How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

If you were involved in a vehicle collision or other accident where you experienced major injuries (such as broken bones or fracture, a spinal cord injury or a brain injury), you’re probably interested in knowing how much it costs to hire a personal injury attorney. By making an investment in the right lawyer, you can help your chances to reach the best outcome possible for compensation for your losses. Read on to learn about the costs involved for personal injury representation.

For a greater understanding of how a lawyer can help you, you can contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Tatum & Atkins for a free consultation with one of our firm partners.

Contingency Fees

The good news for those pursuing a personal injury claim is that most lawyers “work on contingency,” instead of being paid by the hour. This means that the lawyer won’t get receive any fee for their services unless it comes from a portion of a settlement or a jury award if your case goes to trial and succeeds. For most contingency fee arrangements, if you don’t win your case, then you don’t owe your attorney any fees. At Tatum & Atkinson we have a no win, no fee policy which means you get top notch legal representation and don’t pay us anything unless we get you paid.

Because of this arrangement, many victims of personal injury can actually have quality legal representation with nothing out of pocket. For the lawyer’s part, it gives them great incentive to work hard for you; if they don’t win money for you, they don’t get money either.

Attorney Fee Percentage

Your attorney is paid a percentage of your recovery as their fee for working on the case. However, the exact percentage varies and will depend on several factors. These factors typically include:

• Whether the attorney will have to pay for case/trial expenses
• Whether the attorney files a lawsuit or has to go to trial on your case
• The simplicity or complexity of your personal injury case
• How risky your case is to the attorney

Additional Costs for Personal Injury

While you don’t typically pay your personal injury lawyer any fees, there are other costs related to a claim or lawsuit that must be paid. The process is still pricey and can include costs and fees for the following:

• Court reporters
• Expert witnesses
• Filing fees
• Medical records
• Postage and copying costs
• Trial exhibits

Prior to the representation, you and your attorney will come to an arrangement about how to handle these costs.

The Significance of Settlements

Another significant aspect is the issue of whether your lawyer files a lawsuit in your case. If your personal injury case settles before your lawyer has to file a lawsuit, then the contingency fee is generally lower. Typically, in most cases, the fee is about 1/3 of the total of the settlement offer.

Speak to a Personal Injury Attorney

Having an idea of the costs involved in consulting with a personal injury attorney can help ease some concerns. Knowing that you don’t have to pay any upfront money can help alleviate some stress from an unfortunate situation. If you’ve been injured, increase your chances for getting proper compensation with a skilled PI attorney. Contact a Tatum & Atkins attorney today to discuss your case. We are ready to get started on a winning case for you today!