Georgia Injury Lawyers Blog
One of the most common reasons that people don’t seek out a lawyer is the fear of what it will cost. As a result, they wind up settling their personal injury claim with the insurance company for a fraction of what they may be entitled to, winding up with lost income and bills they can’t pay. The truth is that anyone can hire a personal injury lawyer, regardless of how much or how little money you have.
At Slappey & Sadd, we don’t get paid unless we recover compensation for you. We work with accident victims in the Atlanta area and across the state of Georgia who need help putting their lives back together. Don’t let someone else’s negligence ruin your future – call us at 1-888-474-9616 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys today.
Personal Injury Attorneys Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
Many attorneys bill for their services on an hourly basis. For personal injury cases, however, most attorneys bill on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay any attorney’s fees unless they recover compensation for you. In other words, you will not have to pay any attorney’s fees up-front such as a retainer fee.
The attorney’s contingency fee is typically a percentage of the compensation you receive. As a result, you will want to discuss with them beforehand what portion of your fee they will be entitled to receive.
The Benefits of The Contingency Fee Arrangement
The obvious advantage of the contingency fee is that people can get legal help even when they can’t afford it. However, it also ensures that you don’t pay legal fees for an unsuccessful claim. It also incentivizes the attorney to only take cases that they can win and to be diligent with the cases they take on.
You May Be Responsible for Other Costs
You also want to ask about any other costs that you may have to pay such as court filing fees. While some of these may be small, they can add up over the life of your case. There may also be costs for copies and other materials, and you may have to pay for a court reporter as well. Many attorneys may cover these costs for you, and then recoup them when they recover your compensation.
In the event that your case requires expert testimony, be aware that their cost to prepare for and attend court could be significant. While your attorney may not bill on an hourly basis, expert witnesses often do. It can also be difficult to predict at the outset of a case whether an expert will be needed to testify.
When interviewing attorneys, be sure to ask about other costs that you may be required to pay and whether they must be paid by you up-front.
Need a Lawyer? Contact the Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys at Slappey & Sadd
At Slappey & Sadd, we believe that everyone who needs a lawyer is entitled to representation. Founded in 1992, we’ve represented thousands of clients across the state of Georgia and recovered millions of dollars in compensation. If you’ve been injured and need help, we want to hear from you – call us at 1-888-474-9616 or send us an email to schedule your free consultation.