Accidents can quickly become expensive. Suddenly, you have unexpected expenses, and you’re not sure how you’re going to cover all of the bills. Thankfully, most accident victims can recover at least some compensation for their damages.
However, the legal process can be challenging, and insurance companies aren’t always eager to settle accident claims. You may need assistance from an accident attorney, and legal guidance is rarely cheap.
Today we’re navigating Pennsylvania attorney fees for you so you have a better idea of what a personal injury lawyer may cost.
Understanding Attorney Fee Structures
All attorneys can charge clients an hourly or flat rate. This means you’re paying the attorney upfront for their legal services. However, personal injury lawyers have another payment option they can offer clients.
Known as contingency fees, this payment structure can make hiring an attorney more affordable for accident victims. To help inform you, here’s a closer look at the various types of attorney fee structures.
Hourly Rates
If your attorney is charging hourly rates, you pay for every 60 minutes or so the lawyer works on your case.
Since hourly rates can quickly add up, this fee structure is rarely recommended for personal injury claims. If you have a complex accident case, your attorney’s hourly rates can quickly exceed your potential settlement amount.
The last thing you want is to be stuck with a legal bill on top of your other damages. Hourly rates are usually reserved for simple legal matters like drawing up a will or finalizing a divorce.
Flat Rates
When an attorney charges a flat rate, you owe at least a percentage of the fee upfront. The attorney will review your case and estimate the amount of time and effort it takes to resolve your claim. From there, the attorney proposes their fee, and it’s up to you to accept the offer. You may be able to find another lawyer charging lower rates.
Since you’re recovering from the accident and dealing with the resulting expenses, you probably can’t afford an upfront payment. Flat rates are often charged by criminal defense lawyers. By getting their payment upfront, the attorney doesn’t need to worry about getting paid if they lose the case and their client ends up in jail. Receiving payment from an inmate is all but impossible.
Contingency Fees
Personal injury attorneys aren’t limited to only charging hourly or flat rates. They have the option of using contingency fees. This payment structure allows accident victims to obtain legal representation without having to worry about paying attorney fees until their case is successfully settled. So, how do contingency fees work in Pennsylvania?
You and your attorney agree to a contingency fee percentage. This is the amount of your potential settlement you owe to the attorney for the time and effort they put into resolving your claim.
Most contingency fee rates in Pennsylvania range from 25% to 40%, but costs can be higher depending on the complexity of your case. For example, your contingency rates will probably be higher if your accident claim is being litigated in civil court compared to one being settled through negotiations.
Once your accident claim is settled, your insurance check goes to your attorney. The lawyer deducts their agreed-upon contingency fees, and you will receive a check for the rest of the settlement.
What happens if your claim is denied? If you don’t receive an insurance settlement, you don’t owe your attorney contingency fees.
Contingency Fees May Not Cover Everything
You must have a written contingency fee agreement with your personal injury attorney. This isn’t something you can settle with a handshake and a promise to pay a certain percentage of your accident settlement.
The agreement must be concise and transparent. This means not only listing the contingency fee percentage but also what may not be covered under the agreement. Contingency fees usually don’t cover everything that may go into proving an accident claim. So, what’s typically not covered by contingency fees?
- Expert testimony. This can include medical experts and accident scene reconstruction specialists
- Court filing fees
- Costs associated with bringing in investigators
You may also be charged fees to cover costs associated with obtaining medical records and accident reports. If your attorney needs to make copies of documents, you should expect to cover these costs. You may even notice postage costs on your final legal bill.
To help avoid any potential unpleasant surprises after your case is resolved, make sure your agreement includes a list of everything not covered by contingency fees.
Tips On Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney
Now that you know hiring an accident attorney is more affordable than you probably realized, it’s time to choose the right lawyer to handle your compensation claim.
Compare Legal Rates
We noted earlier that contingency fee rates can vary from one accident attorney to another.
A few factors can influence contingency fee percentages, including the complexity of your case and the attorney’s level of experience. Even location can play a role in determining contingency fees. Personal injury attorneys practicing in large metro areas tend to charge a little more than a lawyer in a rural area.
Take some time to compare attorney fees. You may not want to go with the lowest rate, but you also don’t have to choose the highest one.
Area of Expertise
Personal injury law covers a broad field that includes everything from vehicle accidents to slip-and-falls, medical malpractice, and strict liability claims. The rules governing each type of personal injury claim can vary. For example, you typically don’t need to prove negligence in a strict liability claim, but it’s the cornerstone of a car accident case.
To help ensure you’re getting the best legal representation, it’s a good idea to partner with an attorney specializing in your type of accident claim.
You Can Afford to Partner with an Attorney After an Accident
Getting legal representation after an accident is possible and you usually don’t need to worry about coming up with an upfront payment.
Contingency fees allow accident victims to afford to partner with a personal injury attorney and this can help ensure your claim is successfully settled.
