When an airbag fails, deploys improperly, or explodes with metal shrapnel, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic. Victims often face emergency surgeries, permanent disabilities, lost income, and overwhelming medical bills. Many people hesitate to contact a lawyer because they believe they cannot afford legal representation.
That is exactly why contingency fee agreements exist.
Under a contingency fee arrangement, you do not pay any upfront costs or hourly attorney fees. Your lawyer is paid only if compensation is successfully recovered on your behalf. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fees.
At AirbagInjuries.com, airbag injury and product defect cases are handled on a contingency fee basis by Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer David P. Willis, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1988. With more than four decades of experience in complex product liability litigation, Willis is licensed in Texas and New York and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for individuals and families harmed by dangerous and defective products.
What Is a Contingency Fee Agreement?
A contingency fee agreement is a written contract between a client and an attorney stating that the attorney’s fee depends entirely on the outcome of the case. If your lawyer does not obtain a settlement or verdict in your favor, you do not owe attorney’s fees.
Instead of billing hourly, the attorney’s fee is calculated as a percentage of the recovery, as disclosed in the written contingency fee agreement and permitted by applicable state law. Case expenses are typically advanced by the law firm and reimbursed only if compensation is recovered.
This structure allows injured consumers to pursue claims against large corporations, manufacturers, and automakers without assuming financial risk.
Why Contingency Fees Matter in Airbag Injury Cases
Airbag defect cases are among the most complex product liability claims. These cases often involve:
- Engineering and metallurgical analysis
- Crash data retrieval and event data recorders
- Medical experts and life-care planners
- Accident reconstruction
- Manufacturer and supplier discovery across multiple entities
The cost of properly investigating and litigating an airbag case can reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. A contingency fee agreement ensures that injured victims are not forced to choose between financial survival and holding manufacturers accountable.
With a contingency fee arrangement, the legal team assumes the risk and advances the cost of litigation so clients can focus on medical treatment and recovery.
How Contingency Fees Differ from Defense Counsel Billing
Manufacturers, automakers, and insurers do not operate on contingency. Their defense attorneys are typically paid hourly — often hundreds or even thousands of dollars per hour — regardless of the outcome.
Those defense teams are financially rewarded for:
- delay
- extensive motion practice
- prolonged discovery
- litigation tactics designed to exhaust plaintiffs
By contrast, contingency-based attorneys are paid only if they succeed. That means your lawyer’s interests are directly aligned with yours: building the strongest case possible and maximizing recovery.
The Role of a Contingency Fee Lawyer in Airbag Defect Lawsuits
For decades, contingency fee agreements have allowed experienced trial lawyers to represent families injured by defective airbags. From the moment a case is accepted, the legal team begins critical work, including:
- Preserving Evidence
The vehicle, airbag module, inflator, sensors, and crash data must be secured immediately. Evidence loss can permanently destroy a case. - Identifying Responsible Parties
Liability may extend beyond the automaker to airbag manufacturers, component suppliers, distributors, and retailers. - Retaining Expert Witnesses
Engineers, medical specialists, and accident reconstruction experts are essential to proving defect and causation. - Litigation and Discovery
This includes document production, depositions of corporate witnesses, expert discovery, and motion practice. - Settlement Negotiations or Trial
While many cases resolve before trial, the firm must be prepared to present the case to a jury if necessary.
Common Questions About Contingency Fee Agreements
How much is the attorney’s fee?
Attorney fees are typically a percentage of the recovery and may vary depending on the complexity of the case, the stage of litigation, and applicable law. All terms are disclosed in writing before representation begins.
What happens if the case is unsuccessful?
If there is no recovery, you do not owe attorney’s fees. The firm absorbs the risk associated with investigating and litigating the case.
Are contingency fees ethical?
Yes. Contingency fees are approved and regulated by state bar authorities and are intended to ensure access to justice for individuals who could not otherwise afford legal representation.
Why Acting Quickly Is Critical
Airbag defect cases are time-sensitive. Evidence can be lost, airbag inflator removed, vehicles may be salvaged, and electronic crash data can be overwritten. In addition, statutes of limitations and notice requirements vary by state and may be as short as one year.
Delaying action can permanently bar a valid claim.
If you or a family member was injured by an airbag that failed, ruptured, or deployed improperly, it is important to speak with a qualified attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Why Choose a Board-Certified Airbag Injury Lawyer?
David P. Willis is a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1988, and a former attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas. He has represented individuals and families nationwide in complex product defect and catastrophic injury cases for more than 40 years.
With a contingency fee agreement, clients are not burdened with upfront costs while experienced trial counsel handles the legal fight.
There are no attorney’s fees unless compensation is recovered.
Free Case Review
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries from a defective airbag, metal shrapnel, or airbag deployment failure, call us for a free case review.
Call 1-866-AIRBAGS
or request a confidential, no-obligation case review.