Car accidents are frightening and painful experiences, and the distressful aftermath includes a challenging legal process to prove the other driver’s liability for your damages. You may want legal representation on your side, but worry about the cost of attorney fees. How much does it actually cost to hire a trusted car accident attorney in Lake Stevens?
Fortunately, a reputable car accident lawyer in Washington should not require any upfront payment. Instead, they work on a contingency-based payment model. WAC 4-30-044 states the following:
“… A contingent fee is a fee established for the performance of any service pursuant to an arrangement in which no fee will be charged unless a specified finding or result is attained…”
How Do Contingency-Based Fees Work In Washington Car Accident Claims?
Most personal injury attorneys, like car accident lawyers, offer a free initial consultation to injury victims. During the consultation, the attorney evaluates the case, and the car accident victim decides whether or not to hire the attorney. They also discuss the attorney’s fee structure. Most car accident attorneys charge 25% to 40% of the total compensation they recover for their clients as their fee. This fee is “contingent” upon the attorney obtaining a settlement or court award for their client’s damages, like medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain, suffering, and sometimes catastrophic injury compensation for disability or permanent injury. If the attorney does not recover compensation for the client, the client pays nothing.
With a lawyer on the injury victim’s side, the injury victim often ends up with a greater compensation amount than they would have otherwise, even after paying the contingency fee.
What Will a Washington Car Accident Lawyer Do For Me?
Washington has fault-based car accident laws that require an injury victim seeking compensation for their injury-related losses to file their claim against the at-fault party’s insurance. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to protect their profits at the injury victim’s expense by assigning them a portion of fault for the accident, even if the injury victim was truly blameless. This allows the insurer to reduce the payout by the percentage of fault they assigned to the injured party. They may also use other tactics to undervalue or deny claims outright.
An attorney hired by the injury victim conducts an independent investigation into the accident to protect their client’s best interests. They document evidence proving the at-fault party’s liability to present a compelling claim to the insurer, and then carefully calculate past and future damages to seek the largest possible settlement within the policy limits. They may also pursue other avenues for compensation, such as filing a claim for a defective airbag that contributed to the severity of the injuries.
Most Washington car accident cases are resolved through settlements, but sometimes cases require a court case. A car accident lawyer presents a well-executed strategy in court to achieve an award in their client’s favor.
It’s Important to Have a Full Understanding of Your Attorney’s Fee Structure Before You Hire Them
During the free consultation with a prospective lawyer, it’s to your advantage to ask for a detailed explanation of their fee structure and the percentage they charge. Some attorneys increase their percentage if a claim goes to trial. You may also wish to ask who pays court costs and filing fees so you have a full understanding of what to expect in your case.
If you’ve been injured and have questions about your legal options, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer today to schedule a free case evaluation and learn how to protect your rights.