How Do the Best Lawyers Charge For Your Case?

After being a part of a car accident that wasn’t your fault, the next best step is to contact a personal injury lawyer. Personal injury lawyers, commonly known as car accident lawyers, will help navigate your claim, as well as deal with insurance companies and their adjusters. The best car accident lawyer will negotiate and achieve a settlement so you can receive the best amount of compensation for damages sustained in the accident.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer is the first step, paying them is the second. So how much are there services?

Lawyers have a variety of options to pay for their services. The common practice is to offer a contingency fee. For example, Sutliff & Stout Law Firm offers a contingency fee for their clients. An hourly rate – fixed amounts or flat fees – are required by other lawyers.

The method of payment all depends on the kind of lawyer you hire for your case. This will include the fee, fixed rate, and additional expenses added onto that cost. Here are all possible payments charged by your lawyer.

Contingency Fee

The first and popular payment type among personal injury lawyers are contingency fees, which are fee arrangement made at the beginning of your case. These fees give you the opportunity to pay not even a cent until the lawyer settles your case.

Contingency fees amount to one-third of the total recovery cost, which is around 33 percent. This means if you recover $100,000, your lawyer pockets roughly $30,000. The amount can go up or down depending on the outcome of the case. Because of how a fee can fluctuate, it’s vital to keep contact with your lawyer about your contingency fee.

Hourly Rates

An hourly rate is a typical arrangement made for most attorneys. The cost depends on the seniority of the lawyer.

For every hour your lawyer works, the lawyer will charge either the whole hour or a portion of the hour worked.

Fixed Amounts

Fixed amounts, better known as flat fees, are a total fee charged by the lawyer. Fixed amounts are commonly found for simple and non-complex cases (divorce, demand letter, etc.).

Fees and Expenses

Paying your car accident lawyer is just the start. There are additional expenses to keep track of. Below is a list of all additional fees that may be charged as your case develops:

• Consultation fee: This is the first fee charged when first meeting your lawyer.
• Referral fee: A fee charged when a lawyer refers your case to another lawyer.
• Retainer fee: The “down payment” of fees for a lawyer paid hourly. This fee is collected at the beginning of the case while the contingency is collected at the end of the case. These fees are subtracted from the amount given to the lawyers at the end of the case.
• Statutory fee: A fee set by statute or by a court.
• Expert witness fees: Expert witness will charge money to review your case.
• Obtaining evidence: Getting documents and records for your case will cost a few hundred dollars per case.
• Discovery costs: These costs include obtaining a court reporter, paying for a transcript, etc.

Legal expenses and court fees are all depending on the lawyer or law firm you go with. Some firms automatically cover miscellaneous fees while other firms require the client to cover the fees as they are charged. If the firm covers these fees, that amount will be subtracted from the final settlement amount.

An accident lawyer, especially some of the best accident attorneys, aren’t cheap. Before you contact a lawyer or law firm, it’s important to organize your finances beforehand. Fortunately, in the state of Texas, with some of the best hospitals in Houston and the best personal injury lawyers, there's no shortage of help for your case. To seek justice for your case, contact your best personal injury attorney via phone, or Google best car accident lawyer near me or best personal injury lawyer near me.

Hank Stout co-founded Sutliff & Stout, Injury & Accident Law Firm in 2008. Mr. Stout is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and has been actively trying cases for over fifteen years.