If you’ve been injured in a car accident, then you’ve got a lot on your plate. You’re probably struggling to cope with the pain that’s been dealt to you while also trying to figure out how to set yourself up for the fullest recovery possible.
That can be expensive, though, especially when your injuries prevent you from working and you don’t have the paid time off accumulated to maintain your financial stability.
While a personal injury lawsuit might help you here, a lot of people who are injured in car accidents choose to forego legal action because they’re afraid that they can’t afford it. These victims often think that they have to have thousands of dollars immediately available to pay upfront costs, and in many instances, they simply don’t have access to those funds.
But there’s another option.
What is a contingency fee?
Through a contingency fee arrangement, your attorney takes no payment upfront. Instead, your attorney only gets paid if you win your case. Only at that point does your attorney take a portion of your recovery as payment for services rendered.
There are many benefits to this type of fee arrangement, including the following:
- Your attorney will be motivated: Since your attorney will only get paid if they win your case, they’re going to be motivated to put in the work necessary to position you for success. Therefore, with a contingency fee arrangement, you can rest assured that your attorney will fight for the outcome that you want.
- No risk: Since you don’t have to put any money up on the front end of your case, there’s no risk to seeking out an advocate who works on a contingency fee basis. Even if you lose your case, you won’t be on the hook for oppressive attorney fees.
- Gauge the strength of your case: If an attorney who works on a contingency fee basis takes your case, then you can take comfort knowing that you have a strong case. After all, one of these attorneys isn’t going to take a major risk on a case that has very little chance of resulting in a positive outcome.
- No quibbling over hours billed: When attorneys work on an hourly basis, you might have to account for their time so that you feel comfortable paying their fee. This can take a lot of time and create a lot of stress.
Are there other options?
There are other pay structures out there. This includes an hourly fee and a flat fee. Just keep in mind that the amount of money that you have to pay your attorney isn’t everything. You also have to consider results.
Therefore, you might find it helpful to analyze a legal team’s track record of success and what others say about the representation that’s been received from that team. You can also ask for initial consultations that will give you a better feel for a firm’s style and approach to these sorts of case.
Find a path forward that makes sense for you
Ultimately, the decision whether to seek out an attorney and, if so, the kind of attorney you choose is up to you. You just need to fully research your options so that you can make a decision that’s right for you. Hopefully then you can confidently move forward knowing that you have an aggressive ally in your corner. By doing so, you might put yourself on the path to finding accountability and recovering the compensation that you need.
