When dealing with the aftermath of an accident, many accident victims are injured and often overwhelmed when attempting to navigate the complex insurance claims process. Understanding the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer is crucial for your financial recovery. In California, personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if they win your case. Here’s a clear breakdown of the legal fees you can expect in a personal injury case:
Most Personal Injury Lawyers Use a Contingency Fee Structure
Most personal injury lawyers in California charge a contingency fee, which is a percentage of the settlement or judgment amount. This fee usually ranges from 33.33% to 40% of the total amount recovered in your case. The exact percentage can vary based on the case’s complexity and whether it settles in the pre-litigation stage or requires trial or arbitration to achieve a successful outcome. Here’s a typical breakdown of contingency fees:
- Pre-litigation Settlement: If the case is settled before filing a lawsuit, the attorney’s fee is often 33.33% of the recovery.
- Post-litigation Settlement or Judgement: If the case goes to court and requires litigation the attorney’s fee may increase to 40% of the settlement or judgment amount.
Additional Costs That May Apply
Apart from the contingency fee, there may be other costs associated with your case. These can include:
- Court Fees: Costs for filing the lawsuit and other court-related expenses.
- Expert Witness Fees: Costs of hiring experts to testify or provide opinions.
- Investigation Costs: Expenses related to investigating the accident, including gathering evidence and obtaining reports.
Most personal injury law firms advance these costs upfront and deduct them from your final settlement or judgment. It’s important to discuss any potential case costs with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand any additional fees that may apply to your case.
A Contingency Fee Arrangement Allows Clients to Obtain Risk-Free Legal Representation
One of the biggest advantages of the contingency fee arrangement is that it allows individuals to pursue legal action without any upfront out-of-pocket costs. You don’t pay anything out of pocket unless you win your case, making legal services accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial status. A contingency fee arrangement helps level the playing field for injured accident victims.
Take Advantage of Free Consultations to Discuss Legal Fees
Many personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. This allows you to discuss your case with an experienced attorney and understand your legal options without any out-of-pocket expense. Discussing potential case outcomes and fees directly with the attorney is a best practice before hiring that attorney or firm. You should be fully aware of all costs before hiring a prospective attorney.
Conclusion
Understanding the fee structure of personal injury lawyers in California helps you make an informed decision. The contingency fee model ensures that you can access legal representation without additional financial strain, paying only when you receive compensation for your injuries.
We offer California Accident Victims a Free Consultation, and there are No Attorney’s Fees Unless We Recover Compensation For You
At The Hassell Law Group, our legal team are experts in personal injury law with over 100 years of combined legal experience, and experience matters. We stand up to aggressive insurance companies and have a history of obtaining award-winning results for our clients. We fight every step of the way to achieve the best possible outcome for our car accident clients. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no risk in hiring our law firm.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. We welcome your questions, and our legal team looks forward to helping you obtain compensation for your personal injury claim.
The general information provided on this website should not be considered legal advice and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.
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