Michael Schafle, Esq.Do mesothelioma lawyers in Lower Burrell work on a contingency fee?
Yes. Mesothelioma lawyers in Lower Burrell work on a contingency fee, meaning $0 upfront and a fee (usually 33-40%) paid only from a recovery. Michael Schafle, Esq. visits families at home or bedside from Braeburn to Bon Aire, so no one travels while sick.
| Fee item | What it means for the client |
|---|---|
| Upfront payment | $0 - nothing paid to start the case |
| Attorney fee | 33% to 40% of the recovery, paid only if money is won |
| Case costs (records, filing, experts) | Advanced by the firm, repaid from the recovery |
| If there is no recovery | $0 attorney fee owed |
| Hourly billing | None - contingency cases are not billed by the hour |
| Signing location | Home or hospital visit across Westmoreland County |
Contingency fee structure for a Lower Burrell mesothelioma case
What is a contingency fee for a mesothelioma lawyer in Lower Burrell?
A contingency fee ties the lawyer's pay to the result. The client pays nothing to begin and nothing by the hour. The attorney fee, typically 33% to 40% of the recovery, is deducted only when a settlement or verdict comes in. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission describes a contingency fee as a percentage the lawyer receives only if the case is won, which is why an asbestos client in Lower Burrell can start a case while facing medical bills on a shortened timeline.
Lower Burrell contingency fees run 33% to 40% of the recovery
Mesothelioma contingency fees in Pennsylvania commonly land between 33% and 40% of the amount recovered. The exact percentage is set in the written fee agreement before any work begins, and Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5 requires that fee to be reasonable and the contingency terms to be in writing. A one-third fee on a recovery leaves the client with two-thirds before case costs; the percentage does not change based on how many hours the case takes.
Case costs are advanced by the firm and repaid from the recovery
Attorney fees and case costs are two separate things. Case costs cover medical records, court filing fees, deposition transcripts, and expert reports, and these are advanced upfront by the firm in a contingency case. They are repaid out of the recovery, after or alongside the fee, as spelled out in the written agreement. If the case does not recover money, a client is not asked to repay advanced costs. The American Bar Association's guidance on lawyer fees explains this separation of fee versus expenses.
No recovery means no attorney fee for the client
The defining feature of contingency is the client owes no attorney fee if the case recovers nothing. This removes the fear behind the objection 'I can't afford a lawyer right now.' A retired tradesman in Burrell Heights or a surviving spouse in Montana can pursue an asbestos claim without pulling from savings or a fixed pension. The fee exists only if money is secured, which aligns the lawyer's work with the family's outcome.
Asbestos trust funds and lawsuits are both handled under one contingency fee
Recovery for mesothelioma can come from asbestos bankruptcy trust funds, from a lawsuit against solvent companies, or from both. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has documented that these asbestos trust funds hold billions set aside for exposed workers. A single contingency agreement typically covers the full effort - trust claims and litigation together - so the client does not sign separate fee deals for each path, and the percentage applies to the combined recovery.
Proving decades-old exposure does not add to the client's cost
Proving an asbestos job from the 1960s or 1970s is built into the contingency fee, not billed extra. Investigators reconstruct exposure using union records, plant histories, co-worker statements, and product identification. The National Cancer Institute confirms mesothelioma is caused overwhelmingly by asbestos exposure, and the OSHA asbestos standard documents where that exposure occurred on industrial jobs. For a Lower Burrell worker who suspects a specific plant or trade, this investigation is part of the service the fee covers.
Lower Burrell specifics
Lower Burrell sits in Westmoreland County along the Allegheny River, minutes from New Kensington, Arnold, and the old Alcoa aluminum operations. Many local asbestos exposures trace to the aluminum plants, the river mills, powerhouses, and the pipefitting, insulation, boilermaker, and electrical trades that worked them through the 1960s and 1970s. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics records these as historically high-asbestos occupations. A contingency fee matters here because the typical client is a retired tradesman or his spouse, age 60-plus, living on a fixed income in Braeburn, Hahntown, Bon Aire, Montana, Mamont, Markle, Pleasant Hills, or Burrell Heights. Pennsylvania's two-year statute of limitations for asbestos claims, confirmed in 42 Pa. C.S. 5524, generally runs from diagnosis, so the start date of the clock is specific to each family. Home and bedside visits across the county mean a sick client never travels to an office to sign. Michael Schafle, Esq. handles these cases on contingency, and the fee terms are put in writing and explained in plain language before anything starts - the details are laid out further on our mesothelioma claim page.
Related questions
How much does a mesothelioma lawyer cost in Lower Burrell?
$0 upfront. The fee is a contingency percentage, usually 33% to 40%, taken only from a recovery - no hourly billing and nothing owed if the case recovers nothing.
Who pays the case costs in a Lower Burrell mesothelioma claim?
The firm advances case costs - records, filing fees, expert reports - and is repaid from the recovery. If there is no recovery, the client is not asked to repay them.
How long do I have to file a mesothelioma claim in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania generally allows two years from the date of diagnosis under 42 Pa. C.S. 5524. The exact deadline depends on your diagnosis date, so timing is confirmed case by case.
Can a mesothelioma lawyer come to my home or hospital in Lower Burrell?
Yes. Home and hospital visits are offered across Westmoreland County, including New Kensington and Arnold, so a sick client never has to travel to an office to sign documents.
Do I need to know exactly where my asbestos exposure happened?
No. Investigators reconstruct exposure using union records, plant histories, and co-worker statements. Identifying the specific job is part of the contingency service, not an extra cost.