No one hopes to have to look for a personal injury lawyer—or any type of attorney, for that matter. Unfortunately, though, we all will probably need the aid of a legal professional at some point. Maybe you need an attorney to navigate a benign legal situation, like a real estate transaction or contract confusion. Or perhaps you will find yourself on the wrong end of a personal injury claim.
The reason why personal injury claims proliferate is that there are simply many reasons why someone might suffer a personal injury. Medical malpractice, for example, or a motorcycle accident caused by another motorist are common sources of injury. Both of these would qualify as a personal injury that may result in a lawsuit in which the plaintiff (i.e., the injured person) is seeking fair compensation for their medical bills and other suffering.
That being said, attorneys usually don’t come cheap, especially the ones with years of experience in this practice area, so if you’re looking to sue for fair compensation after a car accident or a run-in with a negligent medical professional, you’re probably wondering how you’ll be footing the law firm’s bill. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s talk about how to pay a personal injury lawyer.
How does payment to a personal injury attorney work?
Let’s start with the good news: You’re probably going to be able to pay your personal injury attorney without too much trouble. This is especially true if the attorney you hire is really good at their job. See, many personal injury lawyers receive payment in the form of a percentage of the financial compensation you receive. That is to say, it’s in their interest to make sure you get the verdict you’re looking for on your personal injury case. Moreover, a lot of attorneys offer a free consultation (although not all, so make sure to ask about this), which would mean you can get some legal advice and an idea of what legal rights you have before you pay a cent.
How can I ensure that my attorney has my best interests at heart?
Nothing is 100 percent certain, unfortunately, but there are a few ways you can make sure you’re hiring the legal representation that will serve you best. For one, make sure to work with local lawyers. If you were in a motor vehicle accident in the Detroit area, the very best New York City-based lawyers won’t do you any good. Head to Google and type in “personal injury lawyer Detroit, MI” to find someone who knows all the ins and outs of personal injury law in the state of Michigan. Michigan law differs from New York law and vice versa—each state stands alone when it comes to personal injury issues. A Detroit injury lawyer will know everything about how best to tackle the litigation for their Detroit area plaintiffs. Then, when you head in for an initial consultation, come with a list of questions to help you understand if this is the lawyer you’d like to work with.
Does the payment structure depend on the nature of the lawsuit?
The short answer to this is no. That being said, tracking down information to prove someone is at fault in the case of a motorcycle accident is not the same as proving fault in cases of dog bites or a defective product. There are likely to be out-of-pocket expenses incurred, like paying for certain forms to be filed, that won’t be covered by the law firm you work with. In order to minimize these expenses, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on things like medical records and photos of the scene of the car accident. Remember, any legwork you do is something you don’t have to pay an attorney to do for you.
