What You Need to Know About Personal Injury Attorney Fees

Personal injury attorneys provide essential legal services to those who have been injured due to the negligence of another party. They help victims seek full and fair compensation for their losses and suffering, often in the form of a settlement or jury verdict. But with any legal service comes fees, and personal injury lawyers are no different. In this blog post, we will discuss what you need to know about personal injury attorney fees so that you can make an informed decision when hiring representation for your civil claim. We will cover topics such as contingency fees, how much a lawyer might charge for an initial consultation, and more.

So, if you’re considering filing a personal injury claim but don’t know where to start when it comes to finding an attorney and understanding their fee structure, then keep reading!

Call 317-881-2700 to Speak With a Personal Injury Attorney in Indianapolis
Call 317-881-2700 to Speak With a Personal Injury Attorney in Indianapolis

Types of Fees You Might Owe to Your Personal Injury Attorney

Contingency Fees

One of the most common payment structures used by personal injury law firms is a contingency fee arrangement. This means that the firm will only collect payment if they successfully win your case and obtain monetary compensation for you. Depending on the firm, this percentage could range anywhere from 33.33 to 40 percent of the total money recovered in your claim. It’s important to remember that not all accident law firms work on a contingency fee basis, so it’s always best to check with them beforehand or during your consultation.  For example, our law firm charges 33.33% for attorney fees if the case is settled and 40% if the case goes to trial.  The increase in fees is due to the increase in work in actually trying the case.  Some attorneys charge 40% for settlement and 50% for trial but we do not.

Case Evaluations

Another factor that can affect personal injury law firm fees is how much they charge for an initial consultation. Many accident attorneys provide first-time consultations for free, while others may charge a flat fee or hourly rate. Regardless of what you decide to do, make sure you have a thorough understanding of the attorney’s fee structure before committing to anything binding.  Our law firm offers a free initial consultation.

Fees Associated with Filing a Lawsuit

Finally, personal injury lawyers might also bill you for certain expenses related to your case. These expenses could include filing fees, deposition fees, charges for expert witnesses or investigatory teams, copies of records or reports, legal research fees, basic office expenses, and other costs. If there are additional costs throughout the legal process, it is important to make sure that you understand how and why your personal injury attorney has been authorized to cover them. Knowing upfront what outlying costs might be associated with your case is key to getting started on the right path toward financial justice.  Our law firm normally pays for these expenses up front so our client does not have to come up with the money initially and then we reimburse ourselves out of the settlement or verdict amount.  If we do not obtain a recovery we do not recover for the expenses.

There is No Need to Worry About Fees When You Hire the Right Injury Lawyers

Overall, understanding personal injury lawyer fees is an essential part of making an informed decision when hiring legal representation for a tort claim or lawsuit. With so many accident law firms out there competing for business, it is important to choose the right litigators. Doing your research and knowing what fees you should expect can help you make the best decision for your case.

Get Started on Your Case Without Any Upfront Fees!

Here at the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C., we understand that finances can often present a stressful obstacle when it comes to pursuing a legal claim, especially when someone may be off work due to their injuries and having little income coming in. That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis; that means you’ll never owe us anything unless we achieve a settlement for you. Moreover, if you’d like to discuss the circumstances of your case with seasoned personal injury attorneys, but without any financial responsibility, then worry not – our consultations are offered completely free of charge. We can assist in evaluating the validity of your claim and guide you through the legal process, providing support from beginning to end.

So, if you’re in need of legal representation and would like to discuss what way forward is best for you, get in touch today and let us know how we can help. Contact us to speak with a qualified Indianapolis personal injury attorney about your case. We represent victims all throughout the state, as well as Indiana residents injured in other states and residents of other states injured in Indiana.

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How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Accident Lawyer?
What is the Worth of My Personal Injury Claim?

What are Contingency Fees?

When you hire a lawyer, one of your first questions will likely be about fees. But the type of fee arrangement offered by a law firm will vary depending on several factors, including the type of law practiced, the individual preferences of a lawyer, the complexity of your case, and much more. Typical attorney fee arrangements include retainers, hourly rates, and flat fees, but for personal injury lawyers, the most common payment model used are contingency fees.

