The Industry Standard: Most injury law firms operating in Alberta use a “Graduated Contingency Fee” model. A graduated contingency fee means the law firm’s percentage of your compensation increases when the firm does more work as your case progresses. If your injury lawyer has to file a Statement of Claim, attend Questioning, or prepare for or go to trial, their fee jumps—sometimes to as high as 35% to 40%, or more.
Essentially, you are penalized because the law firm worked harder to resolve your claim.
The Joseph A. Nagy Standard: We don’t penalize our clients with graduated contingency fees. We have a Flat Contingency Fee. The percentage we agree upon at the start is the percentage you pay at the end, regardless of whether we settle early or fight for you all the way to the Court of King’s Bench. We represent people who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents in central and northern Alberta. Each of our lawyers has 20+ years of experience with all types of personal injuries arising from all types of auto accidents.
We don’t believe you should pay a higher rate just because the insurance company decides to be difficult, and we have to work harder to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
The table below shows how contingency fees typically increase as an injury claim moves closer to trial — even though the client did nothing wrong.
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Case Stage | Fee Justification Triggers | Industry Standard Fee (Experienced Lawyer) | Joseph A. Nagy Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | admin | 03/02/2026 11:06 AM | admin | 03/02/2026 11:06 AM | After Statement of Claim Filed
|
Injury Lawyer Risks
|
33% | 33% |
| 33 | admin | 03/02/2026 11:06 AM | admin | 03/02/2026 11:06 AM | After discoveries are completed
|
Injury Lawyer Risks
|
35% | 33% |
| 34 | admin | 03/02/2026 11:06 AM | admin | 03/02/2026 11:06 AM | After trial preparation begins
|
Injury Lawyer Risks
|
40% | 33% |
| 35 | admin | 03/02/2026 11:06 AM | admin | 03/02/2026 11:06 AM | If trial is completed
|
Injury Lawyer Risks
|
45% | 33% |
This example shows how much compensation a client keeps at each stage of a $250,000 injury claim under each fee model.
Please note:
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Injury Claim Stage | Industry Standard: Graduated Contingency (%) | Industry Standard: Contingency Fee ($) | GST ($) | Industry Standard: Total Contingency Fees (incl GST) | Industry Standard: Net Client Compensation ($) | Nagy Standard: Flat Contingency (%) | Nagy Standard: Contingency Fee ($) | GST ($) | Nagy Standard Total Contingency Fees (incl GST) | Nagy Standard: Net Client Compensation ($) | Nagy Standard: Net Client Savings ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | admin | 30/01/2026 10:57 AM | admin | 30/01/2026 12:34 PM | Statement of Claim Filed | 33% | 82,500 | 4,125 | 86,625 | 163,375 | 33% | 82,500 | 4,125 | 86,625 | 163,375 | $0 |
| 8 | admin | 30/01/2026 10:57 AM | admin | 30/01/2026 12:36 PM | Discoveries Completed | 35% | 87,500 | 4,375 | 91,875 | 158,125 | 33% | 82,500 | 4,125 | 86,625 | 163,375 | +$5250 |
| 9 | admin | 30/01/2026 10:57 AM | admin | 30/01/2026 12:36 PM | Trial Preparation | 40% | 100,000 | 5,000 | 105,000 | 145,000 | 33% | 82,500 | 4,125 | 86,625 | 163,375 | +$18,375 |
| 10 | admin | 30/01/2026 10:57 AM | admin | 30/01/2026 12:37 PM | Trial Completed | 45% | 112,500 | 5,625 | 118,125 | 131,875 | 33% | 82,500 | 4,125 | 86,625 | 163,375 | +$31,500 |
Percentages matter — but what you keep matters more.
We guarantee a knowledgeable and experienced injury lawyer will handle your injury claim from your first meeting until it’s successfully resolved.
Joseph A. Nagy Injury Law’s contingency fee means more money in your pocket!
