When you hire a car wreck attorney, one of the first things you should ask them is how they will be paid. There are several options, but many top lawyers take clients on a contingency basis. This means that the attorney doesn’t get paid until you do. Therefore, they have your best interests at heart and are going to fight for maximum compensation.
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Ask a Car Wreck Attorney: How Will They Be Paid?
Every year, there are almost 5 million car accidents that cause property damage. Hundreds of thousands of people get injured, often because another road user acted negligently or broke the law. If you’re affected, you should get in touch with a personal injury attorney, who can evaluate your case and determine whether you can claim compensation for the costs associated with the accident.
Before you hire your lawyer, you should figure out what kind of fee structure they use. There are several options, including billing by the hour, charging a one-off fee, and accepting a case on a contingency basis. What works best depends on your individual situation, but most people prefer paying their lawyer after they have received compensation.
Contingency Basis
If an attorney is certain that they can win your case, they might not ask for payment until your money from the guilty party or their insurance company has arrived. For many victims of a car crash, this is the preferred billing method because they don’t have to spend money upfront. If you’re already suffering from the financial consequences of your accident, it’s unlikely that you have spare cash to spend on legal fees.
Because it doesn’t require an upfront commitment, contingency basis is a great solution for a wide variety of people. No matter your background, you can hire a great lawyer without going into debt or struggling financially. However, it’s important to remember that not all cases can be accepted on a contingency basis. If you don’t have enough evidence or it’s not clear that the other party was at fault, your attorney might not be able to take on your case.
An Hourly Rate or a One-Off Fee
During your initial consultation, your lawyer will let you know what your likelihood of success is. If you don’t have strong evidence that the other party was at fault or that your injuries are affecting your day-to-day life, you might not win your case. Your attorney will let you know what your chances are and whether they can accept your case on a contingency basis.
If not, you might still be able to work with the lawyer by paying them an hourly rate or a one-off fee for their services. This could be a good idea if you only need a few hours of your lawyer’s time.
What Kind of Compensation Will I Receive for a Car Accident?
People who got hurt during a car crash can expect to receive about $20,000 in compensation. However, the exact amount depends on various factors, including the severity of the accident, the damage to the vehicle, and the emotional upheaval the victim has had to deal with as a result. In most cases, all economic costs, including the lost wages and the medical bills, will be paid by the guilty party or their insurance policy.
However, you can also receive compensation for other reasons. If you lost a loved one or you’re traumatized by the accident, you might be paid for the negative emotional consequences. In some cases, you can also get punitive damages. However, this is only a possibility if the responsible party acted in an extremely unethical way or broke the law.
How Long Does It Take for Compensation to Go Through?
The time it takes for you to receive your compensation depends on the complexity of your case. Often, you will get a call from the guilty party’s insurance company, offering you a settlement. If you accept this, you might receive the money within a few weeks or months. However, this initial offer is often very low, and it might not cover all your costs associated with the accident.
When you get a Houston car wreck attorney involved, you will go through a discovery process to gather evidence of how the accident affected your life. This could take months or even over a year. Once a decision has been made, you might receive the entire sum at once, but sometimes, the compensation is paid in chunks. Together with your lawyer, you can draw up a realistic timeline and figure out how you will pay for your expenses while the lawsuit is ongoing.
Hiring a car accident attorney is almost always a good idea, especially if you believe that your crash was caused by someone else’s negligence and that you will suffer from your injuries for months or years to come. Many good lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that you won’t have to pay them money upfront. Instead, they will take a percentage of your payout once you’ve received it.
