When you have been hurt in an accident, it’s natural to want to seek compensation from the person or company that caused your injuries, whether through negligence or intentional harm. A personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options as well as what it will take to get compensation if you file a lawsuit. Here’s what to expect when you meet with one, as well as how much personal injury lawyers cost and other factors you should consider when choosing an attorney to represent you.
The consult
If you have been injured in an accident and believe you may be entitled to compensation, it is important that you contact a personal injury lawyer. They will review your case and give you their professional opinion as to what your next steps should be. This can include whether or not they feel there is enough evidence of liability on the other party’s behalf.
If they think your case is worth pursuing, they will be able to advise you on the best course of action for filing suit against the negligent party. It’s important that you know about all available options, so make sure any potential lawyer discusses this with you at your consultation.
How a lawyer calculates their fee
When you meet with your lawyer, they will ask you for information about the accident and the damages that were sustained. For example, what type of vehicle was involved in the crash, how badly were you injured, how much medical care did you need? All of this information will be used by your lawyer when they calculate their fee.
Most personal injury lawyers charge either on an hourly basis or on contingency, meaning that if they don’t win your case then there is no fee. The rates differ based on geography and experience level; but typically a good attorney charges between $200-300 per hour of work.
Types of law firms
Personal injury lawyers represent people who have been injured and are seeking compensation for their losses. Some personal injury law firms work exclusively on these cases while others handle other types of law in addition. There are many types of personal injury lawyers, and understanding what each type does can help you choose the best option for your situation.
Personal injury lawyers work either on a contingency fee or by charging an hourly rate for their services. Contingency fee arrangements mean that the lawyer does not charge anything unless the case is won, so there is no risk involved in hiring them.
Attorney client relationship
Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they are paid after you receive compensation from the at fault party. The lawyer will file suit and handle all legal proceedings, including depositions, court appearances and negotiations. They also represent you in any settlement discussions or arbitration.
Personal injury lawyers have extensive knowledge of the law and know how to best advocate for your case. They can help you recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, as well as property damage caused by the accident.
How long will it take?
It’s hard to say how long the meeting will take. It’ll depend on the nature of your case, the complexity of your case, and how willing you are to do some work yourself. What should you expect? A personal injury lawyer will ask you about your accident and any insurance settlements or judgments that have been made so far.
They’ll also want to know what injuries you sustained in the accident and where on your body those injuries are located. The more information they have, the better they can evaluate whether or not there is a legal action for damages against another party. The meeting will probably conclude with an estimate of how much it would cost for them to represent you in court, as well as what percentage of any settlement or judgment they would get from that representation (usually 33%).
How much should I expect to pay for your services?
Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how much your case might cost. If you hire us, we will do everything in our power to ensure that the costs stay as low as possible. We will always provide an estimate of our fees before we start working on your case. However, if the other party’s insurance company refuses to pay for any of your bills or if they have deep pockets and fight hard against you, then the costs could be more than anticipated.