Personal Injury Claim

If you’re in a situation in which you need to hire a lawyer for a personal injury claim, you might have a lot of questions. The following should help you understand how to estimate the cost of your lawsuit, but you should speak to a lawyer to get a more accurate number.

The Lawyer’s Services

In many accident or injury cases, lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means payment is dependent upon winning the case. Once you are allotted a settlement amount, the lawyer’s fee for services would come out of it. Many lawyers charge somewhere from 33%-40%, though that could be higher or lower depending on the lawyer you hire. It’s also possible to negotiate the amount.

Legal Costs

In addition to the fee for your lawyer’s services, you will typically be required to pay other legal costs associated with your case. This could include costs for investigating your claim, filing paperwork, hiring other professionals to assist in the case, and more. You will need to come up with an agreement with your lawyer about how these costs will be paid, which is typically handled before a lawyer will provide any services. A few payment options include:

• You paying the costs out of pocket as they come up
• The lawyer paying the costs and including it as part of the contingency fee
• The lawyer paying the costs and being reimbursed separately from your settlement

Getting It in Writing

Before you sign any paperwork, be sure you have thoroughly discussed these matters with your personal injury lawyer. Ask your lawyer to put all the cost and fee agreements in writing, then carefully look it over to be sure you understand exactly what will be required of you. If something in the document isn’t what you thought it should be, don’t be afraid to bring it up with your attorney. If you feel the document is correct, both you and your lawyer should sign it.

What to Expect

You really can’t know what to expect until you and your lawyer sit down and consider every aspect of your case. You will need to discuss medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, physical disability, and a variety of other factors that could play a role in the final settlement amount. The amount you can expect to pay will depend on that estimated settlement.

Contacting Your Lawyer Today

Being in the midst of a personal injury claim can be tricky, but with the help of an attorney, you can get through it. Contact a personal injury lawyer, for assistance in understanding what you’ll owe after your case is closed.