When you're injured in a car crash, a slip and fall, or any kind of accident in Oregon, one of the first questions that crosses your mind is often, "How much is this going to cost me?" That's a fair and important concern. Legal services can seem intimidating, especially if you’re already overwhelmed with medical bills, lost wages, or the stress of dealing with an insurance company. At Dwyer Williams Cherkoss, we want to make this part simple.

Unlike many other law firms, we don’t charge by the hour. We don’t bill you every time we take your call or draft a document. Instead, we work on what’s called a contingency fee basis—and that’s a game-changer for our clients.

What Is a Contingency Fee?

A contingency fee means we only get paid if we win your case. If you don’t recover compensation, you don’t owe us anything. No upfront costs. No surprise invoices. We cover the costs of building your case—including investigations, filing fees, expert witnesses, and more—and we’re paid an attorney fee only when your case is resolved successfully.

In short, we don’t get paid unless you do.

This incentivizes us to fight hard for the highest possible settlement or verdict. Unlike hourly attorneys who might unnecessarily prolong a case so that they can bill more hours, our interests align with yours—we’re working toward the same goal of a maximized settlement obtained as efficiently as possible.

Why This Approach Works for Personal Injury Cases

Contingency fee arrangements are common in personal injury law for a reason: they make justice accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. We’ve seen firsthand how traumatic a serious injury can be—not just physically, but emotionally and financially. The last thing you need is to worry about coming up with money to pay a lawyer.

We’ve helped thousands of clients across Oregon recover compensation for a wide range of injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. Whether you were hurt in a traffic collision, injured at work, attacked by an animal, or suffered harm due to unsafe property conditions, we have the knowledge and experience to handle your case. Our team is committed to pursuing the maximum compensation while you focus on healing.

Hourly vs. Contingency: A Critical Difference

Let’s say you go to an attorney who charges $350 an hour. Every phone call, email, and document is billed in six-minute increments (0.1 hour blocks). Suddenly, a few simple conversations or meetings have racked up thousands of dollars in fees, with no guarantee of a favorable outcome.

At Dwyer Williams Cherkoss, our focus is on results, not hours billed. If we can reach a favorable outcome for your case quickly, that benefits you and us. That means we’re incentivized to resolve your case as efficiently and powerfully as possible, without cutting corners.

What Percentage Do Personal Injury Lawyers Take?

Typically, our fee is a percentage of the final settlement or court-awarded judgment. That percentage is agreed upon upfront and outlined in the agreement you sign when we begin working together. There are no hidden costs or surprise fees. And again—if we don’t win, you pay nothing.

This fee model is especially helpful when you’re facing substantial medical bills, property damage, and time away from work. Rather than drain your savings just to pursue your case, you can partner with an experienced Oregon personal injury attorney who only gets paid when you do.

How Contingency Fees Encourage Efficiency

We see it all the time: defense attorneys who charge by the hour drag cases out with unnecessary motions and discovery requests because it increases their billing. Since our fee is tied directly to results, we work the opposite way. We move swiftly, decisively, and with purpose.

That doesn’t mean we rush cases—we still build a strong, evidence-backed claim. But we’re constantly looking for the most efficient path to the outcome you deserve. Our team is designed to streamline the litigation process and minimize delays that don’t serve you.

Contingency Fees in Different Types of Personal Injury Cases

No two injury cases are alike. From auto accidents and workplace injuries to assaults and severe falls, each situation requires a unique legal strategy. Our contingency fee structure allows clients to pursue justice without risking their financial stability, no matter the type or complexity of their case.

We understand the nuances of Oregon personal injury law, and we tailor our approach based on the specific circumstances of your case. Whether your injuries were caused by negligent driving, unsafe property, or any other form of carelessness, we’re here to help.

Why Experience Matters in Contingency Cases

Because we don’t get paid unless we win, we have to be confident in the cases we take. That means we’ve developed a strong track record of identifying and litigating high-value claims. With decades of combined experience and thousands of successful verdicts and settlements, our firm is equipped to go toe-to-toe with the biggest insurance companies in the country.

We know how to document medical treatment, calculate lost wages, demonstrate pain and suffering, and challenge lowball settlement offers. And we do it while protecting your rights every step of the way.

Let’s Talk About Your Case

We offer free consultations, so you can understand your legal options without making any commitment. During your consultation, we’ll listen carefully to the details of your situation, explain your rights, and walk you through what working with us would look like.

There’s no cost to reach out—only the opportunity to take the first step toward justice.

Call Dwyer Williams Cherkoss today at (541) 617-0555 to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Oregon personal injury attorney. Let’s talk about your case and see how we can help you move forward with confidence and the greatest chance of success.