How Much Do West Houston Car Wreck Lawyers Cost?
A car accident is never anticipated and can lead to many unexpected expenses. You may have an insurance deductible, health care expenses, or even the cost of a new car looming.
So, what if you need to prepare for litigation too? How do you factor in the expense of a car wreck lawyer?
A common myth is that lawyers are extremely expensive and only for the elite. However, this is not true – especially when attorneys work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you do not have a lot of up-front expenses, if any.
Reach out to our team at The Stephens Law Firm to learn more about our contingency fees for car wrecks.
How Do Auto Injury Attorney Contingency Fees Work?
Have you heard that phrase “we don’t get paid unless you do?” This mainly comes from attorneys working on a contingency fee basis. This means your attorney will only make money if your lawsuit is won or settled. But how do these contingency fees work for auto injury attorneys?
A contingency fee means you do not have to pay up-front, but your attorney will collect a percentage of any lawsuit award or settlement later on. These fees in Texas are governed by the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. The fee arrangement is permitted in civil cases, must be agreed to in writing, and signed by the client before services begin.
Fee Determination
The Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct require that contingency fees be a reasonable percentage of the award. This is usually between 30 and 40 percent but can fluctuate if:
- A settlement is reached
- The case goes to trial
The percentage usually increases as the case progresses. For example, if the case settles before trial, a lower percentage will be earned. A slightly higher percentage will be earned if the case settles before trial but after the lawsuit has started.
The highest percentage contingency fee will be earned if the case goes to trial and a personal injury award is given. This is because the amount of effort and time put in by the attorney will increase if the case continues.
Trials are expensive proceedings with discovery, depositions, court fees, and investigator fees. With the contingency fee approach, you should not have to cover these. Some attorneys will wait and recoup this from the settlement or personal injury award. Others may ask you to cover filing fees and other expenses, so be sure to cover this in the contingency agreement.
If You or a Loved One Have Been Injured in a Car Wreck In Texas, Call Auto Accident Attorney Joe Stephens Now.
If you’ve been injured by the negligence of another, you could hire any car accident attorney near you, or you can hire a West Houston attorney that focuses on automobile crash lawsuits. Joe Stephens has been defending injury victims in Texas for over 3 decades from negligent individuals, companies, and greedy insurance companies. As a local car lawyer in Katy, Joe handles all cases personally, and his staff is always available to answer questions.
When you talk with an auto accident attorney, be sure to ask about contingency fees. Any contingency fee agreement should be agreed to, written, and signed in advance. This is a common practice among car accident attorneys and a standard we uphold at The Stephens Law Firm. Worrying about how much you should pay an attorney isn’t something you should deal with when taking on insurance companies after a traumatic car accident. Reach out to us for professional assistance from an experienced auto accident attorney, Joe Stephens. We’ll offer a free consultation and discuss accurate fees you can expect based on your case.
The Stephens Law Firm, Car Accident Lawyers handles auto accident lawsuits across Texas, including these Houston cities.