If you've been injured in a serious accident, you probably have all kinds of bills piling up. The last thing you want to contemplate is the cost of hiring a lawyer to sue the party or parties that you believe are responsible for your injuries.
Fortunately, the vast majority of personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis when they take on a case.
What's a Contingency Fee?
Attorney fees can be handled in several different ways. Some attorneys, like those who handle traffic tickets, often charge a flat fee for specific types of cases. Others, like those that serve as counsel for small businesses, may charge hourly rates. Criminal attorneys and divorce attorneys typically ask for a retainer, which functions as a deposit against their total bill.
Personal injury attorneys are unique in that they almost always work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they only get paid if they successfully obtain a settlement or verdict in your case. Typically, you will have a clear agreement that explains exactly what percentage of your settlement money will go to your attorney, along with information about any other expenses that may come out of your share of the proceeds.
Why Do Contingency Fees Get Used?
Contingency fees are a type of win-win proposition for both personal injury attorneys and their clients. They really have next-to-no downsides, and they have the following benefits:
- Because injury plaintiffs are not charged upfront for any of their attorney's services, anybody who has a valid claim can pursue justice over their injuries. Otherwise, only those people who had sufficient financial means could afford to pursue a claim. This makes the civil claim process extremely egalitarian.
- Since the attorney is only paid for their efforts if they succeed, most advocates are very discerning about the cases they accept. If they don't think a case is "winnable," they will usually turn down the client. This helps keep the court system from being flooded with frivolous claims.
- Because the attorney's payment depends on the compensation they can obtain for their client, this virtually ensures that an attorney will do their best to obtain the maximum amount of damages for each case.
In short, the contingency fee system means that nobody who has been seriously injured due to another party's negligence ever has to accept a low-ball offer from an insurance company without a fight just because they're unable to afford experienced representation. Contact a local personal injury attorney near you, such as William J. Cooley, Personal Injury Attorney, to learn more.
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