According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), car accidents across the state injured 244,092 persons and claimed 4,481 lives in 2022 alone. Being involved in a car accident can be stressful and unexpected. It can be particularly overwhelming when the accident is another person’s fault.
Often, drivers operate their vehicles negligently, harming others. In these cases, Texas law protects the rights of injured people to pursue compensation.
As an accident victim, you likely have expensive property damage and medical fees. You might have had to miss work because of the accident. Not to mention, it was likely an emotionally traumatic experience, significantly disrupting your life.
When you retain the services of a San Antonio car accident lawyer, you can put your mind at ease. With a lawyer on your side, you can relax knowing that a professional is fighting for you.
But you might worry about the cost of an experienced personal injury attorney. You might wonder about car accident lawyer fees. You might wonder, “How much do car accident lawyers charge?” The short answer is that it won’t cost you anything upfront, and you’ll only pay the attorney if they win or settle your claim.
Read on to learn more about how expensive it is to hire a car accident lawyer in San Antonio, Texas.
Contingency Fees
Car accident lawyers typically charge on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not have to pay any attorney’s fees unless the lawyer obtains compensation for you as the outcome of your case.
By hiring a car accident lawyer, you do not take on the financial risk of having to pay the lawyer even if your case is unsuccessful. The lawyer assumes the risk, knowing that if you lose your case, the lawyer has worked for free.
The contingency fee structure can be helpful for those who experienced vehicle accidents. You do not have to worry about paying a lawyer by the hour, as is standard in other areas of law. You also are not responsible for paying a flat fee.
The ultimate car accident lawyer fee depends on how much you receive since it is a percentage of your award.
How Much Do San Antonio Car Accident Lawyers Take?
You only have to pay your personal injury lawyer if your case is successful. In other words, you only pay your advocate if you receive money.
The lawyer’s fees come directly from the money you receive. You do not have to go into your bank account or take on debt to pay your lawyer.
If you decide to work with a car accident attorney, you will discuss the payment structure upfront. Your client agreement should clearly outline how much the lawyer would receive if you have a favorable outcome. You shouldn’t have to worry about unexpected accident fees.
The range for contingency fees is typically between 33 and 40 percent. Sometimes, lawyers charge a sliding scale depending on the kind of work they perform.
Your agreement might state that the lawyer charges a lower percentage if the case settles than if it goes to trial. The reason for this is that the lawyer invests greater time and effort into preparing for trial and representing you in court.
Experienced San Antonio Car Accident Lawyers
The contingency fee payment system can be beneficial for everyone involved. Your attorney will be incentivized to increase the value of your claim – the more money you recover, the more money they make as well. In addition, you’ll be able to hire a lawyer to represent your interests even if the accident has left you in a difficult financial situation.
Most car accident lawyers in San Antonio offer free consultations as well, so you can learn more about how the contingency fee arrangement will work in your case at no cost to you.