Law firms usually handle personal injury cases on what is called a contingency fee basis which means that the payment to the law firm is dependent upon getting a monetary recovery for the client. The firm then takes a percentage of the recovery which is usually 33 1/3 percent of the total amount recovered. When there is a recovery from the defendant for your injuries, not only does the lawyer want to get paid but so do the medical providers who have medical liens on the case. They want their cut of the recovery for the medical services they rendered to you for your injuries. With all these competing interests out to reduce your total recovery, I therefore take personal injury cases on a 30 percent contingency rate which puts more money in your pocket whenever there is a recovery.