A big assumption held by many (if not most) is that lawyers are too expensive and unaffordable. The concerning thing about this assumption is that some may let it keep them from reaching out to a Personal Injury Lawyer, and risk settling for a low-ball offer from the insurance company, instead.
We’ve shared a true story on our social media before, telling you about a client of ours who received an offer that was $60,000 less than what she deserved! If she had settled for the offer and never reached out to us, consider all the money she would have left on the table!
So, the million-dollar question of the day is: how much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
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Flat Fees & Hourly Rates
Some lawyers will charge a flat fee for their services. This tends to be less common, and if this payment structure is used, it’s usually only applied to very basic, common cases. The fee typically lands somewhere between $500 and $2000.
It’s also possible that your lawyer charges by the hour. This usually only happens if your case is on the smaller side and won’t require too many questions, hunting down documents, paperwork, and so on. While it very much depends on the lawyer (and your best bet is always to call and ask directly), the rate often is somewhere between $100 to $500 per hour.
Contingency Basis
This is the pay structure that McGuiness Law uses. The quickest way to explain this payment structure is to say that the lawyer only gets paid if you get paid. There are no upfront costs, as the firm will cover all costs until you are paid. If you do not receive a settlement, the lawyers also don’t get paid.
Once you receive your settlement, a percentage of your settlement is taken as payment. Some law firms charge the same contingency fee regardless of the type of injury, whereas others take a different percentage based on the specific case.
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There are likely also disbursements that the law firm had to cover while collecting evidence for your case. These are costs they had to pay out-of-pocket as they ordered copies of reports and other documents. Technically, these are in addition to the contingency fee.
However, disbursements are generally included in the settlement proposal (the proposal the lawyer sends to the insurance company for how much you should be compensated), so the insurance company typically ends up covering these costs.
Next Steps
If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer, make sure that you are clear on the payment structure they use. You do not want to assume that someone works on a contingency basis, only to be surprised by unexpected bills.
If you are interested in working with McGuiness Law, we encourage you to take us up on our offer of a free, no-obligation consultation. A consultation allows us to gather more information and ensure that we would be a good fit for you.
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Our team has access to an extensive network of experts and healthcare practitioners who can help us solidify your claim. This includes doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and more! With these connections, we are able to negotiate with your best interests in mind to ensure you receive the best possible compensation for you.
In addition, with over ten years of experience representing clients who have suffered injuries in motor vehicle collisions. We have extensive knowledge of head, neck, brain, spinal cord, and other injuries. We ensure unexpected medical costs that you might not be aware of are covered.
Use our online contact form to reach out to us, or call us using our toll-free number: 1-833-585-4145.