Many personal injury lawyers, including those who specialize in slip and fall accidents, take cases on a contingency basis. This means that even if you don’t have funds to spare, you can still hire a lawyer. In exchange, the lawyer gets a percentage of your settlement—only if you win the trial or get a settlement out of court. This is sometimes called “no win, no fee.”

The standard fee is usually one third (33.33 percent) of the settlement. You can try to negotiate with your attorney for a lower contingency fee. Or your lawyer may ask for up to 40 percent, depending on the complexity of the case.

Remember, your lawyer shoulders building your case, negotiating with the defendants, and presenting your case to the judge out of his own pocket, and only gets paid if you win. Some trials also last several days, while preparations for the trial take much longer.

Another option is to pay a lawyer per hour. This can range from $50-$600 per hour or a flat rate for the entirety of the case. You have to shoulder all case-related expenses in this kind of arrangement, but you will get to keep the entirety of your settlement if you win.