How Much Do Lawyers Charge for Car Accident Claims?

A motor vehicle accident can be extremely stressful and leave you with physical and emotional injuries. With everything a collision victim might be facing, it is beneficial for most to seek legal help rather than try to handle their claims on their own. What makes far too many hesitate to hire a car accident lawyer, though, is the fear of how much legal services may cost. 

Since each car accident claim is unique, there is no set amount that lawyers charge for each case. The fees personal injury attorneys charge for a car accident case depend on a variety of factors. Understanding how personal injury lawyer fee structures work can help you select the right law firm to represent your car accident case. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else, having an experienced lawyer can greatly improve your chances of being awarded the maximum compensation possible for your claim. At Phillips Law Group, we offer all potential clients a free, no-obligation review of their cases. Schedule yours today by calling us at 1-800-706-3000 or completing the evaluation form. 

Car Accident Lawyer Fee Agreement

You may be hesitant to hire a lawyer because you are worried about having to pay an upfront fee. However, this is not usually the case. 

Personal injury lawyer fees can be structured in the following ways:

• Flat fee: This is a fixed rate that your lawyer will charge regardless of how long the case takes or the outcome
• Hourly fee: Your lawyer charges a set fee for every hour spent working on your case
• Contingency fee: Your lawyer is paid a percentage of the settlement you are awarded

Phillips Law Group takes personal injury cases on a contingency fee agreement. You never have to pay upfront and we only get paid out of the final settlement if we win your case. 

Contingency Fee Arrangement Agreement Explained

The contingency fee arrangement for hiring a car accident lawyer is beneficial for clients who, like most people, do not have thousands of extra dollars lying around to spend on upfront legal costs. Car accident lawyers who work on contingency do not get paid unless your case is successful and you receive compensation. Your lawyer will then receive a percentage of your recovery. 

Here is a brief explanation of how the fee arrangement works at Phillips Law Group:

• Your initial consultation is free. It is recommended that all car accident victims at least consult a lawyer to discuss their cases and receive legal advice. We offer all potential clients a free, no-obligation case consultation. 
• You pay no upfront costs. We will assess your car accident case and determine whether you have a valid claim to compensation. If you decide to hire our law firm, we will diligently begin working on your case without any upfront cost to you. 
• We are paid a percentage of your settlement. You will not pay anything until your case concludes and you are awarded a settlement. We will then charge a percentage of the settlement amount you receive. If, for some reason, you do not receive compensation, we will not charge you.

Average Contingency Fees for Car Accident Lawyers

You might be thinking the contingency fee agreement sounds great so far, but how much do personal injury lawyers actually charge in a car accident case? Typically, the contingency fee is a percentage of your overall award or settlement amount. The percentage ranges from 30 to 40 percent, with most fees being around 33 percent. 

When you choose Phillips Law Group to represent you, you can be assured that we will be open and honest with you about our fees. Transparency is key. We will explain our fee structure to you and answer any questions you have before you sign documents hiring us as your lawyers.

Factors That May Affect How Much the Contingency Fee Percentage

Often, the timeline of a car accident case determines how high or low a contingency fee percentage will be. A personal injury lawyer may charge a higher percentage for a case that is more complicated to settle. 

For example, a car accident lawyer may charge a client 33 percent of the settlement if the case can be resolved without filing a lawsuit. If the case needs to go further, though, the fee may increase to 40 percent. The increase is meant to account for the additional time, effort, and expense that the law firm puts into your claim. 

Additional Fees That Are Common With Car Accident Claims

Some car accident claims are complicated and difficult to resolve. Many people do not realize the amount of work that goes into each of these cases. It takes time, money, and diligence to thoroughly investigate a car accident, determine liability, speak with experts, and collect evidence. 

Your lawyer and the support staff will need to make calls, draft and file documents, send letters, and consider strategies. The legal team working for you will need to take the time to delve into the specifics of your injury and damages to ensure they accurately calculate the value of your claim. Negotiations with the insurance company can take many months, as can preparing for trial. 

Costs that go into building a solid car accident claim may include:

• Filing fees
• Postage fees
• Fees for obtaining copies of police reports and medical records
• Cost of hiring investigators
• Cost of consulting with field experts
• Cost of attending negotiation meetings
• Cost of conducting depositions
• Cost of preparing trial exhibits

When personal injury lawyers take on a case, they may perform all of the above work without any guarantee of payment. They want to win, though. The costs and expenses that go into building your case may be deducted from your settlement or award, just like the contingency fee. 

How Soon Should You Contact a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

At Phillips Law Group, we understand that a motor vehicle accident is a stressful experience. You may be injured and the last thing on your mind might be calling a lawyer. However, the sooner you contact an attorney after a car accident, the greater the chance you will have of recovering maximum compensation. 

It is recommended that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a car crash. The longer you wait to hire legal help, the more likely that valuable evidence will be lost or destroyed. On the other hand, contacting a law firm sooner means your legal team can begin working on your car accident claim before evidence degrades and the statute of limitations runs out.  

The statute of limitations regulates how long anyone has to file a claim or lawsuit after an injury. This limit varies from state to state. Contact Phillips Law Group to learn more about this.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Car Accident Lawyer Today

Phillips Law Group handles motor vehicle accident claims on a contingency fee basis because we want to help victims get their lives back on track. The contingency fee arrangement benefits car accident victims who are dealing with problems, such as medical bills and being unable to return to work. 

Having to pay legal fees upfront would deter many individuals from filing a car accident lawsuit and receiving the compensation they are entitled to receive. When a law firm takes cases on contingency, though, the financial obstacle is removed. More people can have access to legal guidance and representation. 

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, our law firm is here to help. At Phillips Law Group, we offer all potential clients a free, no-obligation review of their cases. Schedule yours today by calling us at 1-800-706-3000 or completing the evaluation form.