If you have been involved in an injury accident, you could be eligible to recover financial compensation for your damages including your medical treatment costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Although you are not legally required to hire a lawyer to pursue a claim, a personal injury attorney can provide you with a variety of substantial advantages.
If you’re like many car accident victims, you might be wondering how much it costs to have an attorney to represent you. Worrying about money is normal for anyone who sustains injuries in a motor vehicle collision. If you can’t work because of your injuries, your medical bills may be piling up. You may be struggling to pay your rent or make your mortgage payment as well as cover your living expenses. Under those circumstances, coming up with the funds to pay for a lawyer may be completely out of reach, and you might consider trying to find a cheap car accident attorney to help with your case.
Realistically, however, is choosing a bargain-basement lawyer truly the best way to handle your personal injury case?
What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Determining how much you can or should pay to hire a lawyer can pose a dilemma, especially if you are not familiar with how personal injury lawyer fees work.
Depending on their area of practice, different types of attorneys have different types of fee structures. Business lawyers, for example, might charge their clients an agreed-upon hourly rate plus expenses. These attorneys often require clients to pay a retainer before getting started on the work at hand.
Most car accident attorneys, on the other hand, work on a contingency basis.
When you hire an attorney on contingency, you don’t pay any legal fees up front as a retainer. You also won’t owe any hourly fees as your case progresses. In fact, when you engage a car accident lawyer on a contingency basis, you owe no legal fees until they recover compensation, either in the form of an insurance settlement or a victory in court.
Once your attorney recovers compensation, he or she will take a percentage of the award or settlement, based on your agreement with the firm. Although every attorney sets his or her own fee structure, most personal injury attorneys charge fees in the range of 30-35%. If your case goes to court, you can expect your fee percentage to increase somewhat, due to the extra time, effort, and expense of preparing for and going to trial.
Why Should You Work with a Car Accident Attorney?
In the United States, car accidents are unfortunately common. The National Law Review reports that car accident victims have a one-in-five chance of sustaining injuries. If another party caused your accident, you may have the right to pursue legal action to recover compensation for your damages.
Although you could attempt to handle your own car accident injury claim, legal research from Martindale-Nolo demonstrates the clear benefits of working with an attorney. Injury accident victims who had a lawyer got compensation twice as quickly as those working without a lawyer. Those individuals who had an attorney received settlements that were three to four times higher than those who did not have legal representation.
In addition to these persuasive factors, consider a few other reasons why you should consider having a lawyer represent you in a car accident case.
Building a Persuasive Case
Your attorney will investigate your case thoroughly, locating and gathering key evidence and information to substantiate your claim. A well-documented case can help ease the path to a successful negotiation with the insurance company. Likewise, if you do pursue your case in court, your attorney will be prepared for that option.
Calculating Your Claim Value
Your attorney will identify all your economic and noneconomic damages and document them. This helps ensure that you get the maximum possible compensation.
Handling Every Aspect of Your Claim
With an attorney handling your case, you won’t have to deal with the insurance company or other lawyers. Instead, you can focus on getting the medical treatment you need and recovering from your injuries.
Putting Experience to Work for You
An experienced car accident lawyer understands how the legal process works. Your attorney will put their knowledge to work on your behalf to submit a demand letter and negotiate with the insurance company to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
An attorney will help protect your legal rights and hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions. You deserve justice for what you’ve been through. Your attorney will fight tirelessly to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
Should You Shop Around for a Less Expensive Car Accident Attorney?
Attorneys’ contingency fee percentages can vary based on geographic location and other factors. However, as with most things in life, scrambling to find a budget attorney may not provide you with the outcome you deserve. An attorney who is willing to compromise on their professional services might not have the experience to handle your case. Lawyers who are willing to reduce their fee might have taken on more clients than they have time for.
This is not to say that any single attorney who charges a lower fee than another is not as competent or experienced. However, it is worthwhile to consider several different lawyers from your area. Take the time to ask questions and make sure you understand how each attorney calculates fees and expenses.
Fortunately, most attorneys offer a free consultation and case evaluation. This allows you to ask your questions and get the information you need to select the best car accident lawyer for you. Visit car accident attorneys’ websites to explore their service offerings and view this page on how to call or contact them online.
Many personal injury law firms offer flexible options today for scheduling a phone or video consultation. This is ideal if you can’t get to their offices or if you prefer to maintain a safe social distance.
Speak Your Mind