--- title: "How Much Does a Denver Bike Accident Lawyer Charge? Contingency Fees" description: "Denver bike accident lawyers work on contingency: nothing up front, no fee without a recovery. The typical Colorado percentage range, what the fee agreement must say, and what to ask." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "LegalService", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#organization", "name": "Colorado Brain Injury & Bike Crash Attorneys | Bike Brain Law", "description": "Colorado brain injury and cycling accident attorneys serving Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and statewide. Specialized TBI representation. Free consultation. Call 303.831.1116.", "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com", "image": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/og-image.png" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/how-much-does-a-denver-bike-accident-lawyer-charge-contingency#blogposting", "isPartOf": { "@type": "Blog", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog#blog", "name": "Bike Brain Law Blog" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/how-much-does-a-denver-bike-accident-lawyer-charge-contingency" }, "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/how-much-does-a-denver-bike-accident-lawyer-charge-contingency", "headline": "How Much Does a Denver Bike Accident Lawyer Charge on Contingency?", "name": "How Much Does a Denver Bike Accident Lawyer Charge on Contingency?", "description": "Nothing up front, and no fee unless there is a recovery. Here is the typical Colorado percentage range, what the law requires the fee agreement to say, why costs are a separate question, and what to ask before you sign.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/how-much-does-a-denver-bike-accident-lawyer-charge-contingency#primaryimage", "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_039.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_039.jpg", "caption": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo of Bike Brain Law", "description": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo of Bike Brain Law", "representativeOfPage": true }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/how-much-does-a-denver-bike-accident-lawyer-charge-contingency#primaryimage", "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_039.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_039.jpg", "caption": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo of Bike Brain Law", "description": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo of Bike Brain Law", "representativeOfPage": true }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_039.jpg", "datePublished": "2026-08-27T15:00:00.000Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-27T15:00:00.000Z", "inLanguage": "en-US", "articleSection": "Bike Injury", "keywords": "Bike Injury, Colorado, personal injury, TBI, cycling accident", "timeRequired": "PT3M", "articleBody": "Most Denver bike accident lawyers, including Bike Brain Law, work on contingency. You pay nothing up front. The fee is a percentage of what is recovered, paid at the end of the case out of the settlement or verdict. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. The percentage is the part people want to know and few firms publish. In Colorado, personal injury contingency fees commonly run from one third of the recovery for a case that settles before a lawsuit is filed to 40 percent once a lawsuit is filed, with a higher percentage if the case is appealed. The exact number is set in the fee agreement, and it should be the first thing you read. What the fee agreement has to say in Colorado Colorado requires every contingent fee agreement to be in writing and signed by the client. Under Colorado Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c), the agreement has to state the percentage or percentages that apply at each stage (settlement, trial, appeal), which litigation costs will be deducted from the recovery, and whether those costs come out before or after the fee is calculated. At the end of the case the attorney has to give you a written closing statement showing the recovery, the fee, the costs, and what you receive. If an attorney hands you a one page agreement that says \"one third\" and nothing else, that is a red flag. Read the scope section too. Here is what the agreement needs to say about litigation and trial. Costs are not the fee This is where people get surprised. The fee is the attorney's percentage. Costs are what it takes to build the case: the police report, medical records, filing fees, deposition transcripts, and expert witnesses. In a brain injury case the expert costs alone can run into five figures. Firms handle costs differently. Some advance every cost and repay themselves from the recovery. Some deduct costs before the percentage is applied, some after, and the difference on a large recovery is real money. Some hold the client responsible for costs even if the case is lost. Colorado's rule requires the agreement to spell this out, so ask, and make sure the answer is on paper before you sign. Why a percentage instead of an hourly rate A brain injury or bike crash client usually cannot afford to pay a lawyer by the hour while they are also missing work and paying medical bills. Contingency shifts the risk to the attorney. It also aligns the incentive: the attorney only does well if the client does. The trade is that a contingency lawyer has to be selective. A firm that takes every case cannot afford to try any of them. That selectivity is worth asking about. If a firm says yes to you in the first five minutes without asking about the crash, the injuries, or the insurance, ask why. Why the percentage goes up in litigation A case that settles after a demand letter takes weeks of work. A case that goes into litigation takes a year or more of discovery, depositions, expert preparation, and motions, and the attorney