If you’re already grappling with medical bills and loss of income after a personal injury, the idea of adding legal fees to the mix can seem daunting. However, this is one of those situations where trying to handle things on your own may not be in your best interest.
Remember, no insurance company is truly your friend—even the one you’ve been diligently paying. Getting an experienced lawyer involved sends a clear message that you won’t be pushed around.
This is why over 90% of personal injury victims who seek legal representation receive compensation, compared to just 50% of those who handle their own cases.
How do you pay the legal fees of a personal injury claim in Kansas City?
Well, you don’t—at least not immediately. Most reputable Kansas City personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning their legal fees depend on whether or not they win compensation for you.
In fact, it’s not just about whether you pay, but also how much you pay. The fee is contingent upon the settlement the lawyer is able to secure for you.
What exactly is a contingency fee?
Think of this as an arrangement where you only pay legal fees if the lawyer successfully secures compensation for you. The attorney can achieve this through negotiations or trial, with negotiations typically being the more likely route.
However, just because the matter is settled out of court doesn’t mean full legal fees won’t apply. The primary advantage of contingency fees is that they align your goals with those of the lawyer.
Without a contingency agreement, the lawyer gets paid whether you win or lose. But with contingency fees, it’s not just the lawyer’s reputation on the line, it’s also their compensation. Simply put, if the lawyer doesn’t win you a payout, you don’t pay legal fees.
Are all legal costs covered by the contingency arrangement?
Your attorney’s fee is just one part of the total legal costs. Litigation involves additional expenses, such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, deposition costs, and expenses for obtaining medical records, among others.
Many, though not all, law firms advance these costs on your behalf. It’s important to discuss how these expenses will be handled during your initial consultation to avoid any surprises later.
If these costs are included in your contingency arrangement, you will only pay them from your settlement if the case is successful. However, if they are not part of the contingency fees, you will be responsible for paying them regardless of the outcome.
With that in mind, you’ll have the opportunity to clarify all of this, including the exact percentage of your compensation that will go toward legal fees, during your initial meeting with the lawyer. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us handle the insurance company while you focus on your recovery.