Most people will have to seek legal counsel from an attorney for one reason or another.
If you were involved in a traumatic accident, like a motor vehicle accident, a work accident, or a slip and fall accident and sustained injuries, you will definitely need the help of a lawyer.
If you suffered severe injuries, like a traumatic brain injury, you might be entitled to large sums of money, and you will need an accident attorney to help you take legal action and file a personal injury claim.
However, many accident victims are already worried about paying their regular bills, not to mention their new medical expenses to treat their accident injuries.
The thought of paying a personal injury lawyer is overwhelming to many people.
What you ultimately pay a personal injury lawyer depends on various factors, including whether a claim settles out of court, must be taken to court, or goes to trial.
Fortunately, personal injury lawyers are very affordable and work on a contingency basis.
We’ll learn more about what a personal injury lawyer may cost in the article below.
What Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge?
When you hire a personal injury attorney, you will agree to pay fees and costs for legal representation in a case.
Your accident attorney will explain how and why they charge for their services and any additional costs you may incur throughout a case.
We understand that injured people are among the most financially vulnerable.
Between being unable to work to facing mounting medical bills, the idea of adding attorney’s fees may make you want to handle your accident claim by yourself.
Knowing precisely what you will pay your lawyer would be extremely difficult because every case is different, and circumstances can change over time.
But it is possible to develop an idea of what you could pay depending on different case outcomes and how attorneys’ fees and costs often affect a client’s net recovery.
Start With A No Cost – No Obligation Personal Injury Consultation
99% of accident lawyers worth your time will offer a free consultation to discuss your case.
You can reach out to several local accident attorneys to them about your accident at no cost to you.
During your initial consultation, you should ask any questions about your situation to evaluate whether the attorney is right for your legal representation.
Law firms offer free consultations because a personal injury attorney is only as good as the number of clients they can serve.
That’s why they need to talk to as many potential clients as they can, and it’s in your best interest to “interview” a lawyer to make sure they are a good fit.
This is a good time to discuss the cost to hire a personal injury lawyer at this firm and if they work on a contingency fee agreement.
Contingency Fee Agreement
Instead of charging hourly rates, most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.
If you have mounting medical bills and other costs, paying a contingency fee percentage when you are compensated means you don’t have to worry about legal fees upfront.
Any services your personal injury law firm provides, from the initial interactions and negotiations with insurance companies to represent you in court, will be paid out of your settlement check.
Instead of paying lawyer fees and other costs as you go, you will pay your attorney a percentage of the settlement or court award you receive.
Contingency fee claims allow anyone to hire a lawyer and receive maximum compensation, regardless of their previous financial status.
A contingency fee arrangement ensures you are not deterred from exercising your right to retain a legal representative, and it allows you to focus on your physical recovery.
How Are Court Costs Paid For?
Your personal injury case will get significantly more expensive if it has to go to court.
Fortunately, most claims settle outside of court.
But if the insurance companies don’t cooperate, you could end up in court.
Even though you don’t need to pay your lawyer’s fee unless you win your case, court costs have to be paid as they come in.
Typical court costs include:
- Expert witness fees
- Trial exhibits
- Court reporters
- Travel fees
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Filing fees
- Copying and postage charges
- Administrative expenses
Each attorney will have a different approach when it comes to paying these expenses.
Some lawyers send monthly bills for costs incurred.
Others will keep track of all expenses and deduct them from your compensation when you win your case.
Is It Worth the Cost To Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer?
It’s tempting to think you might be able to win the case by yourself so you can keep your entire settlement.
But before you represent yourself, there are a few essential things to keep in mind.
You have to submit the right documents to the right parties on time.
Any mistakes can undermine the success of your case.
Things become significantly more complicated if the case ends up in court.
The insurance company will have a team of high-caliber, experienced lawyers specializing in fighting accident claims.
You will be up against them alone.
They will do everything they can to avoid giving you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
A good personal injury attorney knows the tactics insurance companies use to fight your claims.
They will fight back against the insurance companies to ensure you receive a fair settlement.
While you may lose a percentage of your settlement, we can almost guarantee that you will receive more money than you pay when you hire an attorney.
Contact Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys
Don’t let the cost to hire a personal injury lawyer keep you from obtaining one.
There may be subtle differences between personal injury lawyers regarding how they charge clients.
However, knowing about the fees and costs when you hire an attorney will give you peace of mind before you hire an attorney.
Personal injury cases can be messy.
To secure fair compensation after a personal injury, you need an injury lawyer on your side.
Your attorney won’t let your insurance company push you around and will ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
If you’re ready to discuss your case with a team you can trust, Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is here to help.
Schedule a free consultation to get started.
