You Pay Nothing Unless We Win. Full Stop.
This is the most common question people are afraid to ask, and it has the simplest answer in all of personal injury law: hiring a Michigan personal injury attorney costs you nothing out of pocket. Every reputable personal injury firm in Michigan works on a contingency fee basis. That means the attorney's fee is a percentage of your recovery. If you win, the attorney gets paid from the settlement or verdict. If you lose, you owe the attorney nothing. Not a dollar. Not for their time, not for their expenses, not for anything.
How the Percentages Work
The standard contingency fee in Michigan personal injury cases is 33.33% (one-third) if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed. If a lawsuit is filed, the percentage typically increases to 40% to account for the significantly greater time, expense, and risk involved in litigation. Some firms use a sliding scale — for example, 33% pre-suit, 40% after filing, and sometimes a higher percentage if the case goes to trial. At Koussan Law, we are transparent about our fee structure from the first conversation. There are no surprises.
What About Costs and Expenses?
Separate from the attorney's fee, every personal injury case involves costs — filing fees, expert witness fees, medical record retrieval, court reporter fees, accident reconstruction, and other litigation expenses. Different firms handle costs differently. Some firms advance all costs and deduct them from your recovery at the end. Others require you to pay costs as they arise. And the order of deduction matters: whether costs are deducted before or after the attorney's percentage can mean thousands of dollars difference to you. At Koussan Law, we advance all costs — you never pay a dime out of pocket during the case.
Why Free Consultations Are Not a Gimmick
Every personal injury firm offers free initial consultations, and people sometimes wonder what the catch is. There is no catch. The consultation is where the attorney evaluates your case and you evaluate the attorney. The firm invests 30 to 60 minutes assessing whether your case has merit and whether they want to take it on. You invest the same time deciding whether you trust this attorney with your case. Both sides are making a business decision. The consultation costs you nothing because the attorney is investing in a potential relationship that will only pay off if they deliver results.
What You Should Never Pay
Be wary of any personal injury attorney who asks for money upfront. A retainer fee is standard for hourly legal work (business litigation, criminal defense, divorce) but has no place in a contingency-fee personal injury case. If someone asks you to pay before they start working your injury case, that is a red flag. Similarly, if a firm asks you to sign a contract that requires you to pay their fees even if you fire them or lose, read that contract very carefully and consider getting a second opinion.
The Real Cost of Not Hiring a Lawyer
Studies consistently show that personal injury victims represented by attorneys recover significantly more than those who handle claims alone — even after the attorney's fee is deducted. Insurance companies know that unrepresented claimants accept lower offers. The adjuster's first offer to someone without a lawyer is often 10 to 30% of what the case is actually worth. One-third of a $300,000 settlement is $200,000 in your pocket. One hundred percent of a $50,000 lowball offer is $50,000. The math is not close.
Call Koussan Law at (313) 800-0000 for a free consultation. You will never receive a bill from us unless we put money in your pocket first.
