You may need legal advice after a construction accident. Your employer and their workers’ compensation insurer may tell you things you don’t trust. Yet many injured workers come to us with worries about how much it costs to hire a construction accident lawyer.
Let us put your fears to rest. Construction accident lawyers arrange their fees to give you the most value for your money and to get the most legal help you can before you have to pay. Here’s an explanation from our Indianapolis construction accident lawyers.
The Initial Consultation
Some lawyers in other areas of law charge big fees for a consultation, but not personal injury lawyers. Anyone can get into an accident, so the only fair way to charge is to make initial consultations free.
During initial consultations, you’ll learn about your legal rights and how a lawyer can help you with your claim. You’ll also get an initial evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Sometimes, a lawyer may also give an initial estimate based on previous cases.
These consultations are without obligation. You’re free to reject the lawyer’s services and find a different one to work. Initial consultations help both clients and lawyers discover whether there is a case and if you can work together to reach a successful resolution for your case.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Contingency Fees
Personal injury lawyers like Vaughan & Vaughan represent clients on contingency. A lawyer working on contingency works for free unless and until they get money for you through a settlement or court ruling.
When this happens, your lawyer will take a percentage of the amount of money you receive. You do not have to pay any money upfront or in the middle of your case. When you get paid, your lawyer also gets paid
Many injury victims cannot work while they recover. Their finances may run out quickly. Charging someone for representation when they’re injured is unethical. Lawyers who work on contingency should only get paid when they deliver results.
How Does This Work With Workers’ Compensation Claims?
In some personal injury accidents, you’ll receive a lump sum all at once. Car crashes work this way. Workers’ compensation pays out over time. Does this mean that your lawyer will get a set percentage of all of your checks until you recover?
Here’s what usually happens: once the workers’ compensation board awards you compensation, you’ll receive a back payment from the date of your injury to the date of your award. Your lawyer will take their contingency fee from that back payment to help you win your case.
When Fees Are Taken
One thing that can confuse clients is when fees are taken out at the end. Some lawyers first pay all of their other costs and then take their contingency fee from what’s left. Others take their fee first and then pay the other costs. Lawyers differ on when they take their fee, so be sure to ask how yours does it before hiring them.
Are There Other Fees?
There may not be fees to pay your lawyer, but there may be other fees related to your case that must be paid. Usually, they’re to get evidence to strengthen your case or to process paperwork. For example, if you have not seen a doctor yet after your accident and you see a lawyer, you’ll be asked to see a doctor to get a diagnosis.
That will cost money, but the information from the diagnosis could prove your claim and how much you should receive. The costs of additional testing could get added to your damages and paid back through your settlement or judgment, should you win.
If your case must go to court, there may be additional filing fees imposed by the court. Your lawyer may take on that burden or pass it on to you. Your lawyer and retainer contract should spell out the details of any additional fees you may have to pay to cover the costs of your case.
Do Construction Accident Lawyers Always Work on Contingency?
In most cases, they do. Sometimes, a lawyer may charge a modified contingency fee and ask for a flat cost or a per-hour charge on top of the contingency. These additional costs should be much lower than what you would pay in a non-contingency case.
If you are asked to pay additional fees, ask your lawyer why, then consider getting a second opinion about them.
What Is an Average Contingency Fee for a Construction Accident Lawyer?
On average, contingency rates for personal injury lawyers range from about 33%-40% of the final compensation. The exact value depends on the lawyer you hire and the complexity of your case.
If you have to go to trial or beyond, the rate will rise most times. You may also have a higher rate if your case is complex or likely difficult to win. On the other hand, you may get charged less if you have a powerful case with solid evidence.
The fee percentage will change from lawyer to lawyer, so it’s important to ask any lawyer to plan to hire what their contingency rates are and how they handle case costs. You want to be clear about what you’ll be charged so you won’t get an ugly surprise later.
Will Hiring a Lawyer Bring Me More Money?
In almost all cases, the answer is yes. Insurers pay for most accident claims. Insurers want to keep as much money as possible, so they will try to deny or lower your compensation however they can. This includes workers’ compensation claims.
Hiring a lawyer gives you access to the court system. Insurers and employers want to avoid court if they can because they could lose far more than they’re willing to pay. Employers may also wish to avoid damage to their reputation by avoiding court. This gives them an incentive to settle for a fairer amount.
A construction accident lawyer performs many roles, but their goal is to get you compensated for the most money possible. Thanks to the contingency system, the more you win, the more they get paid. So it’s to their advantage to get you the most they can.
Contact a Construction Accident Attorney
So, how much does a construction accident lawyer cost? It depends on many factors, but the two most important are how much you win and what your lawyer’s contingency fee percentage is. You now also know that you do not have to pay a lawyer upfront for an injury claim, so there is no financial risk to speaking with one.
Learn your options after your construction accident by contacting Vaughan & Vaughan for a free consultation.
