If you’ve been the victim of a serious car accident, you’re likely dealing with medical bills and ways to pay for the damage to your vehicle. You may also have to deal with missing time off work and taking care of your bills if you’re recovering from an injury. If someone else was liable for your accident, you could file a claim for damages to cover financial losses as well as pain and suffering. In some instances, you can also claim punitive damages.
Your friends and family are likely recommending that you get a lawyer to help you sort out the details of your car accident and receive a fair settlement. Still, if you’ve never hired an attorney before, you may have some inquiries and doubts.
One of the people’s main questions about lawyers is how much an attorney’s service will cost. After all, with all the expenses that come after an accident, it may be next to impossible to retain a lawyer as well.
However, it’s best to have legal representation throughout each phase of your personal injury case to help you understand the wording in contracts and work with any involved insurance companies. If you’re hurt in a car accident or unfortunate incident in the Gulfport area, contact a Gulfport personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. Your lawyer will oversee your case and counsel you throughout the case to let you know how much of a settlement you could be entitled to. The sooner you consult with a lawyer about your accident, the sooner you can receive compensation for your injuries.
Here are some important details to keep in mind about the cost of retaining a lawyer in Mississippi.
Contingency Fee Arrangements
Personal injury lawyers usually use a contingency fee arrangement. It allows you to retain the lawyer’s services without paying anything upfront. Without the contingency arrangement, many people won’t be able to afford an attorney after getting into a car accident. With a contingency plan, the attorney will not receive payment for their work if you do not receive a monetary settlement for your case. If your attorney wins the settlement on your behalf, you will pay a percentage of your settlement amount. The amount you pay the lawyer will be discussed and agreed upon ahead of time.
Your contingency fee will differ depending on the law firm you’re working with. The percentage that you’ll pay the attorney will depend on the reputation and size of the law firm, as well as where you live. Fees range from 20% to 50%, but the average contingency fee is 33% to 40% of your settlement funds.
This arrangement is ideal for many clients since you won’t have to pay the lawyer anything if you lose your case and cannot collect a settlement. However, a contingency plan will increase your lawyer’s chances of fighting hard to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
The Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct include a client-lawyer relationship section. This portion of the rules states that the contingency agreement has to be in writing, and the method that the fee was determined must be in writing as well. The document must clearly state how much of a percentage the lawyer will receive and whether the cost of bringing the case to court will be calculated separately. The attorney must give the client a written statement clearly explaining how much money the client will receive and how the settlement amount was calculated.
Handling Litigation Expenses
Trying a case in court will cost your lawyer money. Your attorney will incur fees for document processing, traveling, and court filing and will be obligated to pay for the services of witnesses and investigators if applicable.
Talk with your lawyer to discuss how you’ll pay for personal injury litigation costs in the context of your case. You will have to pay the fees upfront or take them from your settlement amount.
Bottom Line
If you’ve been in an accident in Mississippi and need the services of a local attorney, don’t hesitate to contact one with a solid reputation in personal injury and motor accidents. Most law firms let clients know immediately how they work regarding fees: free initial consultations, contingency fees, and more. So do your homework properly and pick the firm with the best track record and most experienced lawyers.
