When individuals sustain an injury caused by the actions of others, they should be able to recover compensation. However, the process of recovering compensation is challenging, regardless of whether or not we are discussing an insurance settlement or a personal injury trial. Affording legal assistance may seem impossible, but that is not the case with contingency fees.
Attorneys and Fees – What You Need to Know
There are many types of attorneys in our area, and they all have different types of fee structures. For example, a divorce attorney may charge a flat fee or have an hourly rate.
The reality is that most people assume that they cannot afford legal assistance. TV shows and movies have led them to believe that attorneys all charge exorbitantly high rates. However, that is not the case when an attorney works on a contingency fee basis.
How a Contingency Fee Works
A contingency fee means that the attorney will take the case and handle all of the upfront and out-of-pocket costs related to the claim, and no legal fees will be due right away. The injury victim will only have to pay legal fees if the attorney wins the claim and secures the compensation they need. Paying the legal fees is contingent on the attorney securing compensation for the case.
This is a fantastic way to ensure that individuals are able to hold at-fault parties accountable after they sustain an injury. The attorney will pay for the investigation into the incident, cover the costs of filing the claim, handle all of the negotiations involved in the case, and fully prepare the claim for trial. For the entire case, an injury victim will not have to worry about paying out of their own pocket. Their focus should be on recovering from their injuries, not worrying about paying an attorney.
The Contingency Fee Percentage
Before an attorney begins work on a person’s case, there will be a specific contingency fee agreed upon. This means that they will decide upon a percentage of the final settlement or jury verdict that will go to the attorney as their payment. Typically, a contingency fee ranges from 30% to 35% of the final settlement or jury verdict. For example, let us suppose that a contingency fee of 30% is used for our claim and the attorney successfully recovers $1 million on behalf of the client. The attorney would be paid $300,000 as a result of this agreement.
Yes, that may seem like a decent amount of money, but the reality is that injury victims who work with an attorney are typically able to recover more compensation through a final settlement or jury verdict even after the attorney is paid than they would otherwise have received if they tried to handle the claim on their own.
Reach Out For a Consultation
If you or somebody you love has been injured due to the negligent actions of another individual or entity, turn to an attorney immediately. Ask an injury attorney in Philadelphia about contingency fee arrangements and make sure that you understand how this works. You deserve compensation for your losses, including your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering damages, property damage expenses, and more.