fronts all of it. The higher litigation percentage reflects that, and it is also the reason a lawyer who names trial in the agreement has more leverage with the insurer than one who does not. Colorado's comparative negligence rule is one of the main reasons bike cases end up in litigation: insurers push fault onto the cyclist, and sometimes the only way to answer that is in front of a jury. Questions to ask before you sign What is the percentage at each stage? Are costs deducted before or after the fee? Who pays costs if we lose? Does the fee change if you refer my case to another firm? Will I get a written closing statement? Any attorney who hesitates on those has told you something. How this plays out at Bike Brain Law Bike Brain Law works on contingency. There is nothing to pay up front, the fee comes out of the recovery, and the initial consultation is free with no obligation. The fee agreement is in writing, it covers negotiation and trial, and every question above gets a plain answer at the first meeting. Call 303.831.1116 for a free consultation.", "commentCount": 0, "additionalProperty": [ { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "readingTime", "value": "3 min read", "unitText": "minutes", "unitCode": "MIN" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "wordCount", "unitText": "words" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "characterCount", "value": 4037, "unitText": "characters" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "headingCount", "value": 6 }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "paragraphCount", "value": 12 }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "listCount", "value": 0 } ], "author": { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#dan-dangelo", "name": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo", "jobTitle": "Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist", "description": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo founded D'Angelo Law Office, P.C. in 2009 and Bike Brain Law to focus exclusively on traumatic brain injury and cycling injury cases in Colorado. An avid cyclist himself, Dan combines deep TBI science knowledge with hands-on cycling experience to build winning cases against insurance companies and corporations that put profits over safety.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_square_076.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_square_076.jpg", "caption": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo" }, "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#about", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#organization" } }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#organization" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://bikebrainlaw.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "How Much Does a Denver Bike Accident Lawyer Charge on Contin", "item": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/how-much-does-a-denver-bike-accident-lawyer-charge-contingency" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer" } }, { "@type": "Question", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer" } }, { "@type": "Question", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer" } } ] } ] --- [![Bike Brain Law](/assets/logo-white-CuISKEAM.webp)](/)[303.831.1116](tel:3038311116) Practice Areas Practice Areas - [Brain Injury Focused brain injury representation backed by science, trial experience, and real results. ](/practice-areas/traumatic-brain-injury) - [Cycling Accidents An avid cyclist who fights for injured riders across Colorado. ](/practice-areas/cycling-accidents) - [Bicycle Product Liability Holding manufacturers accountable when defective bike parts cause injuries. ](/practice-areas/bicycle-product-liability) Resources - [Insights & Guides ](/blog) - [Case Results ](/results) - Our Process - FAQs Service Areas - [Denver](/service-areas/denver) - [Boulder](/service-areas/boulder) - [Fort Collins](/service-areas/fort-collins) - [Golden](/service-areas/golden) - [Colorado Springs](/service-areas/colorado-springs) - [Aurora](/service-areas/aurora) Featured [ ![Attorney Dan D'Angelo](/assets/dan-dangelo-headshot-DJ4GY3yR.jpg) Meet Attorney Dan D'Angelo Trial lawyer, trusted brain injury advocate, avid cyclist. Learn more ](/) Free consultation · No fee unless we win. Talk to Dan AboutTestimonials[Results](/results)FAQsContact[Insights & Guides](/blog)Free Consultation [](tel:3038311116) [All articles](/blog) [Bike Injury](/blog/bike-injury)· August 27, 2026· 3 min read # How Much Does a Denver Bike Accident Lawyer Charge on Contingency? Nothing up front, and no fee unless there is a recovery. Here is the typical Colorado percentage range, what the law requires the fee agreement to say, why costs are a separate question, and what to ask before you sign. ![Dan D'Angelo](/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_square_076.jpg) By Attorney Dan D'Angelo Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist ![Attorney Dan D'Angelo of Bike Brain Law](/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_039.jpg) Most Denver bike accident lawyers, including Bike Brain Law, work on contingency. You pay nothing up front. The fee is a percentage of what is recovered, paid at the end of the case out of the settlement or verdict. