You’ve just been in an auto accident. You are injured and facing financial losses. You are filled with pain, anxiety, stress, and other overwhelming emotions. You know the accident wasn’t your fault and that the other driver should be held responsible. So what is your next step? Contacting a car accident lawyer.
You might say to yourself- I was just injured and will lose wages because of it, so I can’t afford an accident lawyer. Well, don’t stress over that too much! It is fairly typical for an attorney to set a contingency fee. This means that for most lawyers, they won’t get paid unless they win your case. Some lawyers do have fine print that says you will still have to pay certain costs even if they don’t win, so that is definitely something to keep in mind when researching lawyers!
More About Contingency Fees
As mentioned above, most car accident lawyers have a contingency fee. This fee can range anywhere between 25 to 40 percent, though some sources say 33 percent is about the standard fee. But in many personal injury accidents, the lawyer will work on a sliding contingency scale meaning their fee might go up depending on how far your case goes. So it’s definitely important to ask your lawyer what their contingency fee is before you hire them.
It is also important to note that contingency fees are for plaintiffs only. So if you’re the one being sued, a contingency fee doesn’t apply to you. The reason for that is if you have liability car insurance, your policy probably mandates that your car insurance company provides a lawyer to represent you in the lawsuit. But if your costs exceed your coverage, you have limited coverage, or have no insurance, then you will have to hire your own attorney to represent you. Their hourly fee can range anywhere from $150 to $500 an hour, depending on their reputation/experience and the area you live in.
So if you’ve been injured in an auto accident and seek an experienced car accident attorney, don’t fret about the cost. They will work with you and put in a 1000 percent effort to win your case. Because if you don’t win, they don’t get paid. So sit back, take a deep breath, and start looking for lawyers in your area. Research them, read reviews, and choose the one that is best for you. So don’t delay, work toward getting your compensation today!