I would hire a personal injury attorney if I had enough money. This phrase is muttered time and time again, by people from all walks of life. While it sounds reasonable enough, if you know anything about hiring a personal injury attorney, you realize that it may not take any money at all.

Personal Injury Lawyers Work on Contingency Fees

In most cases, personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee basis. What does this mean? In simple terms, if we win the case, the lawyer will receive a percentage of the award as their fee. If we lose, the attorney receives no money and the client walks away.

Of course, you need to realize that fees are different than “costs.” You may be responsible for particular costs associated with your case. For instance, are you responsible for paying a filing fee? Also, while we do not, some lawyers charge consultation costs. This is the cost of hearing the details of your case.

So, while you may not pay for hiring a personal injury attorney there could be some minimal costs that you are responsible for paying. It usually isn’t an issue, but it is better to ask up front than to be surprised down the line.

Determining How Much Contingency Fees are Charged

How much is the contingency fee? This depends largely on the personal injury attorney that you hire, as well as your state. Generally speaking, most fees range from 33% to 40% of the award. But, because the chances of winning your case are increased when you work with a lawyer, this amount often pays for itself.

Why You Can’t Afford to Not Hire a Lawyer

In some cases, you can’t afford not to hire a lawyer. If you were injured, it is likely that you have already begun to receive medical bills. If you were unable to work for a while, you may be wondering how you are going to cover those bills. It is also unlikely that the cost of medical services will stop anytime soon. You may need rehabilitation, prescriptions, counseling, or even more medical visits.

Hiring a lawyer provides many benefits to your case. In addition to an increased chance of winning your case, the knowledge and experience that personal injury lawyers have can help you receive a higher offer. Of course, we also are always looking for ways to keep costs down, while ensuring that you get as much compensation as possible.

When to Accept a Settlement Offer

One of the ways that we work to keep your costs down is to help you consider any settlement offers that you might receive. Settlement offers can keep court and filing costs down, while still giving you the opportunity to collect the compensation you need to recover. We carefully consider any offers that you might receive to ensure that they appropriately cover your damages.

It is also important that we involve our clients in this process. You are the one who was injured, and we work for you. Our goal is to make your recovery easier.

If you need to hire a personal injury attorney you should not let money stop you. At the very least, call a qualified attorney for a free consultation. This way you can talk about your case, and determine how much, if anything, it will cost you.