Brotherly Law

Always in your corner, always on your side.

FREE CASE EVALUATION

How Much Does A Personal Injury Claim Cost?

42. How much does a Personal Injury Claim Cost1One of the elements of filing a personal injury claim is cost and, sometimes, the potential cost actually deters an individual from filing a personal injury claim. The fact is that it is important to look at an attorney’s fee schedule and other requirements when it comes to how much you would pay them. You need to see how they charge and what they charge before letting cost deter you from filing a personal injury claim against the person who caused your injuries.

If you are wondering about attorney cost or a personal injury claim and that is holding you back from pursuing compensation that you deserve, it is good to inquire about the fee schedule. At Brotherly Law, we work on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid a fee unless you get paid.

Lawyer Costs

It is important to note that the cost of a personal injury claim just doesn’t lie on the lawyer fee, but there are lawyer costs. These costs include:

  • Expenses paid by the lawyer’s office to investigate the accident
  • Cost of conducting settlement negotiations
  • Cost of pursing a personal injury lawsuit

There may also be costs for the amount of time the attorney spends on your case making telephone calls or drafting documents. Whatever the end amount will be, it comes out of your final settlement amount. This is what is called a “contingency basis” because the lawyer gets paid when you get paid.

There are some unavoidable costs, however, such as the cost of filing the lawsuit. This is a necessary cost in order for this part of the process to get done. If your claim doesn’t settle in early negotiations and the lawyer moves forward with the lawsuit, then the cost is going to go up. This is one reason why people do like to try and achieve a settlement with the other side.

If a settlement is not achieved, then there is the cost of recording depositions, hiring experts, and other tasks. You and your lawyer will discuss these tasks before proceeding so that you completely understand what you are paying for. Once you understand, you will agree to the costs in a written agreement.

Contingent Fee Calculation

Here is an example of how personal injury claim costs can be calculated:

An attorney is to be paid 30% contingency fee in a case that has $3,000 in costs and a $25,000 settlement. If the costs are deducted before fee calculation, the $3,000 is deducted from the $25,000 and that leaves $22,000. Out of the $22,000, the lawyer takes 30%, which leaves $15,400. This is the method that attorneys tend to use when calculating fees.

42. How much does a Personal Injury Claim Cost2If the fee is calculated before cost deduction, then the lawyer is going to receive 30% of the $25,000 and then the $3,000 in costs are deducted from what is left. So that means the $3,000 in costs will be deducted from $17,500 leaving $14,500.

Attorneys can calculate their contingent fees as they wish and may have their specific reasons for using the method that they chose. However, quality attorneys are committed to helping their clients maximize settlements so that the injured can pay their expenses. Always make sure you ask which method of calculation is being used – cost deduction before fee calculation or fee calculation before cost deduction.

Know Costs in Advance

Many of the costs in a personal injury case are standard and the initial agreement with the lawyer will include them. These unavoidable expenses can include any telephone call costs, copying, and court filing fees. So you better understand what each of these mean, feel free to ask any questions you may have so you understand every aspect of the process.

Philadelphia Injury Attorneys Representing Your Best Interests

One of the items that attorneys reassure their clients of is to not worry about the cost of filing a claim against the negligent party. The reason is because of the contingency fee basis that doesn’t require a client to pay unless the case is won. This is due to the amount won being a fraction of the settlement or jury award, leaving the client with the funds needed to pay expenses. If you have been injured and you need an experienced attorney working on a contingency basis, call Brotherly Law at (215) 545-8500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Request A Free Consultation

If you have been injured due to no fault of your own, you may be able to hold the responsible party accountable for the monetary damages resulting from the accident. Fill out the form below to request a free consultation so we can evaluate your case.

    Describe Your Case:

    Send