How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident attorney?

After you have been in an accident, you may be nervous to inquire with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. Because of the misconception that you cannot afford a Personal Injury Lawyer. Generally, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means we will not be paid for our services unless you obtain a settlement on your case. So how much does it cost to hire a car accident attorney?

What is a Contingency Fee?

Cornell Law School makes it simple when defining a contingency fee. ” A contingency fee is a form of payment to a lawyer for their legal services. In contrast to a fixed hourly fee, in a contingent fee arrangement lawyers receive a percentage of the monetary amount that their client receives when they win or settle the case.

A contingency fee is how BIB Law Group handles payment. As a premier Los Angeles car accident lawyer, we have set percentage of the total financial amount recovered in your lawsuit. The contingency fee percentage can vary depending the type of case.

Although you do not have to pay the costs upfront, your attorney does take a “cut” of the final amount. However, this also means the attorney is incentivized to help you obtain the maximum financial award. This type of fee agreement makes it attainable for victims of car accidents who could not otherwise afford a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, hire one.

Are there additional expenses?

In addition to the fee lawyers charge for their services, there may be additional expenses. These expense will be directly associated with your case. Expenses ( case costs) can include court costs, administrative fees, process servers and deposition costs, costs to obtain medical records, postage and mailing costs, costs for expert witnesses, and more. Your agreement with your attorney will likely be detailed as to what costs you are expected to pay.

What if I lose my case?

Contingency fee agreements are particularly appealing to people who otherwise would not be able to afford an attorney because there is minimal risk. In most cases, they are not obligated to pay their attorney a fee if they don’t recover any financial reward in their case. In other cases, clients may only be asked to pay certain administrative costs like mailing and postage or process server fees. The exact terms will be laid out in your representation agreement. Your attorney has an ethical responsibility to make sure you understand the terms before you agree to anything.

Can I use a different type of fee arrangement?

Los Angeles car accident lawyers can use several different types of fee arrangements. As long as they conform to California law. One common type of fee arrangement is the hourly rate, where the client will pay a retainer upfront. Once the attorney has expensed their time against the retainer, the client will be billed for each additional hour spent working on that case.

Some attorneys work for a flat fee, especially for cases where the level of expected work and the outcome are predictable. Flat fees are unusual in personal injury cases, because these cases are generally more complex and can have a wide range of outcomes. Flat fees are more common for services like drafting a will or a prenup.

Some, but very few, attorneys will offer a sliding scale cost of services based on your income or your financial situation. This is also unusual in a personal injury case. But, it may be worth asking about when you need legal services for a different matter.

What happens if I decide I want a different Los Angeles car accident lawyer part way through the case?

You have the right to be represented by an attorney you choose. Generally, you are entitled to hire a different attorney at almost any stage of your case. Especially, if you are dissatisfied with the level of service you are receiving from your current attorney.

If you decide to hire a new car accident lawyer, you will not be required to pay attorney’s fees individually to both attorneys. Your fees will be split based on the level of service each attorney provided to you. Not to exceed the contingency fee percentage.

Contact a Los Angeles car accident lawyer

When you’ve experienced a traumatic car accident, you shouldn’t delay reaching out to an attorney. Especially, if it’s because you are concerned about the financial cost. Many attorneys are willing to work with you. We work with your circumstances to help you obtain the financial compensation you are owed. The attorneys at B|B Law Group have experience in personal injury and are willing to work with you. We want to answer all of your questions. Contact the B|B Law Group to schedule a consultation today!