Call Now 202-960-4596
After a truck crash, a victim can be overwhelmed by the complexity of a trucking accident claim. That’s why hiring a DC truck accident lawyer makes sense.
There is no set price a truck accident lawyer will charge for truck accident claims. In general, personal injury lawyers work based on contingency fees. As the victim, you pay nothing upfront; the lawyer will deduct their legal fees as a percentage of your settlement.
Contact Us Today to Schedule
a Free Consultation
When a personal injury attorney is looking to get involved in a truck accident case, they will look for the following factors when deciding to take your case on.
While these are not the only factors that a lawyer will look into, other factors may increase the lawyer’s fees.
Part of understanding how much lawyers charge for truck accident and personal injury cases ultimately comes down to the legal fees the attorney and their firm has in place. Legal fees include:
Time spent by the attorney/their team to gather evidenceThese fees are not paid upfront, but rather are taken out at the end in the contingency fee. Meaning–if your lawyer wins, you have to pay.
After being involved in a truck accident, you likely do not have the cash on hand to pay for an hourly attorney rate. This is where the contingency fee comes into play. Utilizing an attorney who follows a contingency fee system is risk-free.
Consider this: You face serious injury following the accident. With medical bills piling up, and vehicle repair or replacement costs, you may not be able to pay for a lawyer. But not having a lawyer may mean you settle your claim early, not getting the compensation you deserve.
The contingency fee basis allows you to seek legal representation without upfront costs.
While all law firms are different, there are average costs for hiring a personal injury lawyer. During your consultation, you will be able to find out exactly what your attorney charges, but in general, a lawyer will charge between 33.3 percent to 40 percent of whatever they win for you.
For example, if you are awarded a $75,000 settlement, your lawyer’s fee may be between $24,750 and $30,000.
However, know that sometimes these fees can change if the truck accident claim goes to trial, or requires mediation/arbitration. These additional fees will be outlined in your contract if they are applicable.
In addition to your lawyer’s contingency fees, there are other fees that you may be charged. These fees include:
Often, your lawyer will not charge you these fees until the case is closed and a settlement or verdict has been reached. However, they may deduct their fees before taking out these additional costs. If it is not outlined clearly in your contract, be sure to ask before signing any paperwork.
In general, it is better for you as the client to be charged a contingency fee rather than an hourly rate. If an attorney charges you an hourly rate, know that this may be a sign that the case isn’t that strong, and the attorney thinks your settlement won’t be as large as you may have hoped.
If a lawyer is not explaining why they charge an hourly rate versus a contingency fee to you for a truck accident claim, you may want to talk to a new law firm.
It’s true that most personal injury cases never make it to trial. In fact, 95% of personal injury cases are settled in pre-trial. However, if your case goes to trial, this can mean additional expenses.
The extra expenses you may face if your truck accident claim goes to trial may include court fees, additional time needed to prepare for trial, and compensation for the time and effort required to argue before a judge.
This is why lawyers often work through negotiations to reach a settlement to avoid trial.
Many personal injury lawyers offer a no-obligation, free consultation to potential clients in a lawsuit. This means you can ask questions, share your case details and then decide if you want to go forward with legal representation or look elsewhere.
Take advantage of these free consultations before making truck accident claims as you may not even need to go to court to get the compensation you deserve.
The consultation is where the lawyer will decide if they want to retain you as a client. Because of this, be sure to collect evidence including:
This allows your attorney to see what information is readily available, and how likely the case is to succeed against the at-fault party. Further, you’ll learn what the lawyers charge for their services.
Though you may think you can handle the settlement process on your own, it is almost always worth it to get a truck accident lawyer for your claim to recover compensation. Because most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, you have no risk when utilizing legal representation.
If you are currently struggling with:
Regan Zambri Long PLLC can help. Don’t go through a personal injury case alone. Establishing an attorney-client relationship early on will be the difference between the insurance company selling you short, and you earn the settlement for your truck accident claim that you deserve. If you are ready to recover compensation, we are here to help.
Being involved in a truck accident in DC, Maryland, or Virginia can be complicated and expensive. You may fear that you simply cannot afford an attorney to represent you. However, at Regan Zambri Long, we offer a free consultation. No fees upfront. Payment comes once you’ve had a court award you compensation or receive a settlement.
Schedule your free legal consultation by calling (202) 960-4596 or sending us a message now!
