If you have suffered serious injuries and considerable property damage in a motorcycle accident, you can hire a motorcycle accident lawyer who can help you fight for your rights and compensation.
While you may want to find out what percentage motorcycle accident lawyers take generally, there is no one answer—percentages can differ anywhere from 25 percent to 40 percent. In fact, although many motorcycle accident lawyers work on a contingency basis, some lawyers work with retainers or an hourly fee.
Contingency Agreement
As the American Bar Association (ABA) explains, with a contingency fee agreement, a lawyer agrees to work on a case in return for a percentage of the final settlement. The fee can be around one-third of the final settlement. However, this differs from one lawyer to another. If you lose your case and do not recover a settlement, you will not have to pay the lawyer.
However, even though you do not have to pay any upfront attorney’s fees with a contingency agreement, you may still have other costs connected with filing a court case. This can include the fees to file the case, fees for pulling official documents, and others.
Some attorneys will pay for these expenses and include this in their final bill. However, if you lose your case you will most likely have to pay for these expenses out of your pocket. A contingency agreement can be preferable for many clients as the financial risk associated with a lawsuit falls on the lawyer and not the client.
Retainer Fees
Some lawyers work on retainer, although this is not common in personal injury cases. A retainer is a payment in advance that some lawyers require to start working on your case.
Whatever the arrangement you have with your lawyer, make sure you have a complete understanding of all fees you will have to pay, whether you win or lose your case.
You can use the first consultation to ask questions about the fee structure. This can prevent any nasty surprises and unexpected expenses in due course.
How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you or a loved one suffered any injuries in a motorcycle accident, it could be tempting to go it alone when trying to recover compensation for damages you incurred. However, proving negligence and fault can be very tricky.
If the other driver has legal representation, they will fight your claim with vigor and may pull out all the stops in doing so. If you must negotiate with insurance companies, they will most likely try to get away as cheaply as possible. Therefore, having a knowledgeable lawyer on your side who can fight for your best interests can be crucial in a motorcycle accident case. The ways a lawyer can help include:
Gathering Evidence
If you intend to hold another driver accountable for your damages, you will need to have solid evidence that proves their negligence. A lawyer can help you with this and collect evidence such as police reports, traffic camera footage, witness statements, and proof of your damages.
Building Your Case
A lawyer can analyze an accident and build a comprehensive case against the at-fault driver. They can also provide expert witnesses who can testify in your case.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Personal injury cases such as motorcycle accident claims are often settled out of court. However, this does not necessarily make it any easier for you to recover compensation. An insurance company could take advantage of you and try to get you to accept a lowball settlement offer.
A motorcycle accident lawyer can calculate your present and future damages correctly and try to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer. Having a lawyer can also signal to insurers and the at-fault driver that you are serious about pursuing compensation and are willing to go to court to receive it.
Representing You in Court
When your case goes to court, having a motorcycle accident lawyer can be reassuring. Your lawyer will fight for your best interests and your right to compensation.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Now
When deciding whether to hire a lawyer, it is important to know all the facts, including what percentage motorcycle accident lawyers take. If you are of two minds about hiring a lawyer for your case, consider whether not having a lawyer could put you at a disadvantage. You could risk leaving money on the table in negotiations with insurance companies or end up having to represent yourself when your case goes to court.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm does not charge upfront attorney’s fees, and we get paid only if we win your case. One of our team members will answer your questions when you call for a free case evaluation. Call us today to make an appointment at (800) 223-5115.