“We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win”: What That Really Means for Injury Victims
You’ve seen the billboards. You’ve heard the radio jingles. And if you’ve ever looked up a personal injury lawyer, chances are you’ve come across the phrase:
“We don’t get paid unless we win.”
At first glance, this sounds like an incredible deal for injury victims—and in many ways, it is. Contingency fee arrangements are a powerful tool that open the doors of justice to people who might not otherwise be able to afford a lawyer. But like many things in life, the reality behind this phrase is a little more complicated. Because what really matters isn’t whether a lawyer “wins”—it’s how much they win, how hard they work for you, and how well they understand what your case is worth.
Let’s break down what this phrase means, and more importantly, what it doesn’t.
The Truth Behind “Winning” in Injury Law
When personal injury lawyers say, “We don’t get paid unless we win,” what they usually mean is that their fee is contingent on recovering money for you. If they don’t recover anything, they don’t get paid.
But here’s the catch: most cases result in some type of recovery. The real question isn’t whether your lawyer gets you something—it’s whether they fight to get you everything you deserve.
Settling a case for $5,000 may technically be a “win,” but if the case is actually worth $50,000 and your lawyer never pushed back against the insurance company’s first offer, who really won?
Why the Lawyer You Hire Makes All the Difference
Insurance companies know who they’re dealing with. They track law firms just like law firms track verdicts. If your lawyer is known for settling early and cheaply, that reputation follows them—and affects the offers you’ll get.
On the other hand, when a lawyer is known for preparing every case as if it’s going to trial, for refusing to accept lowball offers, and for taking verdicts when necessary, insurance companies take notice.
Those lawyers get better offers.
Their clients get better outcomes.
And it’s not by chance—it’s because they’ve earned the respect (and sometimes the fear) of the insurance industry.
The “Trial-Ready” Advantage
Being trial-ready doesn’t mean every case goes to trial. In fact, most don’t. But it means your lawyer approaches your case with the mindset that they might need to prove it in court.
That changes everything.
- They’ll take time to investigate thoroughly.
- They’ll retain the right experts early—whether that’s in accident reconstruction, life care planning, or medical causation.
- They’ll take depositions strategically, building your case block by block.
- They’ll develop visual aids and exhibits to tell your story to a jury—even if that jury never sees them, the insurance company will.
This level of preparation doesn’t just “win” cases—it maximizes them.
Digging Into the Numbers: Contingency Fees Explained
Let’s talk dollars and cents. Contingency fees typically range from 33% to 40%, depending on the firm and the stage of the case. Some firms advertise lower fees—25%, for example—as a way to attract clients.
But there’s an important question you need to ask: What are you getting for that fee?
If a lawyer charges 25% but accepts the first offer from the insurance company without investigating or litigating, you might walk away with far less than you deserve—even though the fee was smaller.
Compare that to a lawyer who charges 40%, but spends a year building your case, consulting experts, pushing hard in negotiations, and ultimately doubles or triples the value of the settlement. You end up with more money in your pocket—even after paying a higher percentage.
This is the difference between cost and value.
It reminds me of a story my dad used to tell about hiring contractors: You can pick two out of three—Cheap, Good, or Fast. If you want Cheap and Fast, it’s not going to be Good. If you want Good and Fast, it’s not going to be Cheap. And if you want Good and Cheap, it’s not going to be Fast.
The same logic applies here. A lower fee might seem appealing on paper, but if it comes at the expense of a thorough case strategy and meaningful results, it could cost you far more in the long run.
Not All “Wins” Are Created Equal
Let’s look at a few examples that illustrate how drastically outcomes can differ depending on your lawyer’s approach:
- Case A: A client is offered $12,000 by an insurance company shortly after a car wreck. Their lawyer takes the offer, deducts a 25% fee, and the client nets $9,000.
- Case B: A different client with similar injuries hires a firm that files suit, hires a medical expert, and takes depositions. The insurance company increases the offer to $45,000. After a 40% fee, the client nets $27,000.
Same injury. Very different outcomes. And it all comes down to strategy, reputation, and effort.
Evaluating a Lawyer’s Track Record
If you’re choosing a lawyer after a serious injury, one of the smartest questions you can ask is:
“Do you take cases to trial?”
Look at their verdicts and settlements. Ask about similar cases they’ve handled. Find out whether they prepare each case like it might go to trial—or if they mostly settle and move on.
Insurance companies aren’t afraid of slogans. They’re afraid of results.
A lawyer with a history of courtroom success will put real pressure on the other side—and that pressure translates to leverage.
What About the “Big Settlements” You See Advertised?
We’ve all seen the ads:
“$1 Million Recovered!”
“$750,000 Settlement!”
But these numbers don’t tell the whole story. Was that recovery based on a serious, permanent injury—or something more minor? Did the lawyer have to fight tooth and nail to get it, or did it come easily? And most importantly, how much of that money actually ended up in the client’s hands?
Transparency matters. And in our firm, we believe in giving clients the full picture—not just the shiny headline.
Why Our Philosophy Is Different
At Geiger Legal Group, we don’t measure success by how fast we settle a case—we measure it by how fairly our clients are treated. We prepare every case like it’s going to trial, even if we settle it. We hire the right experts. We dig into the evidence. We take time to understand your story and tell it well.
That approach takes more time. It requires more investment. And yes, our contingency fee might be higher than firms that settle fast.
But our clients get the full value of their case. And in the end, that’s what matters most.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Lawyer Is One of the Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make
If you’ve been injured and are considering hiring a lawyer, ask deeper questions. Don’t be lured in by catchy slogans or low percentages. Ask:
- Will this lawyer take time to understand my case?
- Will they challenge low offers?
- Do they have a track record of strong verdicts?
- Will they treat my case like it matters—because it does?
“We don’t get paid unless we win” is just the beginning. The real question is: How hard will your lawyer work to make sure you win big?
At Geiger Legal Group, we’re here to fight for the outcome you deserve—not just the first offer you
