How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

Every year, millions of people get into car accidents (6 million to be exact) and half of those individuals are injured in the car accident. If you or your loved one have been in a car accident, particularly one that was not your fault, you should consider hiring a car accident attorney.

Many insurance companies want you to settle your case for the least amount possible, which could be thousands of dollars less than what you would get with an attorney. Curious as to how it works and how much a car accident attorney costs? Read on to learn more.

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Car Accident Attorney Fees

If you watch TV or listen to the radio, chances are you’ve heard a personal injury law firm claim something along the lines of “there’s no fee unless you win.” What this means is that these attorneys work on a contingent basis. A contingency means that you truly don’t pay your attorney anything unless you win the case.

If you do win the case, your attorney will be paid a certain percentage of your settlement. These fees can vary, but common fees are about 1/3 of your settlement amount. This means that if you are awarded $100,000, $33,000 of it will go to your attorney. If you are awarded nothing, your attorney also gets nothing.

When selecting your attorney, make sure you understand their fee structure and whether they work on a contingency basis. You don’t want any surprises when it comes time to collect your damages.

Other Fees to Consider

There may be other fees to consider, outside of the attorney fees. Your lawyer may have to get copies of the accident report, your medical records, hire expert witnesses or accident reconstruction experts, or others who can bolster your case. All of these resources cost money.

Many firms and lawyers will front you the cost of these specialists, but you’ll be responsible for paying them back from your award. In some cases, you must pay these fees back even if you don’t win. Just like the fee structure should be spelled out ahead of time, the other case expenses, who pays them, and when should also be clear and in writing.

Average Awards

When deciding if you need an attorney or not, you are probably wondering what kind of monetary awards they win for their clients. These amounts vary greatly, depending on the type of case. Some attorneys may win multi-million dollar medical malpractice settlements for their clients, while others routinely win settlements for car accident victims that are much less than that.

Ask your attorney what they think your case is worth. If they are experienced, they’ll be able to give you an idea of what type of award you may expect, based on their past cases. While they can never guarantee anything, it’s likely they will know the ballpark amount that similar cases of been awarded.

If you need one, make sure you do your homework. Don’t just hire any lawyer. Find one with personal injury experience, especially car accidents, to help ensure the success of your case.

Hire a Car Accident Attorney Today

While you might be hesitant to hire a car accident attorney after learning about their fees, the reality is that you will undoubtedly get a larger settlement if you use an attorney vs. trying to negotiate with the insurance company on your own. This difference could be as much as tens of thousands of dollars.

Hiring an attorney is clearly worth it, as your settlement will typically be larger, and they will handle all of the paperwork, negotiations, and communication with the insurance company for you.