After experiencing an injury due to another person or institution’s negligence, you could be owed compensation. Unfortunately, when saddled with medical bills, property damage or any other monetary stress, many people don’t realize that they may still be able to afford a Buffalo, NY personal injury lawyer’s services, like services you can receive from Hurwitz, Whitcher & Molloy, LLP.
Here’s how you can afford an attorney, regardless of your financial situation.
Personal Injury Lawyer Fee
When most people think about lawyers, they think that they’re too expensive to afford. Most think about lawyers who charge hourly fees. While this is common with criminal lawyers, it is not common with personal injury lawyers. Most personal injury attorneys do not charge hourly. Instead, they work based on a contingency fee.
The lawyer receives payment when you do. Not only does this create an incentive for the attorney to win the case, but it also allows you to stress less about money when waiting on your settlement. On average, lawyers will ask for about 30% of the settlement. This varies between attorneys, so it is important to discuss the ins and outs of payment before hiring a lawyer.
Court Costs and Expenses
The trial itself can be expensive. While it can be difficult to estimate what your court costs will be, you can get an estimate of those costs in advance. Court costs include fees for:
- Police reports
- Filing
- Expert witnesses
- Trial exhibits
- Medical records
- Postage and copying
Before you hire your attorney, you can discuss how he or she plans to pay for these costs. Some lawyers will bill you for the charges they incur, whereas others may send you a monthly bill. Others might wait until after the case is complete with billing you for those expenses. Every lawyer has his or her own system, so it’s up to you to ask questions about different costs associated with the case. If you discuss the costs ahead of time with your lawyer and are worried about your finances, he or she may be able to contain the costs as much as possible.
If you’re struggling financially but need to file a personal injury lawsuit, it is still possible for you to do so. In many cases, you will not have to pay anything until the end. Your lawyer will only take a cut of your settlement. Don’t hesitate to get the compensation that you deserve. Consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.