The number of car accidents in Florida is relatively high, so you see advertisements for car accident attorneys almost everywhere. If you’re in an accident, your focus should be on healing. However, it is important to understand how personal injury attorneys work.
It is beneficial to consider the fee when hiring an attorney. The Ruth Law Team works on a contingency fee basis. Let’s examine how different rates are charged and what variables affect the fees associated with filing a claim for a car accident.
Contingency Fee Structure
In Florida, car accident attorneys primarily practice on a contingency fee basis. In this case, you do not have to pay an upfront fee. Attorneys are only paid if they win the case. If the client does not receive compensation from the other party, then the lawyers also do not get paid. This ensures that all risk falls on the attorney or law firm rather than the client
According to this structure, car accident attorneys charge from 33.3 to 40% of the settlement amount, depending on when the settlement is reached.
This fee structure encourages an attorney to seek the best recovery possible for the case, as a better settlement will benefit both you and the attorney. A contingency fee agreement also means you are able to hire an attorney without worrying about how you are going to afford one. This is particularly important at a time when you may be without a vehicle, hurting, and possibly not working.
Other Fee Structures
Though contingency fee agreements are widely used in Florida by personal injury attorneys, there are also other options such as hourly fees and flat fees, however both of these fee structures usually require up-front payment for services to be performed.
In addition to this, you should also be aware that attorney’s fees in a case are different than costs. While fees are for the work performed, costs are those hard expenses that are incurred to reach a resolution of a case. Examples of costs include, but are not limited to, investigation costs, expenses for medical records to be copied and produced, court-related charges, and postage. Some law firms will advance these costs on your behalf, while some will require you to pay costs as the case proceeds, especially if the law firm is not financially stable enough to advance costs on your behalf. Before signing with an attorney, it is wise to ask if you will be responsible for costs as the case progresses. The Ruth Law Team pays for all costs upfront on behalf of our clients.
Factors
Let’s look into the factors that may affect the contingency fee charged by a car accident lawyer.
Severity of Case
The severity of your injuries directly affects the amount of compensation you are rewarded. Injuries that are not permanent can be limited to the amount it costs in medical treatment to return to how you felt prior to the collision. Injuries that are supported by medical professionals to be permanent can open the door to damages that go beyond medical bills, such as pain and suffering. The lawyer you choose plays a significant role in how your claim is presented and in achieving the best outcome possible.
Whether the Case is Settled or Goes to Trial
If the case is settled outside of court, then the contingency fee will be 33.3%. On the other hand, if the claim requires the need for your case to be litigated in the court system, then the fee will be 40% once a lawsuit has been filed.
Conclusion
After a car accident, hiring an experienced and knowledgeable attorney is key to a successful outcome in your case. Understanding a lawyer’s fee structure and the costs associated with the pursuit of a personal injury case can help you to make an informed and clear decision, but knowing you have an attorney that has the experience to maximize a recovery can make the difference in the outcome.
The Ruth Law Team offers free consultation so you can get all questions you may have answered up front by experienced attorneys before hiring us. Our car accident attorneys in St. Pete work on a contingency fee basis and only get paid when we win the case and get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us here to get a free consultation and get answers to all your queries about fees and the cost of hiring a lawyer.
