Benefits Of Hiring Lawyers For Workers Compensation Cases

Can You Afford An Attorney For Your Personal Injury Case?

by Marilyn Olson

If you've been hurt by another driver, you really cannot afford not to take action. It may take a legal intervention to get the insurance company to do the right thing and give you the money damages that you are entitled to receive. Fortunately, the law provides a handy way to make it a lot easier to afford quality legal support for your case. Read on to learn more about contingency fee agreements.

Why have a contingency fee arrangement?

Car accident victims can face numerous financial issues, and understandably so. When you are too injured to work, bills can begin to pile up. This puts the victim in a bad position when they need to seek legal help to get compensation, so a contingency fee arrangement solves that problem completely.

Who pays the attorney?

With this type of agreement, the attorney gets paid from the proceeds of the lawsuit. This can be from a settlement or from a court judgment. The money is paid directly to the attorney from the settlement or judgment, and the rest comes to you. While the attorney begins working for you from the moment you sign the agreement, they do so only with the knowledge that you have a good case and that they will receive money from your award.

Why are contingency fee arrangements so convenient?

Not only does this type of fee agreement allow you to get legal help without paying any money upfront, but it also helps you know whether or not you have a good case. At your first meeting with your personal injury attorney, your case will be evaluated for its value. If you have a good case, then the attorney will likely take your case. If not, you will at least have a referral for another attorney or know the reason why your case is not valuable. Additionally, you will have confidence that your attorney will make an effort to get you the highest amount possible.

The contingency fee agreement (CFA)

Pay close attention to the contract you sign for representation; it will show the exact details of the fee arrangement and what you can expect if you win your case. This agreement will explain the percentage of your award that will be paid to the attorney. For example, if your settlement or judgment totals $100,000 and the CFA states that your attorney gets 30% of that, you can expect your attorney to get $30,000, and you will get the remaining $70,000.

The amount the attorney takes varies and is negotiable. Every case is different, and the fee might be based on things like:

  • case complexity
  • attorney experience
  • extent of injuries
  • whether the case is resolved via a settlement or a court case. Taking a case to court requires more work and time on the part of the attorney.

Speak to a personal injury attorney like Loughlin Fitzgerald P C about your case today.

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