Getting seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior is never planned and it’s never any fun. Unfortunately, it is more common than you might think. After being unexpectedly involved in an accident that left you injured, you may be encouraged to seek out qualified counsel. An experienced personal injury attorney can help represent your interests and guide you through the complexities of the legal system. This may leave you wondering, “How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?”
The cost of an attorney can sometimes be prohibitive for people looking to retain counsel. Once you answer the question, “How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?” you can better determine your next steps after a serious personal injury where you weren’t at fault. While retaining legal counsel is always recommended, people often worry that their services may be too costly. Here’s what you need to know about the cost of a personal injury lawyer.
Contingency Fee
To answer the question, “How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?”, it’s important to understand what a contingency fee is. Many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the attorney’s payment is contingent on them winning your case. They typically keep a percentage of the winnings as payment. If they lose your case, you owe nothing, and they don’t get paid.
The contingency fee basis works well for those who don’t have access to a large sum of money to retain a lawyer. Many times, people are already facing financial hardship after a serious personal injury that leaves them unable to work. The lawyer’s percentage often ranges between 45 and 55 percent but that fee is negotiable. Whatever percentage you and your attorney agree on will be your attorney’s payment.
Case Complexity
Once you have agreed on a contingency percentage with your attorney, the next thing that can impact cost is the case complexity. More complex cases will require more time and effort from your attorney. They will also be dipping into their resources a lot more which could mean additional costs.
Lengthy proceedings involving multiple expert witnesses and a comprehensive investigation may dictate a higher fee from the attorney. Their fee structure percentage typically coincides with the amount of work they must do.
Disbursement Costs
When wondering, “How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?” you’ll also have to consider disbursement costs. These are additional costs that are not covered in the percentage fee structure of a contingency agreement. They are instead typically passed on to the client.
Disbursement costs include filing and court fees, administrative expenses, and fees for medical records or expert witnesses. Disbursement costs are usually collected at the conclusion of a case after it has been won and a check has been received.
Partner With a Great personal injury Attorney Today
Now that we’ve answered the question, “How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?” you should have a better idea of what to expect. If you’ve suffered a traumatic personal injury due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, then you’ll want to partner with an experienced personal injury lawyer today. You should be able to find one who works on a contingency basis, so you won’t need access to a lot of cash to get representation.
When you find an attorney, you can negotiate the percentage fee structure based on your specific case. Keep in mind that the complexity of your case will also impact the cost of your representation and you’ll be responsible for disbursement costs as well. Partner with an experienced personal injury lawyer today.