After experiencing a serious motor vehicle collision, you will probably have a lot of bills to pay. You might need to repair or even replace your vehicle. It could cost thousands of dollars for you to get the trauma care you need after the crash, and you can lose thousands more if you are unable to work because of your injuries.
Whether you have to negotiate a massive insurance claim with the other driver’s insurance company or file a lawsuit against an uninsured driver, hiring an attorney after a car crash can seem like an impossible feat.
How can you pay for an attorney when you need help seeking financial compensation after a crash?
There is more than one way to pay for a lawyer
Many people who need legal help have to pay at least some of the costs right away before the attorney will start helping them. They may pay a large amount, usually several thousand dollars, as a retainer. The attorney will then bill them on an hourly basis for the amount of work they perform. The client will have to pay any remaining balance not covered by the retainer.
Sometimes, lawyers agreed to a flat-rate fee for their services upfront, often when drafting documents or providing transactional support. However, with complex cases involving personal injury claims, attorneys may also take cases on a contingency fee basis. That usually requires no money from the person who needs to file a lawsuit or negotiate an insurance claim.
How does a contingency fee agreement work?
If an attorney agrees to work for a contingency fee, they essentially agree not to expect any payment unless they win. Therefore, they will likely only take on cases that they believe in with this kind of arrangement.
It is common for the attorney to charge a third of the money recovered as their fee in these scenarios, although sometimes they charge different fees. If the claim is unsuccessful, the client won’t pay anything. If they win, the attorney will take their payment from the proceeds.
Understanding that you can sometimes hire an attorney after a car crash even if you don’t have thousands and savings can help you pursue justice.