How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?

Personal injury lawyers almost often accept cases on a contingent fee (or "contingency fee") basis, meaning that they if they win the case, they receive a percentage of the award as their fee. If they lose, they do not receive an attorney fee. (Please note that attorney fees are different from costs, and you may be responsible for certain costs associated with your case, such as the filing fee for your lawsuit, even if you lose. While this is rarely an issue, as most civil litigation settles short of trial, you should to clarify the issue of costs with your lawyer.)

The amount of the contingent fee your lawyer will charge will vary somewhat from state to state. In most states, the attorney fee will be between one third and 40% of a personal injury award. Attorney fees for workers' compensation cases are more tightly regulated, and are typically lower than for regular personal injury matters. If your case is potentially worth a lot of money, you may be able to negotiate a reduction of the attorney's contingent fee, but the best personal injury lawyers are usually not willing to negotiate the fees they charge. They know that they are often able to recover substantially more money for their clients than attorneys with lesser skills, resulting in a greater award to you regardless of the percentage taken by the attorney.

Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury lawyers provide legal representation services to people injured physically or psycholically due to an act of negligence by another party (person, company, government entity, or private business).  The practice of personal injury law simply involves one party getting hurt, physically or psychologically,  due to another party.

Within personal injury law, there are two main categories: cases arising from negligence and cases arising from an intentional act.

For example, an act of negligence can involve a business cleaning the floor with a wet mop and failing to put any warning signs to let people know to be careful because of a wet floor.  If a person falls, slips, and gets hurt, that person can sue the business for negligence with the help of a personal injury attorney.

An intentional act could involve somone walking up to someone and causing deliberate harm.  Because there was a motive for physical violence look to cause injury and harm, a personal injury lawyer can assist the plaintiff in court.

If you have been physically or psychologically (emotionally) injured, it's best that you consult with a personal injury lawyer to see if you have a basis for your case.  You should be able to get a free or low cost consultation to see if it's in your best interest to take the other part to court.

Personal Injury Claims & Legal Proceedings

As mentioned earlier, if you suffer a personal injury, the best thing to do is to seek the help of an attorney who can assess your situation.  Ultimately, if you've been wronged, you're entitled to some form of compensation, and this compensation usually is money.

Sometimes people who suffer a personal injury are reluctant to see an attorney because they don't have enough money for a retainer.  In these cases, it's still best to consult with one because if you've really been wronged, and you have a strong case, your attorney can receive compensation after the settlement has been won.  Many lawyers offer free consultation services.