--- title: "How Are Michigan Car Accident Lawyer Fees Determined?" url: https://callsam.com/blog/car-accident-lawyer-fees/ description: "Learn how Michigan car accident lawyer fees work, including contingency fees, case expenses, and why you pay nothing up front with a No Fee Guarantee®." lastModified: 2026-10-06 --- # How Are Michigan Car Accident Lawyer Fees Determined? Published: May 21, 2025 Hiring an experienced lawyer after a car accident can make a significant difference in a claim. Many people still hesitate because they fear the cost will be too high. Here is an overview of how [Michigan car accident lawyer](https://callsam.com/case-types/car-accidents/) fees work and why a [No Fee Guarantee®](https://callsam.com/the-no-fee-guarantee/) is important. ## DO I HAVE TO PAY MY MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER UP FRONT? No. Personal injury attorneys, including car accident lawyers, typically take cases on contingency. A contingency is something that is possible or likely, but not certain, to occur. In personal injury work, lawyers may believe a case is likely to succeed, but they cannot guarantee the outcome. Therefore, [Michigan car accident lawyers](https://callsam.com/case-types/car-accidents/) take cases contingent on the end result. This allows clients to obtain legal representation without paying a retainer up front. Attorneys who work on contingency do not collect their fees until the case is resolved and compensation is paid. Then the lawyer’s fees are deducted, along with any case expenses that accrued, and the client receives the remainder. ## HOW MUCH WILL MY MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER MAKE ON MY CASE? Contingency fees in personal injury and wrongful death cases are limited by [Michigan Court Rule 8.121](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_18), which generally caps the fee at one-third (33⅓ percent) of the recovery. For example, if an auto accident case settles for $300,000, the lawyer’s one-third fee would be $100,000, and the client would receive $200,000 minus any case-related expenses deducted under the fee agreement. Because the fee depends on the size of the recovery, [Michigan car accident lawyers](https://callsam.com/case-types/car-accidents/) have an incentive to pursue the maximum compensation available under the facts of the case. ## WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A CONTINGENCY FEE IN A MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENT CASE? Both clients and attorneys can benefit from a contingency fee agreement. Here are some of the advantages: - Seriously injured clients can hire a knowledgeable car accident lawyer without paying up-front costs or unaffordable hourly rates - Car accident lawyers who work on contingency are motivated to pursue the largest appropriate recovery - Clients typically do not have to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as obtaining and copying documents, postage, filing fees and expert witnesses until the case is resolved - Because car accident lawyers evaluate whether a case is viable, they can provide a realistic assessment of the claim - Experienced car accident attorneys help clients obtain [No-Fault benefits](https://callsam.com/michigan-no-fault-law/) such as lost wages, replacement services and medical coverage, and, when the law allows, noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering ## WILL I HAVE ANY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES? Most accident attorneys cover case expenses while the matter is ongoing and deduct those costs from the client’s compensation after the case is complete. Here is a list of common out-of-pocket expenses in a typical car accident case: - Filing fees - Mileage and travel expenses - Photocopying documents - Obtaining medical records - Expert witness fees - Postage - Investigators, when needed - Deposition costs ## WHAT IS THE BERNSTEIN NO FEE GUARANTEE®? For more than 50 years, our clients have trusted our [No Fee Guarantee®](https://callsam.com/the-no-fee-guarantee/). It’s a promise we made when our firm began and continue to uphold today. The terms are straightforward, and they apply to every case we take. We don’t get paid until we win. If you do not receive compensation after your case is resolved, neither do we. It’s that simple. Contact our experienced [Michigan car accident lawyers](https://callsam.com/case-types/car-accidents/) today to learn how we can help you and your family. ## WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK A MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER BEFORE SIGNING AN AGREEMENT? You should feel comfortable asking questions at any time during a case. It is a good idea to ask these questions before signing a contract or fee agreement: - Will you be handling my claim, or will it be assigned to another lawyer? - How long will it take to receive compensation? - What kind of settlement (or verdict) can I expect? - What out-of-pocket expenses will I be charged for? - Will I have to pay those expenses if my case is not successful? - What are the chances my case will go to trial? - Will a trial involve additional out-of-pocket expenses? ## CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS TODAY If you or a loved one is injured in a Michigan traffic crash, we can help. Our experienced car accident lawyers have the skills, knowledge and resources to build a case so you can pursue the compensation you deserve. Car accident law is complicated, but finding the right [Michigan car accident lawyer](https://callsam.com/case-types/car-accidents/) is simple. Get your case started today by filling out the brief form below or contacting us for a free, no-obligation consultation. ## Related Posts ### [Taking a Memorial Day Road Trip? How to Avoid a Car Accident on This Dangerous Driving Weekend](https://callsam.com/blog/memorial-day-car-accident/) ### [Michigan Car Seat Laws: What Every Parent Should Know](https://callsam.com/blog/michigan-car-seat-laws-what-every-parent-should-know/) ### [Michigan Has a New Flex Route Aimed at Lowering Car Accidents and Injuries](https://callsam.com/blog/flex-lane-reduces-michigan-car-accidents/) ### [Be Ghoulish… Not Foolish: Safety Tips for a Hazard-Free Halloween](https://callsam.com/blog/halloween-safety/) ### [Labor Day Safety Tips: How to Survive One of the Year's Most Dangerous Weekends](https://callsam.com/blog/labor-day-safety-tips/) ### [Are Golf Carts “Street Legal” on Michigan Roads?](https://callsam.com/blog/golf-carts-legal-michigan/) ### [Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Cover Non-Resident Drivers Involved in a Car Accident?](https://callsam.com/blog/michigan-no-fault-cover-non-resident-car-accidents/) ### [The Darker Side of Daylight Saving Time: What Every Driver Should Know](https://callsam.com/blog/daylight-saving-time-car-accident/) ### [Michigan Supreme Court Allows Full Medical Benefits for Victims Injured Before No-Fault Reforms](https://callsam.com/blog/michigan-supreme-court-full-medical-benefits/) ### [New Electronic Signs on I-94 Recommend Safe Speed Limits for Winter Drivers](https://callsam.com/blog/new-billboards-michigan-recommend-speed-limits/)