Cost of hiring an attorney for an Auto Accident?

So, you have been in an auto accident, and you are considering hiring an attorney to represent you . . . but how much is that going to cost? Is it even worth it? Am I going to get less after I have paid them for their services than I would have if I had just taken what the insurance company offered me?

I think many people ask those questions to themselves after getting into an accident and end up never reaching out to an attorney because they assume it will be too expensive. Many people assume most attorneys work for an overpriced hourly rate and may think they require a large retainer to be paid in advance. Well, I have some good news for you. Most attorneys who handle personal injury cases (auto accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death, nursing home abuse or neglect, and even worker's compensation cases) do not charge their client an upfront fee. In fact, most personal injury attorneys will front the costs of litigation for their clients. So, the short answer is that it will not cost you anything on the front end to hire an attorney, and he or she will happily do the legwork of obtaining your accident report and collecting your medical records. Additionally, they have experience negotiating with the insurance companies and can file a lawsuit, if necessary, on your behalf. They are also aware of the various areas of your claim that need to be explored before you reach a final settlement. Will you have future medical expenses as a result of your injuries? Did you suffer a loss of earning capacity? Did your vehicle suffer a diminution of value?

Now we all know attorneys aren't exactly known for their blind benevolence, so that begs the question, how do these attorneys get paid and recover all of these upfront costs? Most personal injury attorneys will work the case for something known as a contingency fee. This means that they will only get paid if they are able to settle your case, or they win an award on your behalf at trial. The counter to that point is that if they lose your case they get nothing, – not even the expenses they put forward on your behalf.

So, the attorney only gets paid if YOU get paid. Now how much the attorney gets paid depends on two things, the agreement you entered with the attorney and how much money he was able to recover for you. A typical agreement will state that all the expenses the attorney fronted on your behalf will come out of the award or settlement first, then the actual attorney's fees are a percentage of the award after expenses.

The attorney's job does not end at obtaining a settlement or winning an award at trial. A good attorney will also negotiate with your health insurance company and medical providers to reduce the money owed back to settle the bills. The reason for this might seem obvious, but the less you have to pay back to your medical providers and insurance company, the more money that goes directly into your pocket.

If you are in Georgia or Alabama and have had an accident you would like to discuss, please feel free to call me for a free consultation. You can reach me directly at (256) 297-1052.