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No fee unless we win.

How it works

YOUR CASE, STEP BY STEP.

Most people have never hired a trial lawyer before. We walk you through every phase so you always know where your case stands — and what comes next.

The process

8 PHASES FROM INJURY TO RESOLUTION.

Every case is different. Not every phase applies to every client. What never changes: we prepare every case as if it's going to trial.

  1. 01

    Free Case Review

    Same day

    Tell us what happened. We give you a candid assessment the same day -- always free, always confidential. We tell you upfront whether we think you have a strong case, a weak case, or something in between.

  2. 02

    Investigation Begins

    Within hours

    If we take your case, investigators are on the road within hours. We issue preservation letters to lock down surveillance footage, black box data, and phone records before they disappear.

  3. 03

    Medical Coordination

    Ongoing

    We connect you with treating physicians and specialists who understand injury documentation. Properly documented treatment is the foundation of full compensation.

  4. 04

    Liability Build

    Weeks 2-8

    Accident reconstructionists, engineering experts, and forensic accountants build the liability and damages case. Every dollar of past and future harm is documented and supported.

  5. 05

    Demand Package

    At MMI

    When treatment is complete and damages are finalized, we send a comprehensive demand package. Strong documentation and our known trial record push insurers toward fair offers.

  6. 06

    Negotiation

    Weeks 1-4 post-demand

    We negotiate from a position of strength. If the insurer's offer is reasonable, we'll tell you. If it's not, we tell them so in writing and prepare the case for filing.

  7. 07

    Lawsuit & Discovery

    If needed

    If they won't be fair, we file. Discovery -- depositions, document requests, expert disclosures -- is where we turn their own records against them. This is where experience matters most.

  8. 08

    Trial or Final Settlement

    Resolution

    The majority of filed cases settle before trial because the insurer knows we'll try it. For those that go all the way, our trial record speaks for itself.

Division of responsibility

WHAT WE HANDLE. WHAT YOU FOCUS ON.

We handle

EVERYTHING LEGAL

  • Investigation and evidence preservation
  • All communication with insurers
  • Expert retention and coordination
  • Medical record collection and review
  • Demand package preparation
  • Negotiation strategy and execution
  • Filing and litigation (if needed)
  • Trial preparation and trial
  • Settlement disbursement and lien negotiation

You focus on

GETTING BETTER

  • Follow all medical treatment plans
  • Keep a daily pain and symptom journal
  • Photograph injuries as they heal
  • Save all medical bills and receipts
  • Track lost workdays and income
  • Do not post about the accident on social media
  • Do not speak to the other side's insurer
  • Let us know about any changes in condition

Fees

YOU PAY NOTHING UNLESS WE WIN.

A contingency fee agreement means our legal fee is a percentage of the recovery we obtain for you. If we do not win, you owe us nothing -- not for our time, not for our expenses, not for anything. This aligns our interests completely with yours: we only get paid when you get paid, and we get paid more when you get more. Our standard contingency rate is 33.3% of the gross recovery for pre-suit settlements, and 40% if a lawsuit is filed. We discuss this in full at your free initial consultation before you sign anything.

What about case expenses?

We advance all case expenses -- expert fees, court costs, deposition costs. These are reimbursed from the settlement, not billed to you upfront.

Is the rate negotiable?

We discuss every case individually. Extraordinary circumstances may affect the rate. Everything is in writing before we begin.

What if I lose?

You owe us nothing. The risk is ours.

THE MATH IS SIMPLE.

Pre-suit settlement fee

of gross recovery

33.3%

Post-filing fee

of gross recovery

40%

If we lose

you owe nothing

$0

Case expenses

reimbursed from settlement only

Advanced

Exact fee structure confirmed in your written contingency agreement before any representation begins. Everything in writing.

Medical liens

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR MEDICAL BILLS?

Medical providers who treat you on a lien basis defer payment until your case resolves. When we reach a settlement, those liens are paid from the proceeds. We negotiate liens down aggressively — often by 30-50% — before you see a dollar.

  • Health insurance subrogation claims are negotiated on your behalf
  • Medicare and Medicaid liens are governed by federal law — we handle compliance
  • Hospital liens are often settled at significant discounts
  • We do not settle cases until every lien has been identified and negotiated
  • You receive a detailed settlement disbursement statement before signing

Insurance tactics

WHAT THEY'LL TRY. HOW WE BEAT IT.

The Quick Settlement Offer

Within days of your injury, the adjuster calls with a check. It sounds generous. It is not. Once cashed, you waive all future claims -- before you even know the full extent of your injuries.

Never accept an early settlement offer without consulting an attorney. You have no idea yet what your medical bills will total.

The Recorded Statement Request

They say it's routine. It is not routine for your benefit. Recorded statements are used to find inconsistencies, minimize your injuries, and assign comparative fault to you.

You have no legal obligation to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Politely decline and call us.

The Delay Game

Adjusters are trained to run out the clock. They know injured people have bills and may accept less over time. Slow-walking claims is a documented tactic.

Document every communication with timestamps. If delays become unreasonable, we file.

Disputing Medical Necessity

Their hired doctors review your records and conclude that certain treatments were 'unnecessary' or 'unrelated' to the accident. Convenient.

We retain our own independent medical experts who testify to the medical necessity and causation of every treatment.

Contributory Fault Inflation

Adjusters routinely assign you 15%, 25%, 30% at fault -- numbers designed to cut your settlement without legal basis.

Under Texas modified comparative fault, you can recover if under 50% at fault. We challenge every baseless attribution.

The Low-Ball Damage Estimate

They calculate your property damage and general damages using proprietary software designed to minimize payouts. The numbers are not neutral.

We use our own repair estimators, life-care planners, and economists to document full value. Their software is just their opening bid.

Our commitment

THE COMMUNICATION PROMISE.

The most common complaint about personal injury lawyers is that clients never know what is happening with their case. We built our practice around fixing that.

24-hour callback guarantee

Every client gets a guaranteed response within 24 hours on any business day. Usually same day.

Direct attorney contact

You get your attorney's direct line and email. Not a general office number. Not a paralegal queue.

Case status updates

Monthly status emails when nothing is happening. Same-day calls when something is. You always know.

No surprises at settlement

We walk through every line of the settlement disbursement statement before you sign anything.

START WITH A FREE CONVERSATION.

No forms. No wait time. Just call. A real attorney — not a call center — answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

(214) 555-0148Free online case review

HURT? CALL NOW. NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN.

Free, confidential case review available 24/7.

VANCE & HOLLIS

Texas trial lawyers fighting for injured people and their families. Over $120 million recovered for our clients.

Office

1801 Main Street, 24th Floor
Dallas, TX 75201

(214) 555-0148
intake@vancehollis.com

Hours

  • Mon to Fri8:00a to 7:00p
  • Sat9:00a to 2:00p
  • After hoursAlways answered

© 2026 Vance & Hollis Trial Lawyers, PLLC. Marcus Vance, Responsible Attorney. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. This site is for general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Demo site by Rullo Dynamics. Firm, attorneys, and results are fictional.