The three-part series into different injury law misconceptions begins with a look at the expenses associated with hiring a law firm. Over the course of this series, we will look at the expenses, holding the right people responsible and the amount of time an individual has to file a lawsuit.
If you suffer a serious injury, please don’t hesitate to request a free consultation through our contact form or call the Thomas Creech Law Offices by tapping the button below.
Law Misconceptions about Attorney Fees
One of the most common injury law misconceptions that we see from our clients in personal injury cases is “Do I have to pay anything upfront for you to take my case?”
While the answer to this question can vary from law firm to law firm, our answer is “no”. In personal injury cases, our attorney’s fees are “contingent” upon us obtaining financial recovery.
What is a contingency fee?
It means that you don’t have to pay anything unless we obtain a financial recovery for you. When we take a case on a contingency fee, the law firm is taking a risk in the case.
When we agree to take a case on a contingency fee, we do not charge an attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for our clients in their personal injury case. Typically, in most personal injury cases, we charge an attorney’s fee of 33.3% of the total or gross amount of the compensation recovered off the top or before any other amounts are subtracted.
Under our typical, usual personal injury attorney fee agreements, the client pays the lawyer an attorney’s fee only if there is a recovery made on behalf of the client. If there is no financial recovery made, the client owes the attorney nothing for an attorney’s fee.
What about Case Costs?
Every case costs money to investigate and pursue. For example, it costs approximately $180 to even file a lawsuit in a South Carolina state court. Medical providers charge for medical records. Accident reports are not free and cost money as well. Some cases require the involvement of an expert witness, which is a case cost as well. These are just a few examples of costs in a case.
Our firm usually advances or pays for case costs as the case progresses. If there is a financial recovery in the client’s favor, then our firm will be repaid for the case costs that the firm has advanced or incurred. In the usual case, the case costs advanced or incurred are paid back to the firm from the financial recovery after the attorney’s fee has been deducted from the total or gross settlement or verdict. If there is no financial recovery made in your case-or if you “lose” your case, you will not owe our law firm anything for attorney’s fees or costs.
Wrap Up
Since 2003, Thomas Creech has handled serious injury cases stemming from car accidents, tractor-trailer wrecks, product liability, premises liability and medical malpractice. Thomas Creech can provide you with legal representation while you focus on getting better.
Attorney fees and court costs should not be a barrier in finding responsible and ethical legal representation. Request your free consultation today via the form below and begin the process of reclaiming the quality of life you deserve. We are happy to resolve any injury law misconceptions you may have.