At Ferrell & Brown, for your car wreck claim you do not pay for services out of pocket.  Instead, the claims are on a contingency fee.  That means we do not get paid - - unless you do!

If you were hurt in a car wreck (or another type of accident) caused by someone else, having an experienced lawyer can help your chances of being awarded the fullest compensation possible for your claim. Scheduling a free consultation with an attorney, like our team at Ferrell & Brown, can give you a good idea of how a lawyer works and what their fee structure will look like.

How Contingency Fees Work

On our personal injury claims – including car wrecks – we work on a contingency fee basis.  This is the same for most personal injury attorneys and ensures a client is able to get representation. This is unique to personal injury lawyers and makes the situation virtually “risk-free” for the client.

A contingency fee means the lawyer will not get paid by the client until and unless they recover money in the case. Then, if they do recover money for the client, the lawyer is paid from either:

• A percentage of the settlement from the car wreck claim or
• A percentage of what’s awarded by a judge or jury in court

Contingency fees can be very beneficial because they align the interests of attorney and client. Bringing a great outcome in the case helps both parties. The lawyer’s fee is literally “contingent” on a favorable outcome in the injury case.  Additionally, this allows the client to gain an attorney to fight the insurance company when financial constraints would otherwise not allow.

Average Contingency Fees for Accident Lawyers

The standard contingency fee for a car wreck lawyer is between 33.3% to 40% of the settlement/verdict. The fee will vary depending on the lawyer’s specific guidelines and services.

Many attorneys will use a sliding scale for their contingency fees based on when they get the case resolved. For example:

• If the case is resolved before the case proceeds to trial, the fee will be one-third of the settlement.
• If the client proceeds to trial, the typical fee goes up to 40% to account for the additional time, money, risk, and resources required.

Other Costs Lawyers May Charge in Accident Claims

Although most lawyers don’t charge you an attorney fee until it’s taken out of whatever they win you, there are other fees often associated with accident claims. Those can include:

• Filing fees
• Expert witness or investigator fees
• Costs of getting copies of medical records
• Postage fees
• Fees associated with depositions, transcripts, and trial exhibits

How to Know if a Car Accident Lawyer Is Worth the Cost

You might wonder if what a lawyer charges for your claim is worth it. It’s a great question that many injured individuals ask.

While an injury victim is allowed to handle their case alone, we do not recommend it. After an accident, you are going up against the insurance company of the at-fault person. Insurance companies know what they are doing—and they know that most injury victims are unaware of how the legal aspects of an insurance claim process work.  Additionally, they will take advantage of mistakes made by someone not familiar with the process, use an unrepresented individual’s inexperience with the process against them, and make “lowball” offers.  Time and time again, individuals offered insignificant amounts when handling a claim on their own have retained our services and secured full compensation.

Injury Lawyers Will Fight for Your Rights

The insurer will work hard to convince you that you deserve a much lower settlement than your claim is worth. One wrong move could leave thousands of dollars on the table. On the other hand, having an experienced and compassionate lawyer on your side means you have someone who knows how to advocate on your behalf for the best outcome possible.

A good general rule is that the more serious your injuries and your case, the greater need you have for a personal injury lawyer. That’s because the stakes are higher and you can lose out on a lot of money that you need to get better.

SERIOUS INJURIES – REQUIRE SERIOUS ATTORNEYS

Our firm understands the repercussions of a serious accident. If you are injured due to another party’s negligence, you should not have to fight the uphill battle for compensation on your own. When you hire Ferrell & Brown, you are hiring a devoted, caring, and aggressive team who will tenaciously fight for you. If you or someone you know was injured in a wreck and wishes to schedule a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact Ferrell & Brown.