Have you been in a car accident or injured on the job? Are you considering hiring a personal injury lawyer?
In some cases, you’ll need a personal injury attorney in order to recoup the costs you’ve incurred due to your accident. These can really add up, even if it’s months after your injury.
Yet what are personal injury lawyer fees, and can you afford them?
Here’s what you need to know about the cost to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
In some cases, you may have been involved in a small accident that involved some minimal medical care such as stitches. An insurance policy can cover the damage and you can get back to your everyday activities in a short period of time.
In other instances, however, your injury may be serious and require ongoing care. Head and neck injuries, broken bones, and soft tissue damage can all cause health problems that continue to affect your life long after the accident.
In these cases, your bills can really begin to add up, and insurance policies may not cover compensate for all of the financial burdens that you’re now required to bear. The emergency room stays, doctor visits and physical therapy can all amount to endless payments that are overwhelming. And that’s not even to mention the wages you’ll be losing due to time away from work because of your medical injury.
When you’re insurance claim is denied or insufficient, it’s time to get a qualified attorney on your side. They’ll know the ins and outs of the law and help you argue your case so you can get the funds you’re entitled to.
In other cases, there may be some dispute about who is actually at fault for your injury. An insurance company may try to blame someone else for the damages. When this happens, it’s critical to begin working with a professional.
In other instances, you may have a pre-existing condition that is compounded by your injury. These are complicated situations that require the assistance of a personal injury lawyer.
How Much Are Personal Injury Lawyer Fees?
Some folks avoid calling a lawyer because they’re worried about personal injury attorney fees. This may, however, not be as much of a concern as you think.
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that they will be a percentage of the settlement you get if you win your case. Most of the time, the actual amount is between 30 and 40 percent.
Some personal injury attorneys also offer a “sliding scale” option in which your fee will depend upon how quickly your case gets settled. For example, they may charge a lower percentage in the event your case settles out of court, and a higher percentage if it needs to go to trial.
Many of the fees and expenses that come up as your case goes on are covered by your lawyer as they come up. They will then get deducted from your share of the settlement award at the end of the case.
Some of the costs and expenses you can expect include obtaining medical reports, police reports, and expert witnesses. You may also find you need to pay for depositions, transcripts, and filing fees.
It’s common for settlement checks to get sent to your lawyer when your case is finalized. This ensures that they will get paid for their services.
When your lawyer receives the settlement check, they will contact you and provide a list of itemized fees, costs, and expenses that they are going to deduct. If you dispute any of the fees, the money will go into a trust until the matter gets resolved.
What Are the Advantages of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?
One major benefit of hiring a personal injury attorney is that most offer free initial consultations. This is a great way to find out if you have a case, and to judge whether or not a particular professional is a good fit for you.
You may instinctively know that your accident entitles you to more benefits than you’re getting. Yet you may not have the knowledge, skills, or experience to effectively argue your case.
This is where a professional personal injury attorney comes in. They can help you negotiate with insurance companies to get the compensation you deserve. Should your case go to trial, your lawyer will know how to frame and argue your case in a sound, educated way.
The right attorney will be able to analyze your injuries, assess your pain and suffering, and consider the insurance company’s strategy. They understand the legal process. And since they only get compensated if you win, your attorney will be motivated to get you the highest settlement possible.
A qualified attorney can help you make important decisions based upon their experience. They may, for example, be able to advise you about accepting a settlement or taking your case to court.
A good personal injury lawyer can give you the peace of mind of knowing that your case is being handled by someone who knows the law and is fighting for you.
Moving On
The right personal injury attorney will be able to argue your case effectively and get you the compensation you deserve. And since personal injury lawyer fees depend upon your settlement, you can be sure that it won’t cost you anything unless you win.
Don’t stop getting smart about your finances and lifestyle now. For more great advice, read our blog today.
