A car accident lawyer usually works on a contingency basis, and would be paid out of the settlement check a car insurance company has to write you. But if your case isn’t successful, under a contingency agreement, you wouldn’t owe your lawyer anything. You would only pay an attorney’s fee if your attorney won your case for you.
When Do I Have to Pay a Tulare Car Accident Lawyer?
When hiring a Tulare car accident lawyer on a contingency agreement, you wouldn’t have to use your savings to pay an attorney’s fee. Under a contingency fee agreement, the lawyer only gets paid if the case is one, and then the fee comes out of the compensation you receive.
The agreement also means that the lawyer fronts all investigative costs and court costs for your case. If your case is lost, these expenses are usually the lawyer’s responsibility to cover. It’s a risk for any car accident lawyer because cases can be lost for many reasons out of the lawyer’s control. The law firm would have to absorb the financial loss after having already spent time and resources building a case.
It’s set up this way so that all personal injury victims can afford to hire strong legal representation, even if they don’t have the money to afford a lawyer. A skilled lawyer can make a real difference in a car accident case.
An attorney fights back on your behalf if an insurance company tries to blame you for an accident you didn’t cause or tries to make it seem like your injuries aren’t serious. Your lawyer can often secure much more money for your recovery than you could win by representing yourself before massive insurance companies.
What Does My Car Accident Lawyer Make?
If a case is won, the contingency agreement would usually grant the lawyer around 33% of the settlement amount or judgment awarded in court. When the check arrives, lawyers are paid for their services and, in some cases, reimbursed for some investigative costs and court fees.
This percentage is meant to offset the risk law firms take by representing car victims without the guarantee of getting paid for their work. However, the idea is for the attorney to earn enough for clients to pay the attorney’s fee and still take home much more than they would have by filing a claim on their own.
The goal is to demand enough in compensation so that victims don’t have to pay any of their medical bills themselves. The money must also provide help in replacing the paychecks the victim may lose while having to miss work. A settlement check should also include compensation for the physical pain and emotional trauma that traffic accident victims endure.
Make Sure You Know What Your Lawyer Charges
After talking with any potential lawyer, you should never be left to wonder how your accident lawyer gets paid and when. Before you sign a contract and hire a lawyer, you should be fully aware of the expense. You shouldn’t be confused about any aspect of payment.
Only select an attorney willing to go over the fee and how it’s paid. Your attorney should be happy to answer any questions you have. If you are still confused afterward, it may be a sign that you need to look for a different attorney.
When Do I Need The Help of a Tulare Car Accident Lawyer?
If your car accident involves car damage and only very minor injuries, you may not need the help of a lawyer for your case.
However, if your accident involves a more serious injury like a broken arm or head trauma, it’s wise to depend on a lawyer to protect your rights. When hospital bills grow, insurance companies seek ways to reject your claim or pay you less than you need to fully rebuild your life.
Reach out to Maison Law for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your injury is worth and what you should be holding an insurance company to. If we can’t help improve the outcome of your case, we’ll tell you that and explain how to handle the case yourself.
