If you’ve suffered an injury in an accident, the best investment you can make is to contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area. Why do you need a injury lawyer?
Working with an experienced injury lawyer ensures your case is backed up by the evidence and expert testimony and that you are fighting on a level playing field with the insurance company’s lawyers, giving you the best chance of maximizing your settlement or judgment.
Are you concerned about the cost of working with a lawyer? The Philadelphia injury lawyers at Cousin Benny explain how a injury lawyer structures their fees, what other costs you may have to cover, and how to read and understand your contingent fee agreement.
And if you’ve suffered an injury, call Cousin Benny to discuss your case – free of charge!
Most Injury Lawyers Work “On Contingency”
How much a lawyer costs depends upon the type of case or legal matter you have and how complex it is. Some lawyers work for a flat fee, such as those working in bankruptcy and wills and estates. Others work on an hourly basis, such as those representing individuals in divorces and criminal defense.
injury lawyers generally work on a contingent basis, which means the amount they recieve in legal fees is a percentage of the amount of the judgment or settlement you receive. Accepting cases on contingency gives your injury lawyer incentive to work hard and win, because unless you receive a settlement or a money judgment they do not get paid for their work.
Hiring a injury attorney is win-win for you, because you pay nothing up front yet you get someone experienced and knowledgeable fighting for you against the insurance company and maximizing your recovery.
The types of injury cases usually taken on contingency include these, among others:
- Car accidents
- Dog bite cases
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall injuries
- Truck accidents
- Premises liability cases
- Uber accidents
- Construction site accidents
How Do Injury Lawyers Structure Their Fees?
Fee structures will vary, however, as a general matter, if you do not win, you do not pay your injury lawyer. If your injury lawyer is able to settle your case before you have to file a lawsuit, they usually receive one third of the settlement. If your injury lawyer must file a lawsuit and is able to settle before the trial goes to judgment or the trial goes to judgment, they usually receive 40% of the settlement or judgment.
Don’t be put off by these percentages. Your injury lawyer has the incentive and skill to maximize your settlement or money judgment for the benefit of both you and themselves.
Court Costs and Additional Expenses
Apart from legal fees, lawsuits are expensive. The court charges fees for filing your complaint, filing motions and responses to motions, and entering judgments. You may also incur the following additional costs in your injury case:
- The cost of personal service of your complaint on your adversary
- Postage and copying charges
- Expert witnesses’ fees
- Any cost for obtaining your medical records
- Any cost for obtaining police reports
- The cost of court reporters for depositions
- The cost of creating trial exhibits
Reading Your Contingent Fee Agreement
injury lawyers are required to set forth your obligations as well as their responsibilities in exact terms in your contingent fee agreement. You will know from the start exactly what percentage of your settlement or judgment will go to legal fees. You will also know what other expenses you are responsible for and how your lawyer will charge you for those expenses.
Your lawyer may deduct court fees and other expenses from your settlement or final judgment, but more likely they will charge you monthly as these expenses occur. In any event, your lawyer has as much incentive as you do to minimize costs and maximize your recovery, so if you are concerned about court costs and other expenses eating up your settlement or judgment, don’t hesitate to talk with your lawyer about it. From their experience with injury lawsuits they will be able to estimate both your recovery and your costs depending upon how long your case takes to settle or reach final judgment.
Once your case settles or you get a judgment, your lawyer will process the payment and provide you with your portion as well as a detailed accounting of deductions for their fee and other expenses per your written contingency agreement.
Contact Our Injury Lawyers in Philadelphia to Learn More About Fees
You have enough on your plate just recovering from your injury – don’t hesitate to ask for help getting compensation for your medical bills, the wages you lost because you were out of work, and your pain and suffering. Come talk with the injury lawyers at Cousin Benny, where we treat you like family. Call us today to find out how much your case is worth!
