A car accident has the potential to turn your entire life upside down in a matter of seconds. You could easily be facing physical, emotional and financial losses that are just devastating.
Unfortunately, insurance companies are in business to make money, not put wrongs to right again. Even when someone is 100% not at fault for a crash, they often find themselves struggling to get fair compensation without an auto accident lawyer’s help. If you’re facing circumstances like these, how can you pay for an attorney when you’re already struggling with the financial fallout of your wreck?
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis
The vast majority of personal injury claims, including those involving car wrecks, are taken on a contingency fee basis. This is a payment arrangement where your attorney agrees to charge you only if they either successfully negotiate a settlement for you or win your case in court. At that point, they will take a certain percentage of whatever you’re set to receive as their fee.
Typically, initial consultations on personal injury claims are free. If you and the attorney agree to work together, you will sign a contingency agreement that spells out the exact percentage of the award the attorney will take as their fee and any additional costs.
According to the American Bar Association, a winning attorney will take between one-third and 40% of whatever they obtain for their client, with some attorneys taking the lower amount if the case settles before trial and more if they have to go to court. In addition, contingency agreements may include provisions where the client will reimburse the attorney for any upfront costs they’ve paid as they pursued the claim, such as court costs, fees for expert witnesses and the outlay for copies of medical records.
If you’ve been injured through another driver’s negligent or reckless mistakes, you have every right to seek fair compensation for your injuries and other losses – and a lack of funds doesn’t have to stop you from pursuing what you’re rightfully due. You can learn more about your legal options by speaking with a car accident lawyer in Maryland.
