Personal Injury Attorneys Will Cost You Nothing
Following an accident that results in serious injuries, you may have a lot of critical concerns. At the top of the list: How much will it cost to hire a lawyer to help you pursue your claim?
At a time when your finances seem more difficult to manage than ever before, and you’re facing ever-increasing medical bills and an inability to work due to your injuries, hiring an attorney may seem prohibitively expensive. In reality, however, hiring a personal injury attorney will cost you nothing upfront, and nothing at all unless your attorney gets you results.
Personal Injury Attorneys Offer Free Case Reviews
Most personal injury attorneys will provide your initial case review for free. You can come in, discuss your claim and your needs, and get a better picture of what your personal injury claim will look like and how much compensation you deserve.
Your attorney will offer valuable insights into what evidence you need and how long it might take to prepare and file a personal injury claim. This can help you make critical decisions as you manage your finances and handle your medical care.
During that free consultation, the attorney can also evaluate whether you have a viable legal claim that the lawyer could pursue for you.
In this initial read on your legal options, the attorney may want to know:
- How your accident occurred;
- The parties involved;
- The severity of your injuries (Did you suffer injuries with lifelong consequences, like traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury?); and
- What steps, if any, you have taken so far to obtain compensation.
A free case review can also provide you with valuable assurances that will help you decide how to move forward with your claim. How much compensation might you really deserve? An attorney may help give you an idea during that initial consultation.
Contingency Fee Cases
Most personal injury attorneys represent clients on a contingency fee basis. In a divorce case or criminal case, an attorney will usually charge an hourly fee for his services.
Personal injury lawyers, however, represent injured people who may not have the money to pay for a lawyer that way. To help them maximize the value of their claim and receive the legal support they need, personal injury attorneys usually agree to work for their clients on a contingent fee basis.
In a contingent fee representation, instead of paying an hourly fee for the attorney’s services, you agree on a percentage of your claim the lawyer gets to keep as a fee typically agreed to on a tiered basis, whether the lawyer succeeds in securing you compensation through a settlement, jury verdict, or some other means. You do not pay the lawyer money upfront or as the case goes along. Instead, the lawyer receives a fee only if the case results in a financial recovery for you.
For many people, especially those who suffer serious, long-term injuries, contingent fee arrangements mean the difference between access to justice and denial of it.
Can You Afford Not to Have an Attorney?
Hiring a personal injury attorney sounds expensive, but as we’ve said, it’s not.
Still, you may worry that the attorney’s contingency fee will eat into the settlement you ultimately receive, leaving you without the full funds you deserve for your losses in a serious accident. You may have suffered amputation, severely broken bones, or limitations that will lead to lifelong disabilities and the high costs associated with them. You need as much money as you can get from your personal injury claim to help you rebuild your life, from paying off your medical bills to making needed modifications to your home to help you maintain your independence.
You needn’t worry. In the vast majority of cases, an experienced attorney’s services significantly increase the funds that injured people may receive for their personal injury claims, even after deducting the attorney’s percentage contingent fee. Plus, you get more than just money from a personal injury attorney’s work on your behalf.
An attorney also helps you understand your legal options, which can help you make important life decisions. And, an attorney’s knowledge and advice help you determine when to accept a settlement offer and when to continue fighting for more compensation.
An Experienced Attorney Can Investigate All the Circumstances That Led to Your Accident.
An attorney can evaluate the circumstances that led to your accident, from a drunk or distracted driver to exposed electrical wiring on a construction site. In many cases, the attorney may also identify additional parties that also share liability for your injuries. If you can identify multiple liable parties, then you may have the option of filing a personal injury claim against each one.
An Experienced Attorney Can Negotiate on Your Behalf.
Many people, especially those who suffered serious injuries like traumatic brain injury, find that putting negotiation of their claim in the hands of an experienced personal injury attorney significantly reduces their stress and anxiety about their financial futures. That peace of mind pays dividends beyond improving mental health, too. Importantly, it can give you the patience and confidence you need to allow your lawyer to negotiate deliberately, rather than trying to settle your claim just to get it over with.
Having that patience while your lawyer works for you can give you an edge in negotiations. It shows that you mean business, which can help in convincing the liability insurance company to settle with you for the highest available amount.
An Attorney Can Advocate for You.
In a personal injury claim, it may feel as though no one has your best interests at heart. The liable party just wants to avoid accepting liability. The insurance company may want to avoid paying out any more than necessary. Your attorney, however, has your best interests at heart and will fight for your rights and interests through the claim.
Do You Need a Personal Injury Attorney?
If you suffered serious injuries in an accident due to the careless or reckless actions of another party, an attorney can help. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident to learn more about your right to compensation.