Each year, 5 million people lose their lives due to injury-related complications. For each person that dies, many more survive but are faced with long-term physical, mental, and financial problems as a result of the trauma.
On many occasions, the circumstances that cause injury are someone else’s fault. It thus makes sense to seek compensation from the at-fault party.
If you’re considering filing a lawsuit as a result of an injury you suffered, you’ll probably want to hire a seasoned personal injury attorney. Personal injury law is quite complex, and the best way to boost your chances of winning your case is by working with the right lawyer.
So, what should you expect to pay in attorney fees? It’s one of the most important questions you must ask.
Understanding Contingency Fees
After sustaining an injury, chances are you’ve suffered a substantial financial loss. It could be that you’ve been out of work for some time, which would make hiring a lawyer seem out of reach for you. Thankfully, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency basis.
In a contingency fee agreement, your personal injury lawyer gets paid only when you recover compensation for your personal injury case. This arrangement makes it possible for you to access legal services no matter your financial status. Typically, your attorney gets paid a percentage of the total amount recovered in your case.
Thus, instead of worrying about raising money to retain a lawyer, your major concern becomes how to find a good personal injury lawyer for your case.
What if your attorney doesn’t recover compensation for the claim? You’ll not be charged any attorney fees. However, you may have to pay for the costs of your lawsuit.
Determining the Cost of Your Claim
Personal injury case costs vary from case to case. If your case gets settled early and without the need for a lengthy investigation or going to court, then the costs will be low. Conversely, cases that need you to retain investigators and expert witnesses while gathering evidence can be quite costly.
If your case moves to court, expect to pay multiple other costs, including deposition expenses, court fees, expert witness fees, investigations costs, postage fees, trial preparation expenses, and so on.
Your attorney may cover all of these costs pending the settlement of your case. When you receive the settlement proceeds, you’ll need to reimburse the attorney for these costs. Typically, the expenses are subtracted from your proceeds before the balance is credited to your account.
Remember to ask all the necessary questions to make sure you understand the total amount you’ll owe your lawyer in attorney fees and case costs. Note that the contingency fees charged vary from law firm to law firm. You may want to get two or three quotes before making your final decision.
Know What to Pay Your Personal Injury Attorney
Hiring a personal injury attorney is the smartest move you can make when filing a claim for your personal injury. Part of the hiring process entails knowing how much your attorney will charge you for their services and how you can expect to pay them.
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