Continue reading to learn how contingency fees work and how much you can expect to pay attorney fees under this type of fee arrangement.

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Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm 317-881-2700

Working on a Contingency Fee Basis

Lawyers who work on a contingency fee basis do not collect any type of payment upfront from a client. Instead, clients only pay their lawyers if they recover a settlement or judgment for them. Payments are conditional, or contingent, under this type of fee arrangement. So, if a lawyer does not win a settlement for their client, the client pays nothing to the lawyer for their services.

If a personal injury lawyer does recover a settlement for their client, the client will pay the initially-agreed upon lawyer fee, which is a set percentage of the total settlement or judgment value. In most personal injury cases, the industry average is about one-third/33.33% up to forty/40%.

Talk to Your Lawyer About Payments and Fees

Knowing the types of fees and prices for lawyers is an important part of choosing a legal team that fits your needs. It is encouraged to ask your lawyer questions about their fee arrangements and billing practices ahead of time so that you are better-prepared when the final bill comes and can fully-comprehend its charges. Also inquire about miscellaneous legal costs that might be expected.

A professional personal injury lawyer should always be fully transparent when disclosing payment and billing details to potential clients. Keep in mind that cheaper does not mean better when it comes to your legal representation.

Your Leading Indiana Accident Attorneys

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Indianapolis accident attorney who can determine the best strategies for your Indiana personal injury or wrongful death case. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to get started on your financial recovery, today.  We represent injured persons throughout Indiana, as well as the surviving dependents in a wrongful death case.

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How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Indianapolis Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Depending on the type of legal services and representation needed, legal fees and lawyer costs will vary. These kinds of costs also vary from law firm to law firm, and often times, depend on the complexity of a client’s case. Knowing the types of fees and prices for lawyers is an important part of choosing a legal team that fits your needs. It is encouraged to ask lawyers questions about their fee arrangements and billing practices ahead of time so that you are better-prepared when the final bill comes and you can fully-comprehend its charges. A lawyer should be open and more-than-willing to disclose payment and billing details to potential clients.

Keep in mind that cheaper is not better when it comes to your legal protection. Be prepared to spend a good hunk of money on effective and reputable legal services. A reputable law firm’s attorney prices should be high but reasonable. Continue reading to learn about common billing practices and rates used by attorneys and law firms in general, and then more specifically, personal injury lawyers.

Lawyer Rates

There are several different types of fee arrangements and rates attorneys charge for their services. Some law firms will use just one type of billing method, while another might use multiple in combination. The most common are hourly rates, flat rate fees, retainers, and contingent fees. Here is a basic description of each:

Retainers

A legal retainer is an upfront payment, given in advance, to a lawyer for their services. Retainers are usually accompanied with hourly billing. Paid retainers are generally placed in a special trust account, and then debited as legal fees accrue. It is important to monitor legal retainers and billing statements as representation continues to ensure proper invoicing. Keep in mind that retainers are not refundable, with very few exceptions.

Hourly Fees

Charging by the hour is the most common billing practice used by attorneys and law firms. A lawyer can choose to charge clients by the hour, based on all the hours they put into a client’s case. The hourly-rate is either pre-set or agreed upon between clients and lawyers. Hourly rates will depend on a lawyer’s experience, location, overheads, and more. It is important to retain the legal services of an experienced attorney.

Contingent Fees

Contingent fees are the most common form of billing practice used by personal injury law firms and attorneys. This payment arrangement works by not charging clients any retainers or upfront fees, but collecting up a percentage of whatever monetary settlement they recover for them. Personal injury claims are complex and vary from case to case, so the percentage collected upon judgment will vary among lawsuits.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call 317-881-2700 today and speak with licensed personal injury attorney, Daniel Craven, about filing an accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 for questions about personal injury lawsuits or to schedule a consultation with a seasoned Indianapolis personal injury lawyer you can trust.