It is understandable to wonder if incurring the additional expense of a car accident lawyer is the best decision. In most cases you will obtain far more compensation by utilizing the services of a skilled car accident lawyer.
How much does a car accident lawyer cost in a California auto accident case? In 2024, the short answer is most car accident lawyers charge a fee of 33.33% of the settlement amount the lawyer obtains for the client. If your case requires litigation such as trial or arbitration proceedings, the car accident lawyer’s contingency fee percentage may increase to 40% of the amount recovered.
The Cost of a Car Accident Claim
Anyone who has been the victim of a California car accident knows the extent of the damage can be severe and far-reaching. It can affect your physical health, finances, emotional well-being, and livelihood. Just and proper compensation for your injuries and damages is necessary to help you recover for your physical and financial losses.
When seeking compensation through an insurance settlement or litigation, you likely qualify for economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are easier to determine because they are associated with quantifiable expenses that have specific totals. Expenses like medical bills and car repair costs are examples. Non-economic damages are more challenging to calculate because there are no predetermined amounts for them, but a car accident lawyer will be able to accurately determine your non-economic damages. Pain and suffering and emotional distress are considered non-economic damages.
Economic damages include expenses for:
- Medical treatment
- Physical therapy
- Vehicle repair
- Assistive equipment such as a wheelchair
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
Non-economic damages recoverable in a car accident case can include:
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
Obtaining the proper amount of compensation for your car accident will mean an easier financial recovery after the accident.
Car Accident Lawyer Fees
Hiring a car accident lawyer is the best way to handle your settlement or litigation, but many people feel apprehension about the added expenses during a time when finances are already tight. A lawyer’s fee agreement will determine how much the client must pay and how that payment will be made. Common fee agreements include flat rates, retainers, hourly rates, and contingency fees. Fees charged may vary from lawyer to lawyer.
Most of these fees are straightforward or self-explanatory. A flat rate is used when the attorney charges a set amount for completing a certain service. This type of fee is generally used for simple legal services, such as writing a prenuptial agreement or reviewing a contract.
Hourly rates are charged for the work an attorney does, regardless of the outcome of the case. Hourly attorney fees vary based on numerous factors, like the area of law, the type of work being performed, the experience level of the attorney, and the complexity of the case.
Retainers are like a deposit for legal services. The client pays the retainer fee upfront, and then the attorney draws from it as they complete work for the client. Retainers are often used in conjunction with hourly fees.
A Contingency Fee Agreement Is Most Commonly Used in Car Accident Cases
The good news is that in 2024 most personal injury and car accident lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. When using a contingency fee, the lawyer’s fee is not paid up front. They agree to accept a percentage of the amount of compensation the attorney recovers for the client. That means no money is due upfront, and you do not owe the attorney any money unless they recover money for you on your case. The lawyer’s fees are paid out of the money they recover for you, and only after it’s been paid. There is no financial risk to you when hiring a car accident lawyer on a contingency fee arrangement. You owe them nothing unless they recover money for you.
You will benefit from having a skilled car accident attorney on your side to advocate for you. It gives you the best chance of a favorable outcome on your car accident claim without any added financial risk. In 2024, most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee of 33.33%. For example, if you receive $150,000 from a settlement or as a result of litigation, your personal injury lawyer’s contingency fee would be $50,000. However, if your case does not end with compensation, you owe the attorney nothing. Contingency fee rates typically increase to 40% if your case requires trial or arbitration proceedings. The majority of car accident injury cases settle before trial or arbitration is needed.
The contingency fee arrangement is preferable for most people involved in car accident cases because of the financial strain that is associated with car accidents. If personal injury lawyers charged by the hour, as many lawyers do, their car accident clients would be at a disadvantage. Fewer people could afford counsel. Having a lawyer on a contingency fee basis makes the benefit of having legal assistance readily accessible to most car accident victims.
Car Accident Victims Receive More Compensation When Represented by A Lawyer
When analyzing car accident lawyer fees, it is important to note the car accident victims who are represented by a skilled attorney often receive substantially more compensation than those car accident victims who are self-represented. In fact, an insurance industry study found that individuals who are represented by an attorney receive a settlement which is on average 3.5 times greater than self-represented individuals. Even accounting for a standard contingency fee, you are likely to have a better overall case outcome and receive more money in your pocket with a higher settlement amount when represented by a skilled car accident lawyer.
We offer California Car Accident Victims a Free Consultation, with No Attorney’s Fees Unless We Recover
At The Hassell Law Group, our legal team are experts in car accident law and personal injury law and have over 100 years of combined legal experience. Experience matters. We stand up to aggressive insurance companies and our record of award-winning results for our clients shows this. We fight hard to obtain 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. We welcome your questions, and our legal team looks forward to helping you get your car accident injury claim paid.
Read next: Do I need an attorney to get a car accident settlement?
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.
Do I Need An Attorney To Get A Car Accident Settlement?