How are attorney’s fees paid in a personal injury lawsuit?
When someone has been injured in a car or motorcycle accident, the idea of needing to hire a personal injury attorney can be stressful. This is especially true if the injured party is dealing with a mounting pile of medical bills, and/or if they are unable to work due to the extent of their injuries.
On one hand, you understand the importance of having proper legal representation, because you’ll need it to get the level of compensation that you deserve. On the other hand, if you’re struggling to make rent and car payments, the idea of needing to pay a lawyer to represent you can have you feeling as if you’ve swallowed a brick.
The good news is that when you hire an experienced Naples car accident law firm you may be able to hire an attorney who is willing to take your case on contingency. What this means, is that your attorney will not be paid unless your case is successful.
When you hire a lawyer on contingency, their fee will be a percentage of the amount you’re awarded.
What contingency doesn’t cover
Although contingency agreements cover attorney’s fees, there are things you may still need to pay for out of pocket before the case is settled.
For example, if your lawyer needs to pay court filing fees, you’ll likely need to reimburse your attorney for those as they arise. You’ll want to ask your lawyer about what types of expenses you may need to cover throughout your case, early on, so you won’t be met with any surprises.
Benefits of contingency
Attorneys don’t take cases on contingency unless they think they have a good chance of winning. If you’ve met with seven personal injury lawyers and they all decline to represent you, it’s likely because they feel your claim won’t be successful in court.
If you’ve met an attorney who will take your case on contingency, be sure to ask them how much experience they have with your type of case. You’ll also want to ask them about their prior success rate along with how long it may take for your case to settle.
The more questions you ask during your first meeting, the better.
If you’re thinking about filing a personal injury lawsuit and you have questions about how the process works, how much your case might be worth, and whether your case would be successful, call The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. today to schedule a free consultation.
