How is the lawyer reimbursed in a wrongful death lawsuit?
In a typical wrongful death action, an attorney will agree to take a contingency fee, which is a percentage of the total monetary award he or she obtains for you as a result of your case. This means that if the lawyer loses the case, he receives nothing. If the lawyer wins the case, the actual percentage he takes is generally between 20% and 50%, and may be limited by state laws.