When you are considering whether you should hire an attorney one of your main concerns is probably how you will pay for the cost associated with attorneys.
This article discusses the basics of how attorney’s fees are calculated. If you have any further questions about attorney’s fees, you should contact the lawyers at Stoy Law Group.
We are happy to answer questions that you may have about your car accident case.
What is the cost of attorney fees for auto accidents?
The fee that clients are charged depends greatly on whether the attorney bills the client per hour or whether the attorney works on a contingent fee basis.
When an attorney charges per hour they record the work that they performed on a client’s case and then sends the client monthly bills, which are to be paid regardless of whether the client is ultimately successful.
Sometimes clients cannot afford to retain an attorney that will charge them per hour. An alternative to this fee system is the contingent fee system.
What is a contingency fee?
Under the contingency fee system, the client does not pay the attorney any fees up front.
Rather, the client and the attorney agree that if the client is ultimately successful the attorney will receive a portion of the settlement or verdict that the client recovered as damages in the lawsuit.
If the client does not recover any damages in the suit the attorney will not receive any compensation for their work on the matter.
The typical contingent fee ranges from 33 1/3 to 40%.
For example, a client and an attorney agree that the attorney will receive a contingency fee of 40%. If the client receives $100,000 in damages after a jury trial the attorney will receive $40,000, plus the expenses the attorney fronted on the case.
Most clients appreciate the opportunity to compensate their lawyer for their work using a contingency fee because the client would not be able to afford legal representation otherwise.
What is a consultation?
A consultation is basically a meeting with a potential client and an attorney.
During this consultation, the attorney will find out basic information about the potential client’s case. After the consultation, the potential client has the opportunity to retain the attorney (hire) to work on their case, if the attorney finds the case has merit.
The Warriors For Justice offer free case consultations to potential clients.
We are happy to answer any questions you have about your case. We fight for our clients rights to receive adequate compensation for their injuries.
What are court fees and expenses?
When an individual files a lawsuit, the individual will be responsible for certain fees and expenses such as court filing fees, court reporter fees, cost of hiring expert witnesses, and the cost of serving subpoenas.
Sometimes, the client will be responsible for paying for these fees and sometimes the client and the attorney agree that these fees will be paid for out of the settlement. That’s the way we do it at Stoy Law Group, PLLC.
Why is it important to hire an attorney?
While it is possible to represent yourself in your auto accident case, the best thing that you can do for your case is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney.
Experienced personal injury attorneys know how the legal system operates.
They know how to present your case in a way that will provide you with the best opportunity to recover adequate compensation for your injuries.
Experienced personal injury attorneys also know how to hire expert witnesses to present evidence about how severe your injuries are.
How do I know if I should hire an attorney?
Basically, this question comes down to a simple assessment of whether a car accident is worth the cost.
If you have suffered a severe injury it is likely more important to hire an attorney than in a situation where your injury was minor.
When your injuries are severe, you will likely need a lot of compensation in order to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
However, if you suffered a minor injury you will not need as much compensation in order to pay for the expenses associated with the injury.
Thus, simply put there is more at stake if you have been severely injured.
Of course, remember that you can discuss your situation with an attorney with a free case consultation before you decide if hiring an attorney is right for you.
The lawyers at Stoy Law Group value honesty above all else. If we believe that you would not be benefited by an attorney we will tell you.
If you would be benefited by an attorney we will also be upfront about this.
What should I do if an attorney is attempting to charge me an unreasonable fee?
If your attorney is attempting to charge you an unreasonable fee, you should discuss the situation with the attorney.
The last thing that you would want to happen is allowing the attorney to continue representing you with ambiguous fees.
You can also report this fee as unreasonable to the Texas State Bar. The bar will investigate the claim.
The attorney may be subject to discipline for their actions.
What should I do if an attorney does not explain how her fee will be calculated?
If an attorney does not explain how their fee will be calculated, you should consider finding a different attorney.
You can insist that the lawyer explain the fees to you in a way that you can understand. If the attorney refuses to do this then you should consider retaining a different attorney.
You need an attorney that you can trust.
If an attorney cannot or will not explain their fees to you in a way that you can understand, you should probably consider discussing your case with a different attorney.
If you have any questions, please contact the attorneys at Stoy Law Group, PLLC.
