As you enter into a car accident claim, you may be wondering how you are going to pay your attorney. Most know that lawyer fees can be pricey and so it’s natural to worry about how you’re going to pay. This is what you need to know about paying your car accident lawyer.
Contingency Fees
Most car accident attorneys work for a contingency fee. The way that contingency fees work is that you do not pay your attorney unless you receive money from a settlement or suit. If the person responsible for the accident has to pay you, then your attorney gets a cut out of that money.
The attorney will calculate the contingency fee based on a percentage of the judgment. Some will take a percentage from the judgment before you deduct other expenses, whereas other lawyers may deduct their percentage after you deduct the expenses. Different lawyers have different standards. Not only do different lawyers have different ways of calculating payment, but different areas might have different standards.
Contingency fees can be advantageous because you have nothing to lose. If you do not win the case, then you do not have to worry about paying for attorney fees that you cannot afford. After all, when you are dealing with a car accident claim, you already have lost money due to medical bills and damages. In addition, your attorney is more likely to work harder for you because he or she will not collect money if you lose.
Hourly Rates
Hourly rates are possible with car accident lawyers, but they are very rare. When it comes to hourly rates, you would pay your attorney for his or her time. This means that you pay your lawyer by the hour when he or she is working on the case. You pay this amount regardless of whether or not the attorney wins the case. If you do not win, then you will still have a legal bill. If a car accident attorney charges you an hourly rate, it may be a sign that you do not have a strong case.
When it comes to paying your car accident lawyer, most work for a contingency fee. This makes it more convenient for you to afford a lawyer to represent you in trial or against the other driver. It is important to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of each type of payment. The majority use contingency fees. To find out about payment options, contact a car accident lawyer, like a car accident lawyer, today.
