Accident or personal injury lawyers are frequently consulted in the case of negligent accidents. Attorney fees may be set at an hourly rate, or a flat fee for services may be assessed. In other cases, a retainer, or advance payment, may be paid. Another common way that accidents attorneys are paid for their services is through a contingency structure. In this case, the attorney charges no fees until the accident case is settled. Upon settlement, the attorney will then take a percentage of the settlement amount as his or her fee for services rendered. A contingency structure is often used by personal injury attorneys, who may pursue an injury case in a court of law or settle the case for a lump sum, thereby avoiding a lengthy and stressful trial.