How Does Stewart & Stewart's "No Fee Unless We Win" Policy Work?

Stewart & Stewart Attorneys advertises a "No Fee Unless You Win" arrangement for personal injury claims. Based on the firm's own description, this means you pay nothing up front and nothing out of pocket; attorney fees are only charged if the firm wins or settles your case. The initial consultation is described as always free, and the firm says its legal staff can be contacted 24/7 to start a claim. This page explains what the policy covers, what it does not say, and what to confirm before hiring the firm.

What the Policy Actually Promises

The firm states the policy in plain terms on its site:

• No upfront payment. You are not asked to pay a retainer or any fee before the case begins.
• No out-of-pocket cost. The firm says you will not pay anything "up front or out of pocket."
• Fees only on a win or settlement. "There are no fees unless we win or settle your case."
• Free initial consultation. The first conversation about your claim costs nothing.
• 24/7 contact. The firm says its legal staff is reachable around the clock to start a claim.

This is a contingency-fee model: the attorney's payment is contingent on the outcome. It is common in personal injury work, where clients are often dealing with medical bills and lost wages and cannot fund a lawsuit themselves.

What the Policy Does Not Say

The page evidence does not address several details that matter in practice. Treat these as open questions to raise with the firm:

The firm lists auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip & fall, dog bite, and workers' compensation among the cases it handles. "No Fee Unless We Win" is presented as a general promise, but the site does not confirm it applies identically to every case type. Workers' compensation, for example, often has its own fee rules set by state law, so it is worth asking specifically.

Why the Firm Can Offer This

The logic is straightforward: personal injury cases usually resolve through a settlement or a court award, and the attorney's fee comes out of that recovery. The firm says it prepares "each case as if it will be tried in a court of law," which signals that it is willing to litigate rather than settle quickly. That preparation is part of how it says it pursues the maximum compensation owed for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

For you, the practical effect is that the financial risk of hiring a lawyer shifts to the firm. If there is no recovery, the stated policy is that you owe no fee.

What to Confirm Before You Sign

Because the site leaves key terms unstated, ask these questions directly during the free consultation:

1. The fee percentage. Ask what share of the recovery the firm takes, and whether it changes if the case goes to trial.
2. Costs versus fees. Ask who pays for filing fees, medical records, depositions, and expert witnesses, and whether those are deducted from your recovery.
3. The losing scenario. Ask what happens to advanced costs if the case does not win or settle.
4. Your case type. Confirm the policy applies to your specific claim, especially if it is workers' compensation.
5. The agreement in writing. Ask for the fee agreement so the terms are documented, not just described.

How to Start a Claim

The firm says the initial consultation is free and its staff is available 24/7. To begin, contact Stewart & Stewart Attorneys through the phone number listed on its site, (800) 33-33-LAW, or through the free case review option on the website. Have basic information ready: what happened, when it happened, what injuries and losses you have, and any insurance correspondence you have received.

One caution from the firm's own content: it warns that insurance companies are not on your side after an accident. That is a reason to treat any early settlement offer carefully and to get the fee terms clear before signing anything.