Personal injury lawyers do not work for free, but they will if you are not successful in your case. When you sign a representation agreement with a personal injury lawyer, you agree to pay them a percentage of the proceeds of your case, but only if you win. If you do not win, you do not need to pay anything. Your obligation to pay them is contingent on winning.
Your attorney will not ask you to pay a retainer fee upfront, nor will they send you hourly bills while your case is pending. The system is meant to encourage people who may not have the financial resources to spend thousands of dollars on lawyers ,to get the legal help that they critically need.