Most car accident lawyers work under a contingency agreement. It means that the lawyer fronts all costs and receives no upfront money. If the case fails, the client would usually pay nothing. If the case is successful, the lawyer would usually get around a third of the settlement money won for the victim.
This share of the settlement is usually granted to the lawyer, so they’ll be more willing to take on more cases with the risk of not getting paid anything.
However, with a skilled attorney, both the client and the lawyer usually receive fair compensation. A lawyer’s experience fighting insurance companies often means clients earn much more in support than they would by handling a claim themselves.
How Does My Car Accident Lawyer Get Paid?
To make sure everyone can afford legal assistance after a car accident, most personal injury lawyers will work under a contingency agreement. It means that all upfront costs, court fees, and investigative expenses are covered by the lawyer. The victim doesn’t pay anything.
This is usually a much-needed benefit for victims going through a difficult time. They may be struggling with medical bills right after an accident. And it’s during a period when their injuries won’t allow them to work. Many won’t have the money to pay a lawyer’s fee.
When a case is successful, the lawyer will usually receive around 33% of the settlement check (or judgment awarded in court). Some law firms also take any investigative fees and court costs out of the award. The goal is to still leave the victim with much more than they could have won by taking on an auto insurance company themselves.
The Risk to the Lawyer: Lawyers take on the risk when their pay is contingent on winning. This is a true risk, because lawyers don’t have any guarantee that they’ll be paid later. It all hinges on a successful case. And they can lose a case for many reasons, many that aren’t their fault.
Lawyers put up the money for things like paying accident reconstruction teams, expert witnesses, and court costs. They also put their time in on cases without knowing if they’ll be paid for their hours worked. This presents a problem for attorneys who must worry about paying their staff members and the rent for their offices, even the power bill.
These are all reasons why lawyers usually get a share of the compensation a car insurance company provides.
Remember: How your attorney gets paid should never come as a surprise. Your lawyer must clearly explain how they get paid, how much, and when. If you are unclear on these factors, don’t sign a contingency agreement until you understand how they get reimbursed. If they won’t clearly state these things, it may be a sign that you need to look for another lawyer.
How Does My Lawyer Help Me With My Car Accident Case?
First and foremost, your lawyer should be upfront with you about whether you really need a lawyer or not. A reputable lawyer will not accept your case if they’d be unable to earn you any more than you could win by handling it yourself.
Generally, if your car accident only involves car damage and/or very minor injuries, you probably don’t need legal representation to get the money to fix your car.
But when your accident involves a serious injury, healing will take longer, and the hospital bills will keep coming. The higher recovery costs make insurance adjusters scramble and put up roadblocks in front of you.
They can make false accusations about you and even question what your doctors say about your injury diagnosis.
At this point, a Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer is a strong safeguard and value enhancer for your case:
- Your lawyer investigates the circumstances of your accident and doesn’t let any evidence slip through the cracks.
- Your lawyer proves who was to blame when a car insurance company tries to shift blame to you.
- Your lawyer works with your doctors and has your medical invoices ready when insurers try to cast doubt on your pain and injury complications.
- Your lawyer files your claim for you, giving you extra time to focus on healing.
- Your lawyer negotiates for the highest settlement available and rejects any “lowball” offers.
- Your lawyer represents the threat of a lawsuit if car insurance companies don’t accept full responsibility for everything you’ve been through. A lawsuit is something insurers want to avoid due to the high cost of going to court and the bad press they’ll receive. This threat makes them try even harder to provide you with a satisfactory settlement check.
Contact a Bakersfield Attorney If You Are Hurt in a Car Accident
If your collision leaves you or a loved one with a serious injury, and you weren’t to blame, it’s a good idea to speak with a real lawyer in a free, no-obligation case consultation. Find out what your injury is worth before car insurance adjusters tell you it isn’t worth anything.
And if you do need a lawyer to get aggressive with insurers, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers. We don’t charge anything unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurer must write for you.