How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer?

Why Get an Auto Accident Lawyer

When we get into accidents, one of our first thoughts is “How much will this cost me?” Well, the answer is much simpler than you may think.

When you hire an auto accident lawyer, they don’t usually get paid unless they win your case. This means that this lawyer will help to guide you through every step of the legal system. Doing it all on your own can get very complicated and difficult. Having an auto accident lawyer truly helps in the long run.

Payments That May Arise

Based on how the case turns out, the lawyer actually just takes a percentage of the settled upon amount of money. This is usually when the case is won.

In an accident, there typically will be a court case where there is an amount of money the person at fault will need to pay, from their insurance, in order to fix the damage done. The money that is given to fix the damage will be taken and used to repair, but also to pay the lawyer.

The percent of the settlement the auto accident lawyer will get usually varies case by case. On average it is 33-40% of the amount.
For example, if the settlement amount is $100,000 and the lawyer’s settlement percent is 35%, the lawyer would get around $35,000.

If the case is lost, the lawyer will not get paid, which makes the lawyer want to work hard and do a good job to win the case for their client.

Potential Additional Costs

• Additional fees for filing or if they need extra help on the case from an expert.
• Flat rates, but it is more on the back end of things with all of the documents or reviewing settlement offers, where the work is more straightforward and clearly cut.
• Consultation fees to go over everything to see if the person wants to proceed or not. Other lawyers will waive this fee and do a free consultation prior to them being hired.
• Hourly rate pay. These aren’t as common, but still exist.

Each Case Is Different

One case could be a very large and long-lasting case and others could take a very short amount of time. With court cases and settlement finalizing, there is never an exact amount for every single person. It is different with each case that comes across the court and lawyer.