Generally, there are three ways that personal injury lawyers structure fees for their clients:
Fixed Rate- Known as a flat fee, it is the fee that a lawyer will charge for the case irrespective of the time spent on it or the result.
Hourly Fee- The personal injury lawyer charges an amount for each hour that he or she spends working on the case.
Contingency Fee– The personal injury lawyer is paid upon the settlement of the case. The amount he/she collects is a percentage of the monetary recovery.
The majority of personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. They will not charge you unless the case is settled. Although percentages for personal injury attorneys differ from state to state, Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers get approx. 50%.
Common Causes of Personal Injuries
- Car, Motorcycle and Truck Accidents
- Slip and Fall Injuries
- Construction Site Accidents
- Product Liability
- Medical Negligence
- Childbirth Injuries
- Dog Bite
- Defamation
- Assault and Battery
- Emotional Distress
- Wrongful Death
Facts About Personal Injuries
- Car accident is one of the leading causes of personal injury.
- More than 32,000 people are killed in the United States every year.
- There are more than 6 million car crashes in the U.S. every year.
- Over 3 million people are injured in car crashes in the U.S. every year.
- 1 out of every three crashes involves drunk driving.
- Slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of severe brain injuries.
- 4+ million people are bitten by dogs every year.
The objective of contingent fees is to give everyone the option of having a lawyer during a personal injury lawsuit. With contigent fee, the client doesn’t need to pay lawyer’s fees until it is settled. It also encourages the lawyer to try his/her best to acquire compensation; otherwise, he/she will not receive any fee for time spent on the lawsuit.
Most personal injury lawyers will cover case costs and expenses as they come up, and then deduct them from your share of the settlement or court award. It’s rare for a personal injury lawyer to charge a client for costs and expenses as they become due.
Costs and Expenses Involved in a Personal Injury Case
- Medical Records
- Police Reports
- Proficient Witness Fees
- Postage
- Filing fees
- Investigators
- Depositions
- Trandscripts
- Trial exhibits
Costs can get important, especially if settlement does not happen until close to trial. The attorney’s percentage with all costs and expenses may be between 45 and 60% of the settlement.
It’s no secret that the personal injury lawsuit process can be complex, it is advisable to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. He/she will guide you through the complete process and help you acquire the right compensation or settlement for your pain and suffering. Speak to a professional Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyers!
