Car Accident Lawyer Fees
Car accident victims who want legal help pursuing compensation for their injuries and losses often worry about the cost of hiring an attorney. Fortunately, most auto accident lawyers handle injury claims on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay their fee if they win your case. Contingency fees provide victims of car accidents with several benefits, although the specifics of the fee structure can vary from lawyer to lawyer and case to case.
How Do Contingency Fees Work in Ohio?
In a contingency fee arrangement, the client pays nothing upfront to hire an attorney for their car accident claim. Instead, the lawyer receives a fee if they recover compensation in their client’s case, whether through a settlement or by winning a verdict and judgment at trial. This arrangement gives contingency fees their name – the lawyer’s fee is contingent on their ability to win.
Lawyers who successfully recover compensation for clients under contingency fee agreements will deduct a percentage of the client’s financial recovery as their fee. The contingency fee arrangement the client signed at the outset of the case will state what percentage of the client’s recovery the lawyer will earn as their fee.
In car crash cases, contingency fee percentages typically range from 25 to 40 percent, depending on factors like the attorney’s experience, the case’s complexity, and the geographic area. Some lawyers also use a sliding scale for contingency fee percentages, with percentages increasing as a case reaches various milestones, such as filing a lawsuit or going to trial.
What Are Standard Car Accident Lawyer Fees?
Pursuing a motor vehicle collision case sometimes requires additional expenditures beyond what a lawyer charges for their experience and knowledge. Some lawyers will shoulder these costs themselves, while others will add them to their fee at the end of a case – so be sure you ask about these during your free consultation. Common expenses incurred by lawyers in car accident cases include:
- Court filing fees
- Process server fees
- Copying or processing fees to obtain documents like police crash reports or the client’s medical records
- Postage expenses
- Photocopying expenses, including the cost of ink/toner and paper or professional photocopying fees
- Deposition fees, including court reporter fees or the cost of hiring a room for the deposition
- Expert witness fees
- Expenses to obtain transcripts of court proceedings
- Costs of prepared trial exhibits
Is a Lawyer Worth the Cost?
Although giving a portion of your financial recovery in your car accident case to an attorney may not seem worth it, the benefits of hiring legal representation often far outweigh their cost. Car accident victims who retain an attorney frequently recover more compensation than accident victims who try to handle their claims alone. An experienced lawyer will know how to accurately value your claim, accounting for losses you might not be aware of. Moreover, they won’t fall victim to the tactics that insurers use to minimize liability, and their ability to litigate a case in court provides valuable leverage during settlement negotiations.
Contact Our Akron Car Accident Lawyers for Help
Ready to pursue the compensation you deserve and at no upfront cost to you? Then contact Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, today for a free initial consultation with an Akron car accident lawyer. We are transparent about our fees and costs and work tirelessly to pursue maximum compensation for you and your family.
