Many individuals who have suffered a personal injury often wonder whether they can afford to hire a personal injury lawyer. This concern is understandable, given the financial stress that may come with medical bills, loss of income due to inability to work, and other expenses related to the injury. However, it’s important to understand how most personal injury lawyers charge for their services before deciding whether or not you can afford one.
In most cases, personal injury lawyers operate on what is known as a contingency fee basis. This means that they only get paid if they win your case or secure a settlement on your behalf. The lawyer’s fees are typically a percentage of the compensation awarded in your case – usually around one-third.
This arrangement has several advantages for clients. Firstly, it allows people who might not otherwise be able to afford legal representation access to professional help when they need it most. Secondly, because the lawyer’s payment is contingent upon winning the case or securing a settlement, this gives them an incentive to work diligently on your behalf.
However, while you may not need money upfront for attorney’s fees under this arrangement, there could be other costs associated with pursuing a claim. These might include court filing fees, costs for obtaining medical records and police reports, expert witness fees and so forth.
Some attorneys will cover these costs initially and then deduct them from any eventual settlement or judgment you receive. Others may require you to pay these expenses as they arise during the course of litigation.
It’s also worth noting that if no compensation is obtained in your case – either through settlement negotiations or at trial – generally you won’t owe any attorney’s fees under a contingency fee agreement; although depending on the specifics of your agreement with your attorney you may still be responsible for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred during litigation.
Therefore before engaging an attorney’s services make sure you fully understand all terms of their fee structure including both potential legal fees and anticipated out-of-pocket expenses.
In conclusion, the contingency fee structure used by most personal injury lawyers makes legal representation more accessible to those who may not have the financial resources for upfront attorney’s fees. It also aligns the interests of the client and attorney towards a successful outcome. However, it is important to understand all potential costs involved in pursuing a personal injury claim before deciding whether or not you can afford to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
27 N 6th St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
15703384494
