Hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim can be quite expensive, so before going out and looking for a personal injury lawyer, it is highly recommended that you first decide on how much you are willing to spend and enlisting the help of a personal injury lawyer. When looking for a personal injury lawyer, do not hesitate to ask about fees and bill practices. A personal injury lawyer’s readiness to discuss how much his services are worth may indicate how he cares for his clients.
There are different ways a lawyer can be paid. The cost of a lawyer’s services depends on your arrangement. You can pay your personal injury lawyer on an hourly basis or on a contingency basis. Several factors will be considered to determine those fees. Some of the main deciding factors of the cost of the legal help includethe time and effort your case may require, the state law and the result of your case.
Most personal injury lawyers are paid on an hourly basis. So, what exactly is their average per hour rate? An attorney’s hourly rate varies from state to state, ranging from between $50 per hour to a thousand dollars an hour or more. In small towns and rural areas, personal injury lawyers tend to charge less. On the other hand, in major cities, the average cost of a personal injury lawyer per hour ranges from $100 to $500. Personal injury attorneys with proficiency in specialized fields may charge even higher. Moreover, you will likely pay for paralegals and other staffs at an hourly rate, which may range from $50 to $150 an hour or probably more than that.
As for other costs and court expenses, there are no averages and it is quite hard to give a precise estimation. Any miscellaneous costs must be discussed with your personal injury lawyer to prevent any unwelcome surprises. Get ready to assess court costs, secretarial time, filing fees and other charges.
If you are lucky enough to find a lawyer who will agree to be paid on a contingency basis, the cost would be less for you as you do not have to pay legal fees unless, or until, you win. A percentage of your recovery is usually obtained by the lawyer as his fee. Commonly, personal injury lawyers are paid one third or 33 percent of the total recovery for their services, although there are some who will charge more.
In most personal injury cases, those who have enlisted the services of a good lawyer have a better chance of making a successful claim and usually receive compensation that is far higher than what they could obtain on their own. Having a personal injury lawyer assist you with your case may be costly but the benefits greatly outweigh the costs.
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