Pedestrian accidents in DC occur with unfortunate regularity. But for many, the cost of hiring an attorney can be daunting. This has been protracted by the understanding that criminal defense attorneys charge hourly and charge a retainer. An upfront cost and the knowledge that you may be paying more down the line can make anyone consider using a public defender. However, the cost of a DC pedestrian accident lawyer is handled differently. We find every single client we explain our fee structure to is pleased that there is no upfront cost and no risk.
When you are dealing with injuries, medical expenses, and possibly missing time from work because of your injuries, having to pay an expensive attorney may sound like the last thing you want. But at the same time, you may already realize the work that goes into securing compensation for your injuries. You may also recognize that you will likely recover far more by using an attorney. Our goal with this page is to demystify the cost of a DC pedestrian accident lawyer. Accordingly, we will provide a thorough breakdown of the cost structure used by DC pedestrian accident lawyers, the advantages and disadvantages, factors that influence legal fees in DC, average costs, and more.
The most important aspect to recognize is that there is no fee if we do not win your case. This eliminates much of the risk of hiring a personal injury lawyer. Naturally, there are other critical aspects to consider that can increase your risk when choosing a pedestrian accident lawyer. While we cover this topic in more detail on the linked page, it is vital to consider an attorney’s experience, responsiveness, and professionalism. When taken together, these three things increase your chance of receiving excellent representation for your case.
The cost structure of DC pedestrian accident lawyers is relatively simple. However, the cost structure for a pedestrian accident attorney extends beyond the contingency component. Most importantly, we take a one-third fee of the gross recovery. This does not include your property damage claim, only your bodily injury claim. If we file suit on your claim, regardless of whether it is ultimately settled or we receive a judgment, our fee increases to 40%. Our fee usually stays at one-third, as we can resolve most cases without filing suit. However, there is no guarantee that we will not have to file suit for your case. It is typically for two reasons if we cannot reach an amicable resolution.
First, the defense denies liability for the claim or believes they have a complete defense, such as contributory negligence. The second possibility is we have a fundamental disagreement over how much your case is worth. Additionally, as part of the contingency aspect, we do not require you to pay any costs that may arise before recovery. The costs to handle your case include copies, postage, faxes, requesting a police report, collecting medical records, obtaining video footage from various parties, filing fees, processing fees, and more. We advance all these costs on behalf of the client. And once again, if we do not win your case, you are not responsible for these costs. If we win your case, the costs are reimbursed out of the recovery.
This is why the contingency fee structure is imperative when considering the cost of a DC pedestrian accident lawyer. If you are already drowning in exorbitant medical expenses, lost wages, and immense pain, you might be unable to afford a high-quality attorney charging the top rate. So, you may consider paying for a less expensive attorney who charges a less expensive hourly rate. The issue there is you typically have to sacrifice the quality of representation when you pay less.
However, when you hire a personal injury attorney on a contingent fee arrangement, you do not have to compromise quality to save on legal fees. This is a massive advantage; it empowers those who cannot afford to hire an attorney to seek justice. While we are not the only personal injury law firm in the region to utilize this fee structure, we strongly advocate it because we know that a pedestrian can be anyone: someone with the means to seek justice or without such means.
There is immense economic value when considering the cost of a DC pedestrian accident lawyer. On average, research has shown that you recover about four times as much as a plaintiff with a personal injury lawyer compared to without. We believe there are a few critical reasons for this.
This is the more apparent reason why there is economic value in hiring an attorney to handle your accident case. Attorneys can better evaluate your case. We know the deadlines by which you must file certain motions or applications to get the total compensation you deserve. Particularly in DC, the statute of limitations is not the only deadline to be aware of. There are notice deadlines by which you must put the DC government on notice. There are even application deadlines for PIP claims. Not to mention, PIP is complex in DC. In some cases, while not in others, a PIP claim will bar your ability to make a bodily injury claim. Meanwhile, a bodily injury claim is almost always more valuable.
Through our 70 years of experience, we can evaluate the value of your claim. Accordingly, we will know when the insurance carrier makes a reasonable settlement offer versus an offer you should reject. Sometimes, they will offer only a few thousand dollars less than your injuries are worth. You may be tempted to accept that offer. It is especially appealing to accept that offer when you are negotiating against insurance companies that are also highly skilled negotiators.
Leverage is critical in any negotiation. When you are a layperson negotiating with the adverse insurance carrier to resolve your case amicably, you have no leverage. For example, let’s say your case is worth $25,000. The insurance company may offer you $7,000. They will do this for many reasons. The insurer will try this to see if you will simply accept their first offer. They know some people need money fast and will be excited about the hefty $7,000 offer they are making. However, it is unlikely that this offer will even cover your medical expenses.
The second part of this is your lack of leverage. They know you are unable or unwilling to file suit on your case without an attorney. Civil procedure is complex in DC. Even if you try to handle it properly, you may be unable to, and your case may be ruined.
This is why it is imperative to speak with an attorney and at least understand the cost of a DC pedestrian accident lawyer.
If you believe you have a viable claim and want to learn more about the cost of a DC pedestrian accident lawyer, contact our office today for a free consultation at (202) 331-7227.