There is good news if you are concerned about the cost of hiring a truck accident lawyer. Most personal injury attorneys will take truck accident injury cases without any upfront legal fees. Likewise, these attorneys frequently take cases on a contingency fee basis instead of billing by the hour.
Do not let concern about the cost of legal representation prevent you from pursuing a truck accident injury claim. You could obtain legal counsel from our firm without paying any out-of-pocket expenses.
How Truck Accident Attorneys Charge Their Fees?
As noted, most personal injury attorneys operate on something known as a “contingency-fee basis.” Instead of charging an upfront fee or billing by the hour, these attorneys generally obtain their fees by keeping a percentage of any compensation they recover on behalf of their clients.
Contingency-fee agreements work on a percentage. This percentage is set prior to an attorney taking on a case. The percentage an attorney collects will vary from one law firm to another.
Most Attorneys Evaluate a Case Before Taking It
While a contingency-fee-basis is ideal for many injury victims, it is important to remember that attorneys are not obligated to take on these cases. During an initial consultation, an attorney will evaluate the strength of a claim and then advise the prospective client on whether they think success is likely.
This approach is very friendly to injury victims, given that there is no risk of paying legal fees and walking away empty-handed. If an attorney does not recover compensation for your injuries, they also do not charge you for their time and efforts. This both protects you from risk and provides your legal counsel with an incentive to obtain a favorable resolution to your claim.
You can learn more about what a contingency-fee arrangement would look like on paper by reading this example from the Georgia Bar Association.
For a free legal consultation, call 404-214-2001
What Happens if Your Lawyer Doesn’t Win Your Case?
In a contingency-fee arrangement, if your lawyer doesn’t win your case, then you do not owe them their attorney’s fees. Attorney’s fees refer to the time, research, and efforts that your lawyer put into your case. Many lawyers will waive these costs if they do not recover compensation for a claimant’s losses.
Other Methods of Billing for Legal Fees
Different types of attorneys use different methods of billing. While there is little risk working with most personal injury attorneys, the same is not true for other areas of the law. Some attorneys require upfront legal fees or other methods of compensation other than a contingency-fee agreement.
Some Lawyers Charge Flat Fees
Many attorneys handling small or routine legal filings might charge a flat fee. This is common among both criminal defense attorneys and divorce attorneys. For example, divorce attorneys might have a flat rate they charge for uncontested divorces and a different rate for more complex cases.
Some Lawyers Charge By the Hour
Other attorneys use the billable hour approach. With this approach, the attorney logs the time they spend on a particular case and bills that client down to the minute. The total fee depends on the attorney’s hourly rate.
This type of fee is common among civil litigation defense lawyers. Many attorneys using billable hours also require a retainer. This is a pool of money paid by the client to the attorney upfront. The attorney then draws their fees from the retainer, which must be refilled over time.
Hybrid Approaches Are Common for Criminal Defense Cases
A hybrid approach is also common. For example, a defense attorney handling a drunk driving case might offer to take it on for a flat fee if the case is resolved through a dismissal or plea bargain early on in the process. However, if the case is likely to go to trial, the attorney could begin billing hours for additional work.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
The Importance of Discussing Fees
Some of the worst conflicts between lawyers and clients are over monetary disputes. Often, these disputes result from a misunderstanding over the attorney’s fee structure. While many personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency-fee-basis, their approaches can differ regarding the cost of filing fees or experts.
To avoid unwanted conflict with your legal counsel, it is in your best interest to discuss these fee options before committing to an attorney. Ensuring both sides are on the same page from the beginning could avoid conflict in the future.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Discuss Your Truck Accident Claim with Our Law Firm
If you have questions about how much a truck accident lawyer will cost, you have the opportunity to obtain answers to those questions during a free consultation. During your free consultation, you can discuss with our team what our approach to billing is.
At Kaine Law, we always take personal injury cases on a contingency-fee-basis. We understand the stress and worry that can come with a serious injury, and we won’t allow our legal fees to add to your debts. When we take on a case, our sole focus is to secure the financial compensation our clients deserve.
Call Kaine Law to Learn More About Your Legal Options
If you are ready to learn about your options, call for your free consultation today. OCGA §9-3-33 limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit, so we encourage you to call us as soon as you can.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
