When it comes to filing a personal injury claim, the difference between a fair settlement and a lowball offer is often made by legal representation. A Hollywood personal injury attorney knows how to negotiate a fair deal and make sure that all your eligible damages are accounted for.
However, many people choose to handle the claim on their own, because they don’t think they can afford hiring a lawyer. In reality, everyone affords a professional legal opinion and representation if they have a valid claim.
Personal Injury Lawyers Offer a Contingency Fee Retainer Option
Most lawyers working in personal injury law do not ask for advance fees and do not charge an hourly rate. Instead, they will retain a percentage of the settlement amount, called the contingency fee. This percentage ranges between 33% and 45% of the settlement amount.
There is an exception for medical malpractice cases. Florida law determines that a lawyer can charge a maximum 30% for the first $250,000 of damages and 10% for the next $250,000 of damages.
The contingency fee system is beneficial from many points of view:
- Anyone can afford a lawyer, even if they are short on cash
- If the lawyer does not win the case, the client does not have to pay their fee
- Attorneys will analyze the merits of a case carefully before accepting it
- Attorneys have a vested interest to obtain the best result for each client
Costs to Hire a Lawyer Explained in Detail
The total cost of legal representation in a personal injury case is not limited to the lawyer’s fee. Depending on the complexity of the claim and the likelihood of going to court to obtain compensation, you may incur other costs.
These are:
Court Costs
Court costs include the filing fee (between $100 and $400), the daily stipend for the jurors and the cost of serving summons. The average cost of a full-day court session is around $400. This is why personal injury attorneys try to avoid escalating the case to court and reaching an agreement with the insurer instead.
Hiring Expert Witnesses
Expert witnesses range from healthcare professionals to car accident reconstructionists and forensic accountants. They are specialists with an uncontested reputation. Hiring them is quite expensive, as they charge hundreds of dollars per hour,
Depending on the extent of their involvement in your case, the total cost of hiring an expert witness can quickly reach thousands of dollars.
Administrative Expenses
These costs are unavoidable in any claim, even if it does not reach the trial phase. When you hire a Hollywood personal injury attorney, they will take charge of all the aspects related to:
- Investigating your accident
- Collecting evidence
- Preparing your demand letter
In the process, the attorney will incur various expenses, such as:
- Fees for obtaining records
- Photocopies
- Travel and accommodation costs
- Postage and mailing
A simple and straightforward case will usually result in administrative expenses of just a few hundreds of dollars.
Deposition Fee
The deposition is a sworn statement that will be added as evidence to your case file. The deposition is usually taken by a stenographer, who then transcribes it. The cost of getting the transcript of a deposition is around $500.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Hollywood Personal Injury Attorney!
Hiring a lawyer will not cost you any upfront fees. And, at the end of the case, after paying all the fees and costs, you will still get a larger compensation than a person who negotiates the claim on their own.
At the Klotzman Law Firm, an experienced Hollywood personal injury attorney will analyze the merits of your case carefully and offer you reliable legal advice. If your claim is valid, we will represent you on a contingency fee basis.
We also offer each new client a free case review, so call us today at 954-883-9418!
