If you suffered injuries and losses related to a car accident, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of information you need to provide to the insurance company, how you will repay your medical bills, and how to move forward regarding the property damage, lost wages, possible loss of future wages, possible future medical bills, and more. In many cases, victims of someone else’s negligence often feel unsure of all the steps they need to take to protect their legal rights and receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries and losses. As a victim of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek legal representation regarding your personal injury claim. Many victims already feel financial stress regarding a personal injury due to the fact that they are unable to return to work, resulting in lost wages. However, it is important to know that most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fees allow victims to receive the legal representation they deserve without making any upfront payments. Learn more about your legal rights and contingency fees below.
Yes, You can Afford a Personal Injury Attorney
A contingency fee is when an attorney receives compensation for services only after his or her client succeeds in obtaining compensation. Essentially, a contingency fee allows a victim of a personal injury to receive legal representation without making any upfront payments. A victim, therefore, will only pay an attorney from the settlement or judgment proceeds if they receive a favorable result regarding a settlement from an insurance company or compensation from a legal claim after the entire legal issue is resolved. When a victim receives their settlement check or compensation from the court, the attorney will then take their payment from that amount. Many personal injury attorneys are called “no-win, no-fee” attorneys due to the fact that they only receive compensation if they win a case on behalf of their victim. While this type of payment arrangement appears to have a considerable risk for an attorney, an attorney will also have a greater incentive to provide quality legal representation in order to obtain the highest settlement for a victim possible. Further, some personal injury attorneys will front the cost of all expenses required to prosecute the claim or suit against the defendant. For more complex cases, these costs often run up into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Understanding Your Legal Contract
Every attorney will have a different legal contingency fee agreement. An experienced and honest attorney will explain all of the small fees for which you may be responsible that are not covered under a contingency fee agreement. Take the time to ask about any terms or conditions that you may not understand. Ask if the percentage an attorney will receive can fluctuate in any way if the case appears to require litigation. For instance, ask if the fee changes if additional attorneys are brought in to assist with the case. Ask questions regarding what would happen if you lose a case. Will you be responsible to compensate the attorney for any of their work if you lose your personal injury case? Additionally, you should consider asking how the accounting will be done as the case moves forward and if you will receive periodic updates regarding expenses related to your case.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered any kind of injuries or losses resulting from someone else’s negligence, you have the right to receive legal representation. Learn how a personal injury attorney can help you negotiate with insurance companies, hire expert witnesses and litigate your claim in court. You have the right to have legal representation. At Griggs Injury Law, we always handle our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis in order to provide representation to those who need it the most. Contact us at (816) 474-0202 to discuss your personal injury case and to ensure that your legal rights are protected. We only collect fees if we win your case.
