Many injured people ask the same first question. How much does a personal injury lawyer cost? The short answer is simple. Most attorneys handle these cases on a contingent basis, so you typically pay nothing up front.
How Contingent Fees Work
Suppose another party’s negligence injures you, and you want to pursue a claim. The attorney usually takes the case on a contingent basis. In other words, if the case produces no recovery, you owe no attorney fee. The attorney typically charges one-third of the gross recovery when the case settles before suit. On a sliding scale, the fee often rises to 40% once the attorney must file suit or start arbitration. A fee of 50% is common when a matter is appealed, where the rules allow it. That outcome, however, rarely happens.
First-Party Claims and Administrative Fees
Many attorneys also charge a nominal administrative fee for first-party claims. These include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payment (Med-Pay) claims. The fees usually do not exceed $150.00. Again, an attorney should charge them only if you recover from the first party. This charge does not make money for the attorney. Instead, it offsets a time-consuming but necessary effort. That effort secures medical payments, and possibly wage loss reimbursement, before any recovery from the adverse party.
Costs You Should Expect
Finally, claimants should know about case costs. Beyond the fees above, you remain responsible for any reasonable costs of pursuing the case. These costs may include charges from medical providers for copying records, preparing reports, or forwarding itemized statements. The costs rise sharply once the case requires a lawsuit. At that point, depositions and experts need payment regardless of the outcome. Keep in mind one important rule. Every fee agreement must be in writing and signed by both the client and the law firm. The DC Bar offers helpful resources on legal fees. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.
If an injury affects you, our experienced personal injury lawyer, car accident lawyer, and slip and fall lawyer are available for a free consultation.
