ESPANOL
One common benefit of hiring a personal injury lawyer is they generally get paid only when they’ve secured compensation for you.* Moreover, these attorneys receive their payment as a percentage of your damage award, rather than charging you out of pocket for their services. Therefore, the process for paying your personal injury attorney looks like this:
- Your lawyer wins your settlement or court award.
- They receive the payment on your behalf.
- They take a predetermined percentage.
- The firm delivers the remaining funds to you to cover your damages.
What Are Contingency Fees?
Personal injury lawyers primarily work on a contingency basis, meaning they don’t charge any attorney’s fees upon taking you on as a client, and you only owe when you recover a settlement or court award.
Charging contingency fees also means the law firm fronts the initial cost of working on your case, such as hiring accident scene investigators. Taking a case through the court system is often expensive, and there’s a general understanding that you’re not in a position to pay until compensation becomes available due to the damages you face. When you hire a legal team, they’ll pay to investigate, build, and file your case, along with covering the court fees should you go to trial.
Having this fee arrangement in place incentivizes attorneys to fight as hard as possible on your behalf and takes the financial pressure off you in your time of need. It minimizes your financial risk so you can focus on recovering.
How Much do Lawyers Get Paid?
Lawyers don’t earn a specific amount for all cases, as their fees can depend on factors like whether or not the case goes to court. Some arrangements have a sliding scale of percentages that your attorney can adjust depending on the outcome.
Per the South Carolina Bar, personal injury attorneys charge between 33 and 40% in most cases. The firm you choose will outline the specifics of this payment structure before you sign any contract.
Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Time is of the essence in personal injury cases, and unnecessary delays could adversely impact the outcome you receive. As your legal counsel, our team endeavors to start building your case as soon as possible.
Someone who has never been involved in a lawsuit before may not fully grasp how this arrangement works. When you hire an personal injury attorney to represent you, they will:
- Review your account of what happened and any evidence already in your possession
- Investigate what caused your injuries and who is responsible
- Compile evidence to prove fault, liability, and the damages you suffered
- Work with experts to understand your injuries and their future implications, if any
- Identify and estimate the value of your collective damages
- Build a case and submit a demand letter to the liable party’s insurer
- Negotiate for a settlement that addresses your damages
- File a lawsuit when necessary for your financial recovery
This list still doesn’t capture the full scope of what your legal team can handle for you. You can learn more about services like these during a free consultation.
What Are Typical Expenses for Personal Injury Cases?
Many activities and processes go into building a strong case for personal injury damages. The costs of these actions quickly add up, but they can mean the difference between recovering the damages you need and settling for less than you deserve.
Some typical expenses involved in filing personal injury cases include:
- Hiring experts for evidence evaluation and analysis
- Getting police reports regarding the accident
- Photocopying and faxing
- Telephone and mail charges
- Professional hours of paralegals and secretaries
- Messengers to serve subpoenas and demand letters
- Depositions and research expenses
- Paying court staff
- Retrieving medical records from insurers and physicians
- Compiling witness statements
- Filing charges
As you can see, building a case is not a trivial matter. We leave nothing to chance, as this could impact your case negatively. The goal of conducting a thorough investigation is to gather solid evidence of what transpired and present it properly, making it irrefutable by the at-fault party. The discovery phase goes a long way in court proceedings to convince a jury why you deserve the damages you’re claiming.
Contact George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers to Learn More
Hiring an attorney to represent you in a personal injury case can have invaluable benefits, such as giving you confidence and peace of mind as you recover. Moreover, it doesn’t have to cost you out of pocket, meaning there’s no risk in reaching out for legal help.
Our attorneys at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, pride themselves on fighting for our clients’ right to damages before accruing profits. We have handled over 40,000 cases, helping victims secure compensation to cover their medical treatments, lost wages, and more. Contact us today for a free consultation and more information about our legal fees.