What Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
When Houston residents sustain injuries in falls and motorcycle accidents, they often consider hiring a law firm to help them fight for the money they need to pay for their medical costs and other expenses. Before they make a final decision, they sometimes ask, “What does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in the state of Texas?”
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we get messages from Houston residents asking this question on a regular basis.
As a result, our team has endeavored to provide a thorough answer on this page. If you require any additional information after reading through it, please get in touch with us at your earliest convenience. Contact our Houston personal injury law office or call us today at (713) 500-5000.
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How Much Do Personal Injury Lawyers Usually Charge for Their Services?
When Texans suffer injuries in dog attacks and car accidents, they do not generally have to pay any money upfront to enlist the services of a skilled personal injury attorney. That’s because most firms that practice this area of the law operate on a contingency fee basis.
This billing practice means that they take a piece of the client’s payout as payment for services.If they do not recover compensation for the person they represent, they do not receive any money. However, if their personal injury case is successful, they can typically claim one-third of the award.
There is no law that states that the portion of the client’s payout taken by a firm must equal one-third, though. As a result, it is not at all uncommon for lawyers to take anywhere between 20 and 40 percent as contingency fees.
The only way an injured party can know for certain what rate an attorney charges is to ask them during an initial consultation.
Additional Costs and Expenses When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Contingency fees are not typically the only expenses Texas residents face when they hire a Houston personal injury attorney. In the majority of cases, they also have to cover the fees their legal representatives incurred when preparing for a trial or a settlement negotiation.
The most common costs incurred during a personal injury claim include:
Court Fees
Filing a lawsuit in the state of Texas is not free. As such, it is not unusual for lawyers to rack up hundreds of dollars in court fees during the course of a standard personal injury case.
If an injury claim is particularly complex, these fees can quickly begin to exceed $1,000.
Deposition Expenses
During most personal injury cases, it becomes necessary for the plaintiff’s attorney to depose witnesses to the accident. Doing so may involve hiring a court reporter, a videographer, and other external vendors. It may even involve renting out a conference room at a hotel or office building.
When the case concludes, injured parties must pay for these costs out of their compensatory awards.
Investigation Costs
When representing Texas residents who suffered injuries in car crashes or animal attacks, attorneys almost always conduct a thorough investigation into the events that led to the incident. Inquiries of this nature generally involve the hiring of vehicle accident reconstructors, private investigators, and other external vendors.
Lawyers then pass the bill for these services on to their clients when they recover the compensation they need and deserve.
Consultation Fees
During the course of a personal injury course, lawyers often need to consult with industry experts about the nuances of their client’s claims. If, for instance, their plaintiff is filing a medical malpractice suit, they may need to talk to a doctor who is familiar with the situation.
In some situations, attorneys may also opt to speak with economic experts to calculate the cost of their client’s future accident-related expenses.
Most law firms in the state of Texas provide an overview of the costs they expect to incur in their contingency fee agreement. Injured parties should take a few minutes to read through this form carefully before entering into an attorney-client relationship.
What Services Should Clients Expect to Receive for This Legal Fee?
When Houston residents enter into a contingency fee arrangement with a personal injury law firm, they can expect their lawyer to:
Provide Them with Astute Legal Advice
As injured Texans work through their personal injury cases, they generally have to make numerous tough choices. Fortunately, when they work with an experienced lawyer, they don’t need to make these decisions on their own. Their legal team will offer them the advice and guidance they need to make the right calls.
Search for Evidence to Help Their Case
To secure a favorable result in their personal injury case, a plaintiff must prove that:
- The defendant owed them a duty of care
- The defendant’s negligence breached that duty of care
- The defendant’s breach of duty caused them to suffer an injury
- Their injury is as debilitating as they claim
Typically, the best way to prove these points is to present the court with relevant evidence, such as:
- Witness testimony
- Police accident reports
- Video footage
- Accident scene photographs
When Houston residents hire personal attorneys, they can search for the evidence needed to prove their case.
Negotiate a Settlement Deal on Their Behalf
The vast majority of personal injury cases that take place in the state of Texas conclude when the defendant and the plaintiff agree to a fair and reasonable settlement deal. However, these agreements do not typically come together overnight. They usually require weeks or months of hard negotiations.
People who enlist the services of skilled attorneys do not need to handle the negotiating process alone. Their legal representative will take care of it on their behalf.
Represent Them in Court
If the defendant does not want to settle the case, or is unwilling to offer a fair settlement agreement, plaintiffs have no choice but to take the matter to trial. When they hire a lawyer, however, they can present evidence and argue on their behalf in court.
Injured Texans who want to learn more about the services their attorney will provide can ask them during a paid or free consultation. Their lawyer should be able to provide them with a broad overview of the actions they intend to take on their behalf.
What Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer? Call Our Law Firm for More Information
“What does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in Texas?” We hope we have provided you with all the information you need to know on this page. However, if you have any additional questions, please contact the team at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, as soon as you can to discuss your query in more detail.
