What You Should Know About Paying A Car Accident Lawyer
Posted on: 28 August 2020
When dealing with a car accident, one of the things that you may want to do is hire a car accident lawyer. After all, a good car accident lawyer can assist you with every step of your case. One thing that you might be thinking about, however, is whether or not you will be able to afford to hire a car accident attorney, particularly at this point in your life. Even if you aren't concerned about not being able to pay your lawyer, you might be curious about what the payment process is and how much you are going to have to pay. These are a few notes that might answer some of your questions about paying a car accident lawyer.
You Probably Won't Have to Pay Your Attorney Yet
You might be wondering if you will be expected to whip out your debit or credit card when you meet with your attorney for the initial consultation. Typically, the answer to this question is no. The majority of car accident attorneys work on what is known as a contingency basis. After all, these attorneys typically understand that their clients are often in bad financial situations because of their car accidents. Because of this, they often don't expect their clients to pay anything upfront at all. Instead, they only get paid when their client gets a settlement or wins a case in court.
Of course, in some cases, you might have to pay out a small amount of money while your case is being handled, although this money typically will not go toward your legal fees. This might be required to cover things like mailing and document filing fees during the time when you are waiting for a settlement to be offered. You can ask your attorney about whether or not you will be expected to pay for these costs before you get your settlement. If so, your attorney should be able to give you an idea of what these expenses might be.
Your Attorney Will Probably Want a Percentage of Your Settlement
Typically, car accident attorneys do not charge a flat rate. Instead, they typically receive a percentage of the settlement or award that the client receives. Ask your attorney what percentage of your settlement they will receive for their legal fees so that you know what to expect.
Although you might be new to working with a car accident lawyer, you will probably find that the process of working with and paying one of these attorneys is fairly simple. Just keep the notes above in mind, and sit down for a free consultation with a car accident attorney who provides services in your area. Then, you can learn even more about the process and begin working with an attorney who can assist you with your case.
Share