If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you could be entitled to compensation either through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, depending on who was at fault and what type of coverage exists.
While you may not be thinking about car accident lawyers right after the accident, it’s an important thing to consider to make sure you can get the medical treatment you want without worrying about finances.
Fortunately, you can work with a St. Louis car accident lawyer without worrying about paying any money out of your own pocket, which many people don’t realize.
Car Accident Lawyers Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
Working on a contingency fee basis means you don’t pay any attorney fees upfront when hiring a car accident lawyer. Here’s how this works:
No Upfront Costs
With contingency fees, you aren’t required to pay a lump-sum retainer, hourly charges, or out-of-pocket legal fees while your case is pending. Most people find this helpful, especially after a crash, when money can be tight for medical bills (broken bones, spinal cord injuries, etc…), car repairs, and missed work.
Lawyer Fees Paid Only If You Win
Your attorney only gets paid if you are awarded compensation. If your case is not successful, you usually owe nothing to the lawyer for their time or work. This aligns your lawyer’s interests directly with yours – they have motivation to pursue the maximum compensation possible.
Percentage-Based Fees
Typically, the lawyer will receive a specific percentage of your settlement or jury award. Most car accident lawyers charge a fee that is somewhere between 33% and 40% of your total settlement or award.
For example, if your St. Louis personal injury lawyer helps you settle the case early, the fee might be closer to 33%. If the case is especially complicated or goes all the way to trial, it might be 40%. You should always make sure this is clear before signing an agreement.
Other Case Costs To Consider
Beyond the contingency fee, there are additional expenses that come up during most car accident cases. These can include court filing fees, charges for medical records (MRIs, check-ins, ambulance transport, etc…), costs related to hiring expert witnesses, postage, or special investigative work.
Most law firms take on these costs up front, meaning you don’t have to pay them out of pocket during your case. If you win a settlement or award, these costs are usually subtracted from the total amount before your lawyer’s percentage is calculated.
For example, if your case settles for $90,000 and there are $10,000 in advanced costs, that is deducted first. Then, your lawyer’s percentage comes out of the remaining $80,000, and your share is distributed to you.
Normally, if you don’t recover compensation, you won’t have to repay these costs. However, each law firm may follow its own policy, and some may have you sign an agreement making you responsible for certain costs, win or lose. It’s important to ask your lawyer what their practice is before signing a contract so there are no surprises later on.
If you’re looking for a car accident lawyer, our team is here for you. We provide top-quality legal representation with absolutely no up font costs to you.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.