though it was personal to him too! He’s straight forward with everything and definitely didn’t disappoint me with an outcome greater than I expected! If I were an attorney in need of a lawyer, this is the man I’d want in my corner time and time again, without a doubt!
Sophie A.
Handled my case with amazing expertise from start to finish. I took their advice at every turn and the end result was nothing less of exceptional. Very professional, nice office space and their Long Wharf location validates parking.
Nate H.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers Today at Kennedy Johnson
We offer free consultations where we can further explain personal injury lawyer fees. Our team is happy to answer your questions and explain how we can help with your case. Meeting with us costs nothing, carries no obligation, and can give you a clear understanding of your legal options.
Kennedy Johnson has been fighting for injured people throughout Connecticut for over 35 years. During that time, we’ve secured many significant settlements and verdicts following serious acts of negligence that harmed our clients and their loved ones. Because we work on a contingency-fee basis, you will benefit from our experience without upfront costs.
Let us advocate for you while you focus on recovering. Remember, we only get paid if we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us online or call 203-865-8430 to discuss your case with a member of our team today.
Personal Injury Lawyer Fees FAQs
Explore our answers to common questions about the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer in Connecticut.
What Happens if KJSR Doesn't Win My Case—Do I Still Owe Fees?
No. If our attorneys do not recover compensation for you, you don’t owe us any fees.
What Percentage of My Settlement Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Take in Connecticut?
The percentage can vary, but Connecticut law limits personal injury fees to a maximum of 33.33% of the first $300,000 recovered in a settlement or jury verdict.
Does the Contingency Fee Percentage Change if My Case Goes to Trial?
Possibly. Some law firms use one percentage if a case settles and a higher percentage if the case goes to trial. Other firms use the same percentage throughout the case. Our attorneys will explain how our personal injury fee structure works before you sign an agreement.
Can I Negotiate the Contingency Fee Percentage With My Attorney?
Potentially. While some firms use a standard contingency fee structure for all personal injury cases, others may be willing to discuss an alternative fee arrangement depending on the circumstances.
Is a 33% Contingency Fee Standard for Connecticut Personal Injury Cases?
Yes, generally. The 33% contingency fee is the maximum allowed percentage for the first tier of a recovery in Connecticut. Many firms use this maximum fee percentage.
What Is the Difference Between Attorney Fees and Case Expenses?
Attorney fees compensate the lawyer for the time they spent working on your case. In contrast, case expenses are the direct costs associated with pursuing the claim.
How Long Does It Take to Receive My Settlement After a Case Is Resolved?
Most injured people receive their settlement funds after all required paperwork is completed, the check clears, and any liens are resolved. This process may take several weeks to complete after finalizing a settlement agreement, but the exact timeline can vary.