Accidents and unexpected injuries can be very overwhelming. The injured person is often so busy with doctors’ appointments, incoming medical bills, and stress over physical pain and lost wages, that they can’t even think about starting a legal claim to pursue an injury settlement.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you might be wondering how you can afford a lawyer to help you fight for a fair settlement. We have some good news! Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs to the client. Let’s break down how personal injury attorneys charge for their services and what you can expect.
How Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge for Their Services?
Most personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation and are paid through a contingency fee structure. This compensation model allows injured people to access legal help without any upfront costs or financial risk because if no settlement is reached or jury award is won, the lawyer is not compensated for their efforts.
This structure is especially helpful for injured people with limited resources or who have already stretched themselves financially trying to pay for expensive medical bills tied to the accident.
What is a Contingency Fee Structure?
A contingency fee is a percentage of the settlement amount or jury award. Contingency fees typically range between 33 percent and 40 percent.
For example: If your case settles for $100,000 and the lawyers’ contingency fee is 40 percent, the lawyer’s fee would be $40,000.
Part of the reason that this pay structure works well is because a good personal injury attorney will typically be able to secure a settlement five to 20 times the amount that an injured person could recover on their own, more than making up for the lawyer’s fee.
The exact percentage charged by the attorney you hire may depend on factors such as:
- The complexity of the case
- The lawyer’s level of experience
- Whether the case goes to trial (litigated cases often require more work and a higher percentage fee). Note: only about five percent of personal injury cases go to trial.
Other Potential Costs
While the contingency fee covers the lawyer’s payment for their services, there may be additional out-of-pocket costs associated with pursuing a personal injury claim, including:
- Court filing fees
- Medical record retrieval fees
- Expert witness fees
- Deposition costs
- Travel expenses
Some injury attorneys cover these costs upfront and deduct them from the settlement amount while others may require clients to reimburse these expenses regardless of the case outcome. It’s important to ask how the lawyer handles these costs during your initial consultation.
Why the Contingency Fee Model Works for Clients
Hiring a personal injury attorney who works on contingency can help to reduce your stress, allow you to focus on your recovery, and provide access to the legal expertise needed to navigate your claim effectively. It also benefits clients in a number of other ways:
- Provides incentive to your lawyer to secure the best possible outcome for your case.
- Makes legal representation accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
- Because lawyers working on contingency only get paid if they win, you can feel confident that your attorney will work diligently on your behalf.
- The free initial consultation allows you to discuss your case and understand your legal options without making any financial commitment.
With the contingency fee model, you will gain peace of mind as your lawyer handles your case while you don’t have to worry about paying a bill. If you’ve been injured and want to explore your legal options, schedule a free consultation with a local personal injury lawyer to discuss your case.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today!
An accident lawyer can help you recover a full and fair settlement for the injuries you sustained in an accident caused by the negligence of another with no up-front costs to you. We know the sneaky strategies used by insurance companies to get injured people to agree to settlements far below what they are worth. Our clients typically end up with a settlement or jury award that is five to ten times larger than they could have negotiated on their own. We have been representing injured people injured in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. Contact the experienced and hard-working personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Mount Vernon, WA today for a FREE consultation!
