If you are thinking of hiring a personal injury lawyer, one of your first questions is probably “How much is this going to cost?” If that’s the case, you are not alone. Many people wonder whether the amount that they will have to pay justifies hiring an attorney at all. The simple answer to that question is that yes, in most cases it does benefit you to hire an attorney for your personal injury case. Attorneys can typically obtain much larger settlements for you. Personal injury attorneys usually charge on contingency, meaning that you don’t pay if you don’t win your case. The attorney fees typically range from 33% to 40% of the settlement you receive after expenses are deducted.
How Are Fees Determined?
While the fee you will be charged varies from one law firm to the next, the most common charge is one-third of your settlement or 33.3%. If a lawsuit is filed, this is often increased to 40%.
Why Do They Charge More for a Lawsuit?
When your personal injury claim involves a lawsuit, there is much more work involved for your attorney. The case may not be brought to trial for months, and your lawyer will spend many more hours preparing than they would have to if they simply negotiated a settlement with an insurance company. They must file depositions of the witnesses and the at-fault party, spend time attending court hearings, and prepare and file extensive legal pleadings.
When you embark on a personal injury claim, there can be many factors that determine your settlement, and whether you win the case. It is always best to have a skilled legal team on your side, to ensure that you are awarded the best possible settlement. If you need an attorney to fight for you, reach out to the experienced legal professionals at Shlesinger & deVilleneuve.
