When most people are involved in an accident and suffer injuries, they believe that they cannot afford to hire a lawyer. That cannot be any farther from the truth. The majority of personal injury attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis, which means they don't charge you for their services until you receive compensation.
When a lawyer works with you on a contingency basis, there is no risk to the injury victim. Having an experienced lawyer means you have a legal professional to evaluate your claim and represent you, which increases your chances of obtaining the maximum compensation.
Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law is one of the top personal injury lawyers in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Our team works on a contingency basis and are prepared to fight to maximize your claim.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
Contingency Basis Explained
When a lawyer or law firm states that they work on a contingency basis, this is an agreement between you and your lawyer that they will represent you in court for free until a financial settlement or verdict is reached. In this agreement, your attorney will earn a percentage of the settlement, which was previously agreed upon if they are successful in resolving your claim.
Generally, lawyers will not take a case on contingency unless they are certain they can win. You are not responsible for paying attorney fees if your lawyer is unable to reach a successful resolution in your case and obtain compensation. If this is the case, you may still have to pay some court fees.
Benefits of Contingency
Most people don't have the money to pay for a lawyer up front. The fact that you won't have to pay any attorney costs out of pocket is the greatest benefit of hiring a lawyer on a contingency basis. Payment to the attorney is deducted from the settlement award you receive after your case is resolved; you only pay them if they are successful in obtaining compensation for your claim. For anyone who is hurt and doesn't have money to pay for a lawyer, this makes a "contingency basis" the best option.
Your lawyer is also incentivized to put as much effort as possible into the case to guarantee it is successful since, should the case fail, they will not earn anything.
Drawbacks of Contingency
When an attorney works on "contingency basis", it generally means that, regardless of the length of time required to complete the case, they will be entitled to a predetermined share of the settlement. In situations where a personal injury case is successfully resolved quickly, the contingency fees could be much more than if you had agreed to pay the lawyer an hourly rate.
Lawyers usually only take on cases they believe they have a good chance of winning, which is another disadvantage of the contingency fee system. Thus, the attorney might not accept a case if it is harder to prove or if it will take much more work to resolve.
What Percentage Do Lawyers Take In Contingency Fees?
Before your attorney takes on the case, both sides need to agree on the contingency fee, which is a portion of your possible settlement sum. The contingency proportion may increase if the case is more complex, but generally, there is a standard rate in most states.
A personal injury attorney's contingency fee typically ranges from 25 to 40 percent of the settlement; however, 33 and one-third percent is the norm. In states like New Jersey, the maximum an attorney can take is 33 1/3 percent, which is common amongst most personal injury firms.
Injured and Need Legal Help? Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney At Law Is Here For You
Retaining an experienced personal injury lawyer can have a significant impact on how your case turns out. This is why it's important to consult with a lawyer before making any decision in your case or even filing your claim.
We urge you to consult with many lawyers, as you want to choose one that is the right fit for you, and one that has experience in your specific type of case. Hiring a personal injury lawyer from Brandon J. Broderick guarantees you will be working with a dedicated team that will prioritize your requirements and fight for your best interests. We only get paid if we win your case, hence we operate on a contingency fee basis. You don't pay a dime if we lose.
Contact us today and schedule a free consultation.