When hiring a personal injury attorney after you have been in an accident, it’s important to make sure you know how you are going to be charged and sign a mutual fee agreement ahead of time to avoid running into any surprises down the road. In Florida, lawyers are required to explain their personal injury fees in a written statement directly when taking your case. The written agreement should be signed by both parties. Learn about the cost to hire a personal injury attorney.
Personal injury lawyer fees can operate on contingency, retainer or hourly basis. At Rivas Law Group, our personal injury case fees are handled on a contingency basis. Unlike retainer fees, which are usually paid up front, contingency fees are not due until the case has been settled or won in court.
What Are Contingency Fees?
When a case is handled on a contingency basis, this means that your personal injury attorney will receive a percentage of the amount recovered in the case once an agreement has been reached. While the rate can vary depending on the case and the law firm, average contingency fees range between 33 and 40% of the settlement amount.
Additionally, there are legal costs that may arise in a personal injury case. Costs include expert witness fees, filing and postage fees, compensation for investigator, exhibits for trials, and fees for obtaining and preparing medical records and police reports. In most cases, you will only be responsible for these costs if you win the case. In many cases, these expenses are waived if the case is lost.
The Insurance Company Wants To Settle. Why Should I Pay An Attorney?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, the personal injury attorneys at Rivas Law Group strongly recommend speaking to an attorney as soon as possible and most importantly, before you agree to any settlement proposed by an insurance company.
Insurance companies are a business, and they are out to make money. That means paying out as little as possible for accident claims. Accident victims are often stuck in a bad financial position, with new medical bills and unexpected time off work. Insurance companies will do their best to take advantage of this vulnerable position to offer you a quick settlement that is far less than what you should receive.
Contact Us to Learn More About the Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
This is one of the reasons why Rivas Law Group handles accident cases on a contingency basis. We understand that paying out of pocket for an attorney is likely just not possible right now, but you still deserve to have experienced legal assistance. We can review the facts of your case and give you a realistic idea of the compensation you should expect. We can help you aggressively negotiate with the insurance company to maximize your settlement, and if the negotiations are unsuccessful, we will fight diligently in court on your behalf.
Call Rivas Law Group at (877) 299-5539 and schedule a free consultation today! We have offices in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Lutz and are looking forward to discussing your case with you.
