Those who have been injured in an accident due to another person's negligence regularly seek out the help of a qualified accident attorney. An accident attorney can provide legal counsel in order to help an injured person better understand what their legal options are. In addition, accident attorneys may represent injured persons in court cases involving an injury or accident. An accident attorney may charge a set hourly rate, a flat fee, or a retainer for their services. A retainer is an upfront advance payment, often put into an escrow account where payments can then be deducted. In many cases, an accident attorney may use a contingency structure. In this case, the attorney charges no advance fee, and instead takes a percentage of the settlement amount.