If you have met an accident and are dealing with the insurance company, you need a car accident lawyer. A Columbia car accident lawyer will help you handle the insurance claim and receive sufficient compensation for the injuries you sustained in the automobile accident. Most people who have survived an auto accident might be dealing with crippling expenses and may not be able to pay the lawyer right out of pocket in such circumstances.
Who Is a Car Accident Lawyer?
A car accident lawyer who represents automobile crash victims and helps them receive complete compensation for their injuries is also known as an auto accident lawyer. When you get hurt in a car crash and, the other party is at fault, you are entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering, car damage, and mental anguish.
A car accident lawyer will help you obtain this compensation from the responsible person and their insurance company. The automobile insurance companies do not pay the victim what they truly deserve and the companies try to settle for the lowest possible a victim will accept.
A car injury attorney helps you in such a situation and keeps the insurance companies from taking advantage of you. The lawyer negotiates with the insurance adjusters. If the insurance company refuses to pay a reasonable amount, the lawyer takes the case to court and proceeds with the trial for the money you deserve.
What If I Do Not Hire a Lawyer?
If you have got injured in a car accident, you should immediately reach out to a Columbia auto accident lawyer. When you hire an attorney, they instantly inform the insurance companies that they will be taking your case forward.
The sooner you hire a lawyer, the better, especially in a situation of serious injuries. On the other hand, if you are in a minor fender-bender, you can negotiate your injury settlement without the help of a lawyer.
Among many other pros of hiring a lawyer is that they gather all the evidence for you, which might be difficult otherwise. The attorney will obtain data about lost wages from your employer. Sometimes the hospitals and doctors are reluctant to provide medical records as well.
The insurance adjusters will avoid paying for your damages and make low settlement offers. The whole process is complex. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the earlier you receive the reimbursement for your loss. If you do not hire a lawyer, the amount you receive will be much lesser than what you could have gotten with a legal representative by your side.
Average Cost of a Columbia Car Accident Lawyer:
While hiring a lawyer for a car accident, you might be worried about the expenditure. Most Columbia auto accident lawyers understand this and work on a contingency fee basis. The case expenses you owe to the attorney will be separate from the contingency fee.
A contingency fee is the fee arrangement in which you pay the lawyer only when there is a favorable outcome. In such cases, the lawyer or the law firm receives an agreed-upon percentage of money from the final recovery. Apart from allowing you to hire a lawyer, the contingency fee lets the attorney’s interests align with your interests.
The percentage of the money you pay the lawyer varies from case to case but somewhat ranges between 25 to 40 percent. The usual standard for the contingency fee is 33 percent. The percentage increases if the lawyer has to file a lawsuit on your behalf. One should ask the attorney to spell out their rate when you go for a consultation.
One should have a written fee agreement highlighting the services offered, the attorney’s percentage in the recovery, and fee factors affecting the decided percentage of money. The fee agreement should also outline litigation costs and whether they are separate from the attorney’s fee or not.
Do Some Lawyers Charge a Lower Fee?
Some lawyers try to stay undercut by demanding a lower fee. The offer might seem like an attractive one but is not recommended. The lawyers who charge less than the market standard cannot put much time and effort into the case. It means that they will put fewer resources into solving your problem, do a less thorough investigation, and build a less robust case. Moreover, they have lesser experience and a spotty track record of results.
If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can always find a pro-bono car accident attorney to represent you. The pro-bono attorney will represent you without money and help you get reimbursed for the damages you have faced due to the car crash.
Expenses in an Automobile Accident Case:
In addition to the attorney’s fee, a car crash victim has to deal with a list of other expenses called litigation expenses. These expenses are usually administrative or incurred by an attorney while pursuing your case. The list includes:
- Postage expenses
- Cost of obtaining medical records
- Court filing fee
- Expert witness fee
- Court reporter fee
Most auto accident attorneys pay the case expenses upfront and then deduct the due money from the final amount received. However, it is necessary to understand that the case expenses are additional to the attorney fee. It means that you will have to pay the attorney fee plus whatever other case expenses you owe to the attorney.
Contact the Best Columbia Auto Accident Lawyers:
Contact one of the best Columbia personal injury attorneys and learn more about how having an attorney by your side can be a great deal of help. During your consultation, you’ll be able to discuss the strength of your case and the attorney’s fee arrangement. Do not delay. We see you as a person, not a cash check. Talk to us today!