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. The percentage is the part people want to know and few firms publish. In Colorado, personal injury contingency fees commonly run from one third of the recovery for a case that settles before a lawsuit is filed to 40 percent once a lawsuit is filed, with a higher percentage if the case is appealed. The exact number is set in the fee agreement, and it should be the first thing you read. ## What the fee agreement has to say in Colorado Colorado requires every contingent fee agreement to be in writing and signed by the client. Under Colorado Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c), the agreement has to state the percentage or percentages that apply at each stage (settlement, trial, appeal), which litigation costs will be deducted from the recovery, and whether those costs come out before or after the fee is calculated. At the end of the case the attorney has to give you a written closing statement showing the recovery, the fee, the costs, and what you receive. Related from Bike Brain Law - [Cycling Accident Claims Representing Colorado cyclists hit by negligent drivers. ](/#practice-areas) - [Bike Crash FAQs Common questions after a cycling collision in Colorado. ](/#faqs) - [Why Choose Bike Brain Law An attorney who rides and knows TBI science. ](/#about) Free, confidential case review ### Injured in a cycling crash in Colorado? Talk directly with Attorney Dan D'Angelo for a free consultation with zero obligation to find out where you stand. [Get My Free Consultation](/#contact) [303.831.1116](tel:3038311116) If an attorney hands you a one page agreement that says "one third" and nothing else, that is a red flag. Read the scope section too. [Here is what the agreement needs to say about litigation and trial](https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/denver-bike-accident-attorney-negotiate-insurers-trial). ## Costs are not the fee This is where people get surprised. The fee is the attorney's percentage. Costs are what it takes to build the case: the police report, medical records, filing fees, deposition transcripts, and expert witnesses. In a brain injury case the expert costs alone can run into five figures. Firms handle costs differently. Some advance every cost and repay themselves from the recovery. Some deduct costs before the percentage is applied, some after, and the difference on a large recovery is real money. Some hold the client responsible for costs even if the case is lost. Colorado's rule requires the agreement to spell this out, so ask, and make sure the answer is on paper before you sign. ## Why a percentage instead of an hourly rate A brain injury or bike crash client usually cannot afford to pay a lawyer by the hour while they are also missing work and paying medical bills. Contingency shifts the risk to the attorney. It also aligns the incentive: the attorney only does well if the client does. The trade is that a contingency lawyer has to be selective. A firm that takes every case cannot afford to try any of them. That selectivity is worth asking about. If a firm says yes to you in the first five minutes without asking about the crash, the injuries, or the insurance, ask why. ## Why the percentage goes up in litigation A case that settles after a demand letter takes weeks of work. A case that goes into litigation takes a year or more of discovery, depositions, expert preparation, and motions, and the attorney fronts all of it. The higher litigation percentage reflects that, and it is also the reason a lawyer who names trial in the agreement has more leverage with the insurer than one who does not. [Colorado's comparative negligence rule](https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/colorado-comparative-negligence-bicycle-accident-claims) is one of the main reasons bike cases end up in litigation: insurers push fault onto the cyclist, and sometimes the only way to answer that is in front of a jury. ## Questions to ask before you sign What is the percentage at each stage? Are costs deducted before or after the fee? Who pays costs if we lose? Does the fee change if you refer my case to another firm? Will I get a written closing statement? Any attorney who hesitates on those has told you something. ## How this plays out at Bike Brain Law Bike Brain Law works on contingency. There is nothing to pay up front, the fee comes out of the recovery, and the initial consultation is free with no obligation. The fee agreement is in writing, it covers negotiation and trial, and every question above gets a plain answer at the first meeting. Call 303.831.1116 for a free consultation. ## Frequently Asked Questions ## Have a question about your case? Attorney Dan D'Angelo offers free consultations for brain injury and cycling accident victims throughout Colorado. [Free Consultation](/#contact) [303.831.1116](tel:3038311116) ![Dan D'Angelo](/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_square_076.jpg) About the Author ### Attorney Dan D'Angelo Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist Attorney Dan D'Angelo founded D'Angelo Law Office, P.C. in 2009 and Bike Brain Law to focus exclusively on traumatic brain injury and cycling injury cases in Colorado. An avid cyclist himself, Dan combines deep TBI science knowledge with hands-on cycling experience to build winning cases against insurance companies and corporations that put profits over safety. - Practicing Colorado personal injury attorney since 2009 - Focused practice in TBI and bicycle injury litigation - Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for injury victims - Avid road and commuter cyclist ## Related articles [ ![Dan D'Angelo of Bike Brain Law on his bike in Denver](/images/content/dan-on-spyder-bike.jpg) #### Can a Denver Bike Accident Attorney Negotiate With Insurers and Take My Case to Trial? ](/blog/denver-bike-accident-attorney-negotiate-insurers-trial)[ ![Cyclist riding in a designated bike lane in Denver](/images/content/img_1005.jpg) #### How Does Colorado's Comparative Negligence Rule Affect a Bicycle Accident Claim? ](/blog/colorado-comparative-negligence-bicycle-accident-claims)[ ![Cyclist riding on a Colorado road](/images/content/img_1790.jpg) #### What Evidence Do Denver Cyclists Need to Prove Driver Negligence After a Collision? ](/blog/evidence-denver-cyclists-need-to-prove-driver-negligence) [![Bike Brain Law](/assets/logo-white-CuISKEAM.webp)](/) Colorado's dedicated brain injury and cycling accident attorney. Serving Denver and communities across Colorado. 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