When someone else’s careless or negligent conduct injures you, you may be hesitant to hire an attorney, concerned you will not be able to afford their services. However, in personal injury law, this is not the case. Attorneys who operate in this area of law work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only receive a payment if your case is successful.
Learning more about these fees and how much you should expect to pay will ensure you know what to expect when you hire a personal injury lawyer.
Average Percentage Amounts Taken by Personal Injury Attorneys
In most situations, the personal injury law firm you hire will receive 33% of the settlement amount you receive. This number can vary based on the type and complexity of your case.
This type of fee structure aims to eliminate the client’s financial risk in connection with hiring an attorney to provide representation for their situation.
Understanding the Fee Structure Used by Personal Injury Attorneys
When deciding which attorney to hire for your personal injury claim, you will find a similar contingency fee structure is followed by all personal injury law firms.
In most other kinds of legal cases, like those involving legal defense or transactional work, the cost to hire an attorney will generally include an up-front retainer fee from which the attorney will deduct an hourly fee as the work is performed.
How Contingency Fees Work
The contingency fee structure allows the client to be represented without having to pay any out-of-pocket attorney fees or litigation expenses. The attorneys will wait to be paid for their work and will also pay all legal costs until the case is concluded. Their fees will be paid directly out of any settlement funds. Under this arrangement, the attorney is entitled to receive a percentage of the compensation awarded. The attorney will also be entitled to be reimbursed for all costs and expenses paid, which is separate from the attorney fee.
Since the fee that the attorney receives is dependent on the outcome of the case, the attorney will have every motivation to achieve the greatest possible financial settlement or award in your case.
Contingency Fees Reduce the Financial Risks for Clients
Hiring an attorney on a contingency fee basis eliminates the risk for you. When you enter this arrangement, you do not have to worry about any of the following:
- Paying a large upfront retainer fee, which can be difficult for those who are financially struggling, especially after an accident
- Paying all out-of-pocket litigation costs and expenses for things like medical record fees, court costs, investigation costs, and expert witness fees
- Paying anything at all to the attorney if your case is unsuccessful; the attorney takes all the risk of an unsuccessful result.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer for Help with Your Case
If you are injured by the negligence or careless conduct of another person or company, you have legal rights. Don’t be afraid to exercise your legal rights for fear of having to pay an attorney an hourly fee. You can hire an experienced injury attorney to represent you in your case without paying anything out of pocket since these attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.
Contact our highly successful attorneys today for an initial consultation. Put our decades of experience to work for you!
