How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
- Texas Attorney
- Yale B.A. · University of Houston Law Center J.D.
- Habla español
- Updated October 1, 2026
At Suerken Law, nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee: the consultation is free, and you pay no attorney's fee unless we win money for you.
Tell me what happened
Jimmy reads every request himself and will be in touch with you shortly.
Contingency, in plain terms
You pay nothing up front. We are paid a percentage of what we recover for you, and only if we recover. No recovery, no attorney's fee. Texas requires a contingency agreement to be in writing, and you should read the whole thing before signing — with any firm.
The distinction that matters: fees versus case costs
These are two different things and conflating them is how people end up surprised at the end.
The attorney's fee is the percentage for legal work. Case costs are money spent moving the case forward: medical records, filing fees, deposition transcripts, court reporters, expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, mediation. In a case that gets litigated these can be significant.
The question to ask — of us and of anyone else you interview — is whether costs are deducted before or after the fee is calculated, because the order changes what lands in your pocket. Ask for it in writing, and ask what happens to costs if the case is lost.
Read these parts of any agreement
The percentage, and whether it increases if the case is filed or tried — a tiered structure is common and legitimate, but you should know the tiers. Who advances case costs. Whether costs come off the top or after the fee. What you owe if you terminate the agreement partway. Whether the firm can settle without your consent — it cannot; settlement authority is yours.
And whether medical liens and health-insurance subrogation come out of your share. Often they do, which is why the check you receive is smaller than the settlement figure. A good lawyer negotiates those liens down; that work is a real part of the value.
Why the structure exists
A serious injury case can take a year or more and cost real money to develop. Almost nobody can fund that hourly against an insurer that can. Contingency puts the risk on the firm, which also means we are selective — we take cases we believe in, and our interests and yours point the same direction.
What "free consultation" should mean
A real conversation about whether you have a case, what it depends on, what the deadlines are, and what is likely to happen — with no obligation and no pressure to sign on the call. If you leave a consultation knowing less than when you started, that tells you something.
Your next steps, and ours
Call Jimmy
713-600-6233The consultation is free and carries no obligation. You should come away knowing your deadlines and what your case turns on.
We explain fees versus costs
The attorney's fee, case costs, whether costs come off before or after the fee, and what happens to costs if the case is lost.
We walk through the agreement
It is in writing, as Texas requires. We go through every term, including any tiers, and settlement authority stays with you.
We negotiate your liens down
Medical liens and health-plan subrogation often come out of your share. Getting them reduced is a real part of the value.
If someone else's negligence put you here, we take it from here
Car Accidents
Rear-endings, intersection crashes, uninsured drivers, hit-and-runs — in Houston, El Paso, and everywhere in between.
Truck & 18-Wheeler Crashes
Federal regulations, black-box data, driver logs, multiple insurers. We move fast to preserve evidence before it disappears.
Work Accidents
Hurt on the job for a non-subscriber employer, or injured by a third party at a job site? Texas gives you real options.
Wrongful Death
When the worst happens, we pursue accountability for surviving families with the care and seriousness it deserves.
¿Lastimado en un accidente? Hablemos — en español.
La consulta es gratis y confidencial. No paga nada a menos que ganemos su caso. Jimmy se comunicará con usted en breve. ¿Sin papeles? Usted tiene derechos.
Every day you wait, evidence disappears and the insurer gets ahead. One free call. Straight answers about your case — in English or Spanish. If you need a fighter, you'll have one, from the first call to the last check.