Being in an auto accident can be a traumatic and stressful experience. Along with dealing with any injuries you may have sustained, you also have to navigate the legal and insurance side of things to get properly compensated for the accident. This process often involves hiring an attorney to represent your interests against insurance companies who want to pay as little as possible on a claim.
Many accident victims wonder – do I have to pay auto accidents lawyers upfront before they will take my case? The simple answer is no. Personal injury attorneys who focus on auto accidents do not charge any upfront fees or demand payment before securing a settlement for you.
How Auto Accidents Lawyers Get Paid
Instead of asking for money upfront, most reputable auto accident attorneys work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis. This means the lawyer only gets paid if they successfully secure a settlement or jury award for you.
The typical contingency fee percentage is around 33% of the total amount recovered in your case. Some firms may charge a bit more or less than this, but a standard one-third cut is normal. Whatever the percentage, the auto accidents lawyer’s fee comes out of your final settlement or award total, not in addition to it.
Let’s use a hypothetical example to understand how this works:
- You are injured in a car crash caused by a negligent driver and incur $30,000 in medical bills.
- Your auto accident lawyer negotiates a $90,000 settlement with the insurance company responsible for paying your claim.
- The lawyer’s 33% contingency fee amounts to about $30,000 of the settlement.
- You keep the remaining $60,000 to cover your bills, lost wages, and other damages stemming from the accident.
In this scenario, the lawyer earns their fee only after securing compensation for you. You do not pay them anything upfront or out of pocket. Their fee comes out of the total recovered.
Why Choose A Contingency Fee Lawyer
The contingency fee model provides a few major benefits for auto accident victims:
- Access to quality legal representation – Upfront fees can deter people from hiring a good lawyer, even when clearly warranted. The contingency fee model ensures accident victims can get experienced legal help on their side.
- No upfront financial risk – Car crashes often result in expensive property damage, medical bills, and lost income from work. Paying an attorney upfront may not be feasible. A contingency fee lawyer takes on the financial burden for you.
- Incentivizes maximum compensation – Since the lawyer’s earnings are tied directly to how much they recover for you, they are motivated to fight for the full value of your injury claim. Their interests align with getting you properly compensated.
Why Auto Accidents Lawyers Don’t Require Upfront Fees: In Summary
As you can see, not having to pay auto accidents lawyers upfront takes a huge burden off your shoulders. This allows you to focus on your health and let an experienced attorney handle the legal process of pursuing fair compensation from insurance companies. Just make sure any lawyer you consider will work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront out-of-pocket costs for their representation and advice after an accident.
