There are many people who are reluctant to file personal injury lawsuits after they are injured by the negligence of another person or entity. In most cases, the reason they are hesitant to seek legal representation is because they believe they won’t be able to afford the lawyer’s fees or other related legal expenses.
However, in the majority of cases, those who file a lawsuit against the negligent party will not pay anything out-of-pocket or up front. This is due to the fact that the majority of personal injury attorneys will handle these cases on a contingency fee basis.
What Does a Contingency Fee Mean in Relation to a Personal Injury Case?
A contingency fee means that the fee is only applied if the lawyer successfully represents the case and helps you recover monetary compensation.
This means that whether or not you win is what determines if your attorney gets paid. If your attorney is unsuccessful, then you don’t have to pay the attorney. If the case is successful, the attorney will receive a pre-determined percentage of the award.
How Much is the Standard Contingency Fee for Personal Injury Lawsuits?
The next question that clients have is how much the attorney will receive. However, this is not a question that has a black and white answer as this depends on several factors. In most cases, the attorney will receive a percentage of the amount recovered, rather than a flat rate. When the lawyer first agrees to take on the case, they will get the client to sign an agreement that determines what percentage will be paid. The percentage will depend on how challenging the case is.
If a lawyer is not successful and does not win the case, they will not charge any fee for the work they do. However, most attorneys will charge the costs they incurred while trying to pursue the case. If the plaintiff makes the decision to change attorneys or not to go through with the lawsuit, the attorneys will likely charge for the time they put into the case. All of this will be outlined in the client-attorney agreement.
What This Means for Your Personal Injury Case
If you are planning on filing a personal injury lawsuit, there are many factors that you will need to consider. However, if you are worried about the cost, this may be something you can cross off the list. Since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t have to worry about putting money upfront.
If you are ready to begin the filing process, you need to hire a personal injury attorney in Florida. To learn more, contact our team of expert attorneys at Fetterman & Associates by calling 561-845-2510. They can review the facts of your case to determine whether or not it is worth pursuing.
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