When you’re injured and suffering from medical debt, how can you possibly afford to hire a lawyer? The answer is by agreeing to a contingency fee—an arrangement where your attorney will only collect payment if he wins your case.
The last thing you need is to add legal bills to your pile of medical bills. With a contingency fee, you don’t have to pay your lawyer anything upfront. Then, when he brings your case to a favorable settlement, he takes a percentage of the money that you received. Usually, the average contingency fee is about one-third of winnings.
Your Lawyer Doesn’t Get Paid Unless You Do
Some clients find that working with lawyers on a contingency fee basis gives them peace of mind. After all, you can be sure that your attorney wants to win just as much as you do. You know that he will work hard to win you the best settlement possible.
If for some reason your personal injury case does not result in a settlement, you don’t have to pay your lawyer anything. With a contingency fee attorney, there is no risk for the client.
Contingency Fees Make Quality Legal Help Accessible
Contingency fees help people get the representation they deserve. Many clients wouldn’t be able to afford an attorney, especially if they were injured and out of work. By using a contingency fee instead of an hourly rate, personal injury lawyers can defend the rights of lower-income people.
Your Lawyer Fronts Legal Expenses
Every personal injury case has some costs. There are fees to file the lawsuit and fees to obtain copies of medical records, court transcripts, or police reports. Private investigators and expert witnesses also cost money to hire, possibly hundreds of dollars an hour.
As you can imagine, court fees can add up quickly. If your personal injury lawyer were sending you a bill each month, he would pass these costs on to you as they came in. But under a contingency fee agreement, your lawyer advances these expenses. This way, you don’t have to worry about where the money will come from.
You can focus on getting well.
Negotiating the Personal Injury Contingency Fee
Different personal injury lawyers may charge different fees. The average contingency fee ranges from 33% to 40%.
You may find that very experienced attorneys charge more for their services. Although you might be tempted to choose the lawyer with the lowest fee, some attorneys are worth the higher fee. They may be able to get you a larger settlement.
Some lawyers may be willing to negotiate fees with you. Gathering relevant documents ahead of time may help.
Understand These Important Details
Although your lawyer pays the upfront costs associated with your personal injury cases, such as filing fees and the costs of bringing in witnesses and evidence, you are ultimately responsible for these costs. This means that the costs of bringing suit will come out of your settlement.
Be sure you know whether litigation costs will be taken out of the settlement before or after your lawyer receives his share. It could make a big difference in how much money you ultimately get.
Say you get a $100,000 settlement and your personal injury attorney’s contingency fee is 33%. The various costs of the lawsuit added up to $10,000. If the costs are taken out before the money is split up, you will get $60,000 and your lawyer will get $30,000. However, if the costs are deducted after the fee is taken out, you will get $56,666 and your lawyer will get $33,333.
Top Worcester Personal Injury Lawyer
With over 35 years’ experience investigating and litigating all kinds of personal injury claims, Worcester personal injury lawyer Peter Ventura has the expertise you need to win your case. If you’re looking for a diligent, persistent, and honest attorney you can trust with your personal injury lawsuit, you’ve come to the right place. Please contact our offices today to schedule your free initial consultation.
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