You Can Afford Personal Injury Case Legal Help

Legal fees have a reputation of not being affordable for the average consumer. Unfortunately, those who need legal help may be missing out on a valuable service if they believe the myth of expensive legal bills. If you've been hurt by a careless driver, you might be missing out on a lot of money if you don't get some expert legal advice. Take a look at how easy it might be to get the help you need.

Can You Represent Yourself?

While you might think you are saving money by doing without a lawyer, that is just another harmful myth. For minor fender-benders with no injuries, you can safely file an insurance claim for your vehicle damage without legal assistance. For accidents with injuries, though, things can get a lot more complicated. If you visited the emergency room, your medical charges could be thousands of dollars. If you were admitted to the hospital, you might rack up charges of over $100,000 in no time at all.

Let your medical treatment be the deciding factor in seeking legal help. Medical costs are too high to take it for granted that the insurance carrier for the at-fault driver will cover them. Here are some other factors that might send you to the phone to make an appointment with a personal injury lawyer:

1. Fault is not clear or you and the other driver share fault.
2. You are being asked for past medical records.
3. You missed work because of the accident.
4. You may have a permanent injury.

Before You Agree to Representation

While your attorney is probably evaluating you and your case, it's important that you do some interviewing too. Be sure that you find out what they charge and what the fees cover. Some lawyers will represent you for settlement negotiations for a certain fixed price. If you take your case to court, additional fees may be possible. Attorneys base their fees on several factors like:

• The value of your case. The higher your medical expenses, the more your compensation could be.
• The facts of the case. More complex accident cases may require more work from the attorney.
• The reputation and experience of the attorney.

Attorney Contingency Fee Agreements

Not all personal injury attorneys use contingency fee arrangements — but most do. A contingency fee agreement means that accident victims don't have to pay the attorney to get their case started. The fee is deducted from the winnings. If you don't win your case, you owe your attorney nothing. Other attorneys charge a flat fee or an hourly rate, but most use contingency plans. Your lawyer will take a percentage of your winnings, and those numbers are agreed upon ahead of time.

Speak to a personal injury lawyer to learn more.