Posted on Friday, September 1st, 2023 at 9:19 pm
You may be eligible for financial compensation if you’ve sustained injuries in Illinois due to someone else’s negligence. You may also qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if you’ve sustained work-related injuries. But what about personal injury lawyer fees? How can you afford those?
Do I Even Need a Lawyer?
Seeking the compensation you deserve in these scenarios requires filing an insurance claim or lawsuit. Unfortunately, insurance companies may not offer the settlement you’re owed, particularly if you don’t have a lawyer representing you. Pursuing fair compensation could require the following:
- Investigating your case to identify the liable parties
- Gathering evidence of negligence
- Submitting thorough documentation of your injuries and losses
- Negotiating with an insurance adjuster
These are all tasks a personal injury lawyer can handle on your behalf so you don’t have to figure out how to do everything on your own. However, you might be reluctant to hire an attorney because you think you can’t afford personal injury lawyer fees.
Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Fees: Common Concerns
Someone thinking about hiring a personal injury lawyer may already be facing costly medical bills. Additionally, their injuries could prevent them from working. Paying their medical bills could be particularly challenging if they’re unable to work.
Maybe you can relate to these struggles. If so, you may not want to take on an additional financial risk. Is it worth hiring a personal injury lawyer when no one can guarantee you’ll win your case?
Often, the answer is yes precisely because hiring a lawyer isn’t as risky as you assume. When you hire an attorney, you may only pay personal injury lawyer fees if you receive compensation.
What You Need to Know About Contingency Fee Agreements in Illinois Personal Injury Cases
A personal injury lawyer will typically work on a contingency fee basis when you hire them. With a contingency fee agreement in place, you don’t pay fees for legal services until you receive a settlement or award. In other words, if you don’t get paid, neither does your lawyer.
Your attorney’s fee will be an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation you receive. The Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct that bind all lawyers does not place a limit on contingency fees except in malpractice cases. However, it is usual for an attorney to be paid 30 – 40% of the compensation they obtain for their client.
Clients benefit from contingency fee agreements in several ways. If you only pay your lawyer when you win your case, hiring an attorney involves no financial risk. A contingency fee agreement also ensures a lawyer isn’t going to lie about your odds of success. Because they only get paid if you do, a lawyer won’t accept your case if they doubt you have a chance of winning.
The contingency fee model of personal injury lawyer fees also incentivizes your lawyer to pursue as much compensation as they believe they can secure. The more money you receive, the more money your attorney receives.
Factors Affecting Personal Injury Lawyer Fees
Various factors can affect the percentage of compensation a lawyer receives. The complexity of your case and how long it takes to resolve is one such factor.
For example, if a lawyer can settle a case out-of-court very quickly, they may charge a lower percentage. Their fee might be somewhat higher if you go to trial.
Your lawyer won’t change your fee without informing you. The fee agreement you sign with the lawyer at the beginning of their representation of you should indicate the percentage they will take from your settlement or award and what types of events will trigger a change in that percentage.
What About Litigation Expenses?
Personal injury lawyer fees aren’t the same as litigation expenses. Examples of such expenses may include the cost of:
- Travel
- Court filing fees
- Investigating a case
- Recruiting expert witnesses
- Obtaining copies of medical records and other documents
Your lawyer may cover such out-of-pocket expenses themselves when working on your case. When you receive compensation, they will deduct these costs.
It’s important to understand a lawyer’s fee model before hiring them. Hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you could offer significant peace of mind, and you’ll be more at ease knowing you won’t be on the hook for unexpected fees.
Contact an Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer
Seeking representation from a personal injury attorney is wise when filing a claim or lawsuit. Your attorney can handle all steps of the claims process. Their understanding of how insurers try to lowball claimants could also boost your odds of receiving fair compensation.
At Wallace Miller, our Chicago attorneys are happy to answer your questions about personal injury lawyer fees. We’ll also offer the dedicated representation you need in these circumstances. Learn more by contacting us online or calling us today at (312) 261-6193 for a free case review.
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