While considering hiring an attorney to represent you in your personal injury claim, an important factor to consider is cost. How much will an attorney cost?
Most personal injury attorneys represent individuals on what is commonly known as a contingency fee basis. A contingent fee means an individual is not charged for their lawyer’s representation unless the case is favorably settled out of court or a lawsuit filed on their behalf is successful. Essentially, a lawyer providing representation on a contingency fee basis will only be compensated if their client receives compensation. If the case is unsuccessful, no attorney’s fees will be owed.
Benefits associated with being represented on a contingency fee basis includes: not having to remit payment up front in order to retain legal services; not having to pay attorney’s fees if your case is unsuccessful; allowing an individual who may not ordinarily be able to afford representation to receive representation; and an inextricable incentive for attorneys to prevail since they only are paid if the personal injury claim is successful.
Generally, most contingency fees charged in personal injury cases will be somewhere between 33% and 40%. This percentage is based on the compensation recovered on your behalf. For example, if your personal injury case settles for $100,000, an attorney charging a 33% contingency fee will receive $33,000 in attorney’s fees.
Depending on the attorney or law firm, the percentage charged can be on the higher end of the 33% - 40% scale. The percentage can also be higher based on the type of personal injury claim. For example, some attorneys or law firms may charge 33% to represent an individual in a personal injury claim from a car accident and 40% to represent an individual in a personal injury claim from a slip and fall incident.
Unlike those attorneys or firms, The Swanson Law Firm charges the same 33.3% whether the claim derives from a car accident, dog bite, trucking accident, etc. The only time a higher fee will be charged is if settlement negotiations are unsuccessful and we are required to file a lawsuit on your behalf.
If a personal injury claim is unsuccessful, some attorneys or law firms may seek compensation for case expenses. Case expenses are different from attorney’s fees. Case expenses are generally associated with out-of-pocket costs incurred to pursue a claim such as fees for ordering medical records, police reports, covering expert opinions and services, etc.
The Swanson Law Firm does not seek case expenses in any claims that are unsuccessful. We believe you should not be burdened with any legal expenses, whatsoever, in the event compensation is not received. When we say you pay nothing if we do not win, we truly mean it.
If you or a loved one have recently sustained a personal injury as the result of the negligence of an individual or entity, request a free initial consultation with our firm today.
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