When injured in an accident, it is clear that someone else was at fault. If this is the case, you will look for Philadelphia accident attorneys to represent you during the lawsuit or at least during the negotiations phase. Obviously, this will cost you something. But, how much?
The good news is the very best accident attorneys will charge in a way that makes their services highly affordable. They employ the contingency system, which means attorneys get paid only in the event that the claim is successful and you receive compensation for your damages.
Understanding Contingency
The contingency fee agreement will state what percentage the injury attorney will receive. This does vary and can be as high as 40%, although 33% is standard. The money is taken out from the final settlement value.
The biggest jump in the fee percentage is when the injury claim evolves to an injury lawsuit. When the case ends up settling before reaching the court phase, the client would need to pay a lower percentage. In some situations, if your case reaches a trial and it is a particularly demanding one, the share of the attorney might end up being higher than 40%.
It is very important that you discuss the contingency fee terms with your attorney. Then, you need to review the contract you sign to be sure it includes everything you discussed. When you do not understand something in the agreement, the attorney is required to explain it to you.
Remember that this fee can be negotiated to some extent. When damages are very clear and the injuries are minor, the case is very easy to be solved. This is especially true when there is very clear evidence available. In such a situation, the attorney’s fee should be lower.
Expenses And Legal Fees
Based on the attorney and the contract, it is possible to be responsible for the court fees you need to pay, together with the other possible litigation expenses. This includes things like obtaining police reports, medical records, fees for expert witnesses, and court reporter fees.
Usually, personal injury firms want clients to pay fees when they are due. The injury attorney will contact you when this is needed. Unfortunately, when you do not have the means to make the payments, the case does not continue.
In the event that you work with the larger injury firms though, they will cover expenses and fees. This is done because the fees and expenses will be taken out of the final judgment, usually together with the percentage you agreed upon.
The best possible arrangement is to make sure the law firm will take out the fees from the net settlement. This means the amount that remains after the deduction of case expenses. There are firms that try to get more by first taking out the money and then paying fees from what is left. This is not a preferred arrangement for you.
To put it as simple as possible, with fees and expenses, everything needs to be included in the contract so make sure you read it in its entirety.
