FAQs

Do I Have To Pay My Personal Injury Attorney If I Don’t Get Compensated?

If you hire an Ohio personal injury attorney to represent you in your accident case, you shouldn’t worry about having the money to pay them.

Many people may be nervous about hiring a lawyer to represent them. They may feel as though the cost is too high, especially if they have bills pilling up after their accident. But, the thing that many accident victims do not realize is that their personal injury lawyer will not get any money unless a settlement is reached or they win in a trial.

Contingent Fee

Most lawyers who represent accident victims take what is referred to as a contingent fee. This means that the lawyer’s fee depends on their success in resolving the case. In other words, if you win your case or receive a settlement for your injuries, the lawyer will take a fee.

If you end up losing a trial or the insurance company does not settle and you do not receive any compensation, you will not have to pay your lawyer a fee.

Personal injury attorneys usually take one-third of the gross award or settlement as their fee. This is an arrangement that works for both parties.

Lawyers take a risk of not getting paid if your case does not go well and the client is able to pursue their case without having to come up with thousands of dollars in legal fees, so it works well for both sides. Without this arrangement, many accident victims would not be able to bring a claim because they wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Cases Can Be Expensive

Trying cases can be expensive because court reporters have to be hired to take depositions that have to be transcribed, medical records have to be ordered, expert witnesses such as doctors have to be consulted, exhibits have to be compiled, and court costs have to be paid.

Your personal injury attorney will usually cover these expenses because most people cannot come up with that much money. If the case settles or you win at trial, your lawyer will be reimbursed for the expenses that they incurred over the course of the case. For example, one of our former clients had case expenses of nearly $100,000. If our firm hadn’t covered those expenses, they would have never been able to pursue their claim even though they had an excellent case.

Covering Case Expenses

When you meet with your attorney, you will sign an arrangement that spells out how your lawyer will be compensated for the expenses that they will pay.

It is important to make sure that the contingency fee arrangement, usually 33.3% of the gross settlement or award, is clearly spelled out in the contract. If you do not feel comfortable with the contract, do not sign it. Always make sure your lawyer answers any of the questions that you have before you sign the contract.

You can always walk away after the case starts, but your lawyer will be entitled to get paid for the time and expenses they’ve incurred out of whatever settlement another lawyer obtains for you.

Receiving your Settlement or Award

Once your case is resolved with the help of your lawyer, you will get a check that represents the award of settlement, minus the attorney’s fee and expenses.

There are some attorneys who could possibly be entitled under the contact to receive more money than the client receives after expenses and medical bills are paid off. Our office thinks that this should never happen. Our personal injury attorneys always cut their fees so the client ends up with more money.

Contacting a Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been involved in an accident and would like to consult with an Ohio personal injury attorney, call 800.637.8170 to speak with one of our lawyers. They can answer any questions that you may have over the phone, as well as give a free case evaluation.

For more information regarding the claims process and what you can expect each step of the way, request your free copy of The Ohio Accident Book by calling our office or ordering directly from our website.