How Much Will It Cost Me To Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer in Alabama?

Many people worry about the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer in Alabama after an accident. When you work with Gartlan Injury Law, you should know that you will not pay anything upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis. So, we will get paid only if you recover compensation. We’ve always followed this approach because we believe it gives people access to legal help when they need it the most.

Do you have questions about contingency fees and the cost of hiring a personal injury attorney? It’s completely understandable. In this article, we hope to address the common questions people in Alabama have about working with a law firm on their personal injury case.

What Is a Contingency Fee and How Do They Work?

Contingency fees make legal help more accessible. After all, paying legal bills can be tough when you also face medical bills, lost income, and other financial worries after an injury. With a contingency fee, you do not pay an upfront fee or pay your attorney on a rolling basis. Instead, you pay only if your lawyer secures compensation for you in a settlement or judgment.

If you obtain compensation, the attorney will deduct costs and legal fees, which will represent a set percentage that you agreed upon before the case started. If you do not obtain compensation, you will pay nothing.

What Are the Advantages of a Contingency Fee Arrangement?

Contingency fee arrangements offer many benefits for clients, particularly those with limited financial resources. Those advantages include:

• No upfront costs — You don’t have to pay anything upfront to your lawyer in this arrangement. It helps if you are dealing with medical bills or cannot work for a period due to your injuries (if you can return to work at all).
• Reduced financial risk — If your case isn’t successful, you won’t owe any attorney’s fees. So, you face no financial risk or face going deeper into debt to hire a lawyer to protect your rights and interests.
• Motivated representation — Because your lawyer gets paid only if you do, the lawyer has an incentive to work hard and seek the best possible result.
• Access to legal help regardless of income — Even if you can’t afford to pay a lawyer by the hour, a contingency fee lets you pursue a personal injury claim without being blocked by financial barriers.
• Aligned interests — With a contingency fee arrangement, you and your lawyer want a successful outcome. This shared goal helps build trust.

Could There Be Additional Expenses Other Than the Contingency Fee?

A personal injury claim often involves expenses other than the base cost of your lawyer’s legal services. Some other expenses your attorney might fold into your contingency fee include the following:

• Filing fees — Courts often charge a fee to file a personal injury lawsuit or certain legal documents.
• Witness fees — If your case needs medical professionals, accident reconstruction professionals, or others to testify about technical aspects of your case, you typically must pay for their review and appearance. However, the benefit of expert testimony usually outweighs the cost of witness fees.
• Investigation costs — Gathering evidence like accident reports, surveillance footage, and witness interviews may involve hiring investigators or paying to access restricted databases.
• Medical record retrieval — Doctors and hospitals may charge you for copies of medical records, which are necessary to document your injuries.
• Deposition and transcript fees — If someone gives a sworn statement, a court reporter will create a transcript, which comes with additional costs.
• Copying, mailing, and administrative costs — Expenses like postage, printing, and document handling can add up in a personal injury case.
• Travel expenses — If your lawyer must travel for court appearances, depositions, or interviews, those costs may be billed as well.

Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, make sure you understand what their contingency fee covers. Always ask for a clear explanation of any extra costs you may be responsible for paying. You don’t want surprises later.

Will the Fee Be Higher If a Personal Injury Case Goes to Trial?

The contingency fee is usually higher for personal injury cases that go to trial. Taking a case to court requires more time, effort, and resources than resolving a case through a personal injury settlement. Your lawyer may need to gather more evidence, take depositions, prepare witnesses, and file motions. The lawyer must also prepare a trial strategy. Trials can come with expenses such as filing fees, witness costs, and time spent on jury selection.

Since the lawyer takes on more risk and puts in significantly more work in cases that go to trial, it’s common for the agreed-upon percentage to be higher if a case goes to trial. Make sure you understand how your lawyer’s fee structure works and whether the percentage changes depending on how your case is resolved before you hire a personal injury attorney.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?

Despite the expense of hiring a personal injury lawyer, it can be worth the cost. The services that an Alabama personal injury attorney can provide include the following:

• Help you to understand your rights — A lawyer can explain your legal options and make sure insurance companies don’t take advantage of you.
• Estimate your case’s value — Attorneys know how to calculate a personal injury claim, including medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
• Gather evidence to support your case — Your personal injury attorney can collect your medical records, accident reports, expert testimony, and more evidence to build a persuasive case.
• Manage deadlines and paperwork — A lawyer will handle the details. So, you don’t have to worry about missing filing deadlines or making costly mistakes. For example, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of your injury date, or you could lose your right to compensation.
• Take your case to trial — If your case is not resolved through a settlement, your attorney can be prepared to present your case at a trial.
• Reduce your stress — Having a personal injury lawyer in your corner allows you to focus on your recovery while they handle the legal fight.

Get Help from an Experienced Alabama Personal Injury Attorney

Gartlan Injury Law takes pride in providing quality, affordable legal representation to Alabama’s injured while helping them seek full and fair compensation. You can count on us to work hard for you, protect your rights, and pursue maximum compensation in your case. To learn more about hiring a personal injury lawyer and the services we can provide, contact us today. Our initial consultations are free and confidential.

Visit Our Dothan Personal Injury Law Offices