Are you curious how much a car accident lawyer costs? Here’s how you can estimate how much a car accident lawyer costs you. Most car accident lawyers charge a contingency fee that ranges anywhere from 25-40%. This means there is no hourly charge; the settlement amount will cover your attorney costs. Therefore, if your settlement is $30,000.00, and your attorney’s contingency fee is 33%, you will take home $20,100.00, and your attorney will get $9,900.00.
On this Page:
- When to Consider a Car Accident Lawyer
- The Basics of Contingency Fees
- Additional Fees
- What Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge Near Me
Whether you’ve been injured in a slip or fall, a motorcycle accident, or by a defective product, if your injuries are serious, you probably want to know how much personal injury lawyers charge. What will their hourly rate be if they charge one?
How do legal and injury lawyer fees work, and how much can you expect to pay for legal support?
After a car accident, in particular, the legal process can be a lot to take in. Many people think about how much a lawyer could cost them and decide not to hire one, even when it would benefit them – and even if there are a variety of ways to pay for that help.
Below you’ll find out how much a personal injury lawyer will cost so you can make the best possible decision.
When to Consider a Car Accident Lawyer
We see it all the time, ‘how much does an accident lawyer cost?’ Probably the biggest factor in considering whether or not it will be worth it to you to pay the fees for a Personal Injury lawyer is the severity of your injuries. If you have very serious injuries after an accident, a lawyer can help you get a higher settlement from an insurance company or help you file a lawsuit if coming to a settlement is difficult. In these cases, the personal injury lawyer’s cost could definitely be worth it.
If your accident was minor and straightforward, waiting to see if you get a fair settlement from the insurer before hiring a lawyer can be a good plan. Most people who work with a lawyer receive higher settlements, so if this is important to you, it may be worth it to hire one.
How Fee Structures Work
Car accident lawyers usually do not charge an hourly fee but instead charge on a contingency basis. This means the law firm won’t receive any payment from you unless they win your case. Then they will take a percentage of the money from your insurance settlement or judgment.
The Basics of Contingency Fees
While some accident lawyers will ask you to pay a retainer upfront before they start working on your case, most personal injury lawyers’ cost is determined by charging you on a contingency basis. It is very rare for a personal injury lawyer to charge on an hourly basis, which is good news if you don’t have a lot of extra money.
Contingency fees can be of huge benefit to the client because a lawyer who charges using this fee structure doesn’t take payment until the case is over. Even better, you must win your case in order for them to take anything.
What percentage do lawyers take for personal injury cases? It depends on the lawyer and on the location, but contingency fees usually range from 25-40% of your net settlement, after expenses are taken out. Most lawyers charge around 33%.
It’s also important to remember that contingency fees can be negotiable. If your case is particularly clear-cut, you shouldn’t hesitate to try to negotiate a lower contingency fee.
Court Fees and Expenses
Court fees and other litigation expenses may also be included in your legal bill. Court filing fees, the expense of delivering subpoenas and summons, and the cost of getting police reports, medical records, and other documents may be charged. You may also be responsible for expert witness and reporter fees.
Oftentimes, especially if you work with a smaller law firm, you’ll be asked to pay these fees as they are due. If you cannot pay, it is possible that your case will not move forward until they are taken care of.
If you work with a larger firm, these fees are more likely to be deducted from your settlement. In this case, you should always make sure that they take their contingency percentage out of your net settlement or the amount that is left after these expenses have been subtracted. Ideally, you should ensure that this is part of your contract upfront.
Sometimes other fee structures will be employed, such as a lawyer who takes an initial retainer to begin the case and a contingency fee at its conclusion.
If you are unsure whether or not you should hire a car accident lawyer, it’s a good idea to think about how serious the injuries are. If you have serious injuries, hiring a lawyer is usually the best way to move forward. For a minor fender bender, it may be fine for you to represent yourself or await a settlement from an insurance company.
What Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge Near Me
If you’ve been in an accident and are thinking about hiring a lawyer, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer for a consultation or download our personal injury recovery kit to get an overview of your legal rights and answer any more questions you might have about injury lawyer fees.
Content updated: Originally published Nov. 23, 2017
Disclaimer: The content of this article is a general guideline made available for educational purposes only and is not intended to be used as legal advice for the reader's specific situation nor in general. By reading our blog and website content, the reader acknowledges the above and understands there is no lawyer-client relationship created between you and Himelfarb Proszanski through this content. To get specific legal advice, we encourage you to book a free consultation with one of our lawyers to clarify the legal aspects of your situation.