How Much Does an Injury Lawyer Cost?
If you’ve been in an accident or suffered injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, you are probably considering hiring a personal injury. It’s a smart decision, given all of the complexities of the legal process – from gathering evidence and filing a claim to dealing with insurance companies and potentially litigating the matter in court.
Of course, you might be wondering about the costs involved with hiring an injury lawyer. There is no single answer to this; it depends on a few different factors, which we’ll discuss in detail below.
Fee Structures
Personal injury attorneys employ different types of fee structures for their clients. Let’s break down the three you’re most likely to come across.
- Contingency fees. These are by far the most commonly used fees among injury lawyers. Basically, contingency fees mean that the lawyer only gets paid if you win the case, and they will typically take a percentage of the compensation you receive (whether it’s a settlement or a court award). This can be really helpful if you are looking for representation but don’t have the funds to cover upfront fees.
Contingency fee percentages vary, but they usually range from around 25% to 40% of the settlement amount. Of course, you’ll want to discuss the details with your prospective legal representative before agreeing to work with them. Bear in mind, too, that there may be other expenses that the lawyer doesn’t include in the contingency fee, like the cost of filing paperwork or fees for expert witnesses. Again, be sure to go over this in detail with the lawyer before making any decisions on hiring them. - Hourly rates. Hourly rates are another billing method sometimes used by injury lawyers. As the name suggests, in this scenario you are billed by the hour by the lawyer working on the case. The rate itself depends on the lawyer’s experience and the complexity of the case, but here in Maryland you can probably expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $300 or more per hour. While it’s nice to know from the outset how much you are being charged for a lawyer’s services, hourly rates can be tricky if a case takes longer than expected, or if unforeseen issues crop up that demand more of the attorney’s time.
- Flat fees. Flat fees are a lot less common in personal injury cases; they’re a little better suited to specific legal services, such as drafting contracts or reviewing documents. With a flat fee, you pay a predetermined amount for the lawyer’s services, which is appealing because you know exactly how much you’ll be spending at the beginning. However, flat fees are rarely effective for complex cases where the amount of effort needed is unpredictable.
Additional Expenses
Aside from the lawyer’s fees, there are sometimes other expenses associated with personal injury claims. These can include court filing fees, costs for obtaining medical records, expenses related to expert witnesses and charges for depositions. Some lawyers cover these upfront costs and deduct them from the final settlement as part of their contingency fee, while others may require you to pay these expenses as they come up.
It’s important to be informed about the different types of attorney fee structures before you make a decision about who will represent you. Ask questions and weigh your options carefully; you want to make sure that your lawyer is the best fit before you move forward.
If you’ve been injured in an accident and you think someone else is at fault for your injuries, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Parr in Baltimore, MD today to schedule your free consultation. We don’t receive a fee unless we win.
