Car accidents can have very dangerous and long-lasting effects on our lives, and a car accident lawyer may be a necessity after one. If you have experienced a car crash, you must know how overwhelming and expensive it can be, especially if it’s somebody else’s fault.
In California, 3,316 fatal car crashes were recorded in 2019. After a car crash, you have medical bills to pay; your daily income is lost cause of not being able to go to the workplace, and damage to your vehicle is also present.
An Irvine car accident lawyer can help you get through such difficult times and guide you to recover monetary damages. Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement, and be ready to represent you if the insurance company is unwilling to pay you fairly.
But some people may worry that they can’t afford an Irvine auto accident lawyer. In this article, we explain how a contingency fee allows you to hire a lawyer and pay nothing out of pocket!
What Is Contingency Fee?
In simple words, the contingency fee is a fee that you agree to pay your car accident lawyer only if they win the case. A contingency fee is paid only if you and your Irvine auto accident lawyer recover money from the defendant or their insurance company. You don’t have to pay any up-front costs and won’t owe the lawyer any money if they fail to win your car accident case for you.
The contingency fee will be a pre-decided percentage of your settlement or award that you will pay to your lawyer. This amount will differ but is usually between 30 and 40% of your total award.
While discussing these terms with a lawyer, you must ask about any underlying costs because there are miscellaneous expenses associated with a car accident claim, such as filing fees, witness fees, court fees, etc. If your car accident lawyer is willing to charge you only 30% of your award, most probably, you will be able to reimburse them for those expenses on top of the contingency fee.
The benefit of the contingency fee is that if the lawyer has failed to win the case, you do not have to pay them for their efforts. Some lawyers even give up their expenses if they cannot win the case for you. The major drawback is that you may not have enough money left to pay off all of your monetary damages after paying their portion of the settlement.
Ask your attorney to estimate what they think your award amount will be and how much it will be once their fees are deducted. You have the right to ask, and it’s the wise course of action. Of course, your attorney cannot give you an exact figure, but they should be able to give you at least a rough estimation.
Does an Irvine Car Accident Lawyer Charge Per Hour?
Usually, car accident attorneys do not charge an hourly fee. The contingency fee arrangement serves the interests of both parties – the victim and the lawyer – to pursue winning a case. You and your attorney are on the same page and want the same benefits. The more money the lawyer will pull through for you, the more they will be paid.
Let’s suppose an attorney offers to work on an hourly fee basis. In that case, it may be a sign that they are not confident about winning your case, which means you should probably get a second opinion from an attorney who takes cases on a contingency fee basis.
Is It Worth Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer?
There are some important things you must keep in your mind while hiring a car accident lawyer for your insurance claim.
A Lot of Paperwork Can Be Involved:
You have to be very careful while submitting the proper documents to the right parties. Any mistakes in this part of the process can lead you to lose the case. Your lawyer will also gather and analyze the evidence, deal with insurance companies, and much more.
Things can become even more complicated if the case ends in court, which may be necessary when insurance companies are reluctant to pay victims fairly. It’s important to hire an attorney who is willing to go to court when desirable and not just settle as quickly as possible.
A Lawyer Will Stand Up to Insurance Companies:
Insurance companies will do everything in their power to avoid giving you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. They have teams of high-caliber, experienced lawyers who specialize in fighting car accident claims. They might offer you an inadequate settlement, claiming that’s all you deserve; or they can even reject your claim completely.
At this point, many people will give up, overwhelmed by the underhanded tactics of the insurance company and its attorneys. On the other hand, a good car accident attorney will know exactly how these insurance companies plan to fight your claims and plan your case accordingly. This is why it’s favorable to involve an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible to get started on your case.
How Much Compensation Do You Deserve?
When making a legal claim for compensation, you might only be considering your medical bills and car damages costs. But what about lost wages? What about future medical costs? What about the pain and suffering you and your family go through?
You might even be able to pursue punitive damages if the defendant was extremely reckless when causing the accident. Each aspect demands a close examination to ensure you are getting what you deserve out, and it is difficult to figure this out on your own.
Contact Crockett Law Group for a Free Consultation!
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and are considering pursuing a case, you can schedule your free consultation with our Irvine personal injury lawyers. Our consultations are always 100% free, during which we’ll review the details of your case and provide you with guidance for the next steps.
