If you’ve been seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision in Alabama, hiring a car injury lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself. But, how much is this going to cost you? Instead of paying legal fees out of your settlement, would you be better off handling your case on your own?
While many accident victims understandably have questions about the cost of hiring a car injury lawyer, the reality is that hiring a lawyer in this situation is not expensive. In fact, it does not cost anything out of pocket. Additionally, given the challenges involved with proving your legal rights, it is strongly in your best interests (including your financial interests) to have an experienced lawyer on your side.
5 Important Facts About the Cost of Hiring a Car Injury Lawyer
Here’s what you need to know about hiring a lawyer after a car accident in Alabama:
1. Hiring a Car Injury Lawyer Costs Nothing Out of Pocket
As we mentioned above, hiring a lawyer to handle your car accident case costs nothing out of pocket. Yes, really. When you hire a car injury lawyer at our firm to represent you:
- Your initial consultation is completely free.
- You will not have to pay a retainer fee.
- You will not be billed hourly rates.
- You will never receive a monthly legal bill.
- You will not be asked to cover the costs of pursuing your case while it is pending.
Why? The simple answer is that you are dealing with enough costs already. We know that you are going through a challenging time, and our job is to make your situation better, not worse. We also know how critically important it is that car accident victims have experienced legal representation. The insurance companies always put their interests first, and the simple reality is that you will need an experienced lawyer to fight for the financial compensation you deserve.
2. You Only Pay if You Win
While you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket, you will have to pay if—and only if—your claim is successful. This is known as “contingency fee” representation, and it is the norm for all types of personal injury cases.
If our lawyers help you obtain an insurance settlement (or a verdict in court), our legal fees will be calculated as a percentage of your recovery. We will discuss this percentage with you during your free initial consultation. We will recoup the costs of pursuing your case at this stage as well. But, as we discuss below, even taking these fees and costs into account, you are still likely to take home more with an experienced lawyer on your side.
3. Your Lawyer Can Help You Seek More Than You Would Seek on Your Own
Why won’t your legal fees and costs reduce the amount you take home? Regarding costs, you will need to incur the same costs regardless of whether you hire a lawyer to represent you. Regarding fees, the difference here is that your lawyer can help you seek more than you would seek on your own. Along with your current medical bills and repair costs, you may also be entitled to compensation for your:
- Loss of income and benefits
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Post-traumatic stress and long-term emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Even this list does not cover all of the losses you may be entitled to recover. From calculating the dollar value of your benefits to calculating your future lost earnings and determining how much you deserve for your pain and suffering, there are numerous aspects to seeking full compensation that require experienced legal representation.
4. Your Lawyer Can Put Pressure on the Insurance Companies
Another way your lawyer can help is by dealing with the insurance companies for you. In fact, simply getting a lawyer involved with your claim will cause the insurance companies to handle your claim differently. If you hire a lawyer, this shows that you are serious about asserting your legal rights, and this will put pressure on the insurance companies to settle for just compensation.
5. A Reputable Lawyer Will Only Take Your Case if He or She Can Help You
Finally, it is important to keep in mind that a reputable car injury lawyer will only take your case if he or she can help you. If you won’t benefit from hiring a lawyer, a reputable lawyer will let you know—and won’t waste your time or theirs. On the other hand, if a reputable lawyer can help you, the lawyer will use his or her experience to fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation with an Alabama Car Injury Lawyer Today
If you have questions about hiring a car injury lawyer after an accident in Alabama, we invite you to get in touch.
Contact Morris, Andrews, Talmadge & Driggers, LLC today online or at 844-654-6228 for a FREE case evaluation. With offices in Dothan and Mobile, Morris, Andrews, Talmadge & Driggers, LLC represents accident victims throughout Alabama.
