Hiring a car accident lawyer can help you speed up the process for your claim and enable you to get the compensation you deserve. However, it is vital to know about the costs involved in hiring a San Francisco, CA, auto accident lawyer for your case. Car accidents can have a detrimental impact on an individual’s life.
They can suffer from life-altering injuries, which can affect their livelihood and also change the lives of the people dependent on the injured person. Therefore, the injured person can get compensation for their pain and suffering even if there is more than one individual responsible for the collision.
According to the California Civil Code §1431.2, each person will be responsible for the monetary loss to the extent of their fault and involvement in the accident.
We will discuss the different options available for you to determine the cost of hiring an attorney. But before that, let’s understand the importance of a car accident lawyer.
The Importance of Hiring a San Francisco, CA Auto Accident Lawyer:
Car accident injuries can have a long-term impact, depending on the severity of your case. The people involved in the car crash might sustain life-changing injuries, which can lead to fractures, disfigurement, impairments, etc. However, you deserve compensation for injuries that are not due to your fault.
The California state law codes clearly state the person who is responsible for the accident will have to bear your expenses. It includes both the damages you sustained personally and for the damages of your property. One thing to keep in mind is that personal injury law involves many technicalities.
Therefore, it is better to have a San Francisco, CA auto accident lawyer by your side to deal with the complex issues that can arise with your claim. By taking the services of a reputable attorney, you can have a better chance to get compensation for your car accident case.
The Cost of Hiring an Auto Accident Lawyer:
Now that you are aware of the importance of having a reputable car attorney by your side, then let’s get an insight into the various options available to pay the lawyer fees.
Contingency Fee:
One of the most known types of fee agreements between car accident lawyers and clients is contingency fees. Usually, the lawyer will not get their fees until they can get some sort of monetary recovery for the plaintiff.
There is a percentage fixed for the attorney to receive from the settlement. Though lawyers tend to charge 33 percent of the settlement, it can vary from case to case.
However, the litigation costs and expenditures vital for the processing and getting a result for the claim also have to be paid, such as:
- Getting all the documents (Medical and police reports)
- Postage and mailing
- Costs incurred to get witnesses
- And other expenditures
Although these might not sound like too much, these costs can end and reach a high figure of thousands of dollars. The agreement terms you set with your lawyer in the contingency fees contract will determine the payment schedule for these expenses. It can be taken from the settlement, or the client will pay them as soon as the attorney incurs these costs.
Hourly Fees:
Apart from the contingency fees option, the lawyers can bill you for the hours they put in for your case. The hourly fees option is a common billing method that attorneys use for various cases. If your attorney chooses to go for this option, you will have to pay them a fixed rate per hour.
The attorney will receive the amount for the total number of hours they have put in for your case, whether you win or lose the case. The hourly rate that the attorney will charge can depend on the skills and experience level they have.
Flat Fee Agreements:
As per the name, the flat fee agreement is a payment plan where the attorney can charge a flat fee for their services. Although the flat fee agreements are something that not many auto accident lawyers will go for, they can be suitable when clients might ask for a specific task.
For instance, the client can hire an auto accident lawyer just for creating and sending a demand letter. In such cases, the lawyer can go for a flat fee agreement. Apart from that, the lawyers might not choose a flat-fee billing arrangement because of the unpredictability of the case.
Retainer with Contingency Fees:
A retainer plus contingency fees agreement entails the idea where the client gives the lawyer a retainer at the beginning of the case, and if they win, the lawyer will get a contingency fee. The retainer counts as an advance payment that the client is making for the attorney’s services.
There is no set amount you have to pay for the retainer. It can vary anywhere from a couple of hundred to thousands of dollars. After the client wins the case, the attorney will receive the percentage set for the contingency minus the retainer amount.
What Step Should I Take After an Accident in San Francisco, CA?
Whether you have been involved in an accident or not, you should know about the vital steps you need to take after the accident. By taking the right steps, you can ensure that you have a better chance of winning your claim.
Step 1 – Call Law Enforcement:
First and foremost, you need to call the police and the paramedics to get treatment for your injuries. The police and medical report can play a vital role in helping you with your claim.
Step 2 – Collect Witness Information and Evidence:
It is highly important to have evidence to support the claims you are making. Therefore, you need to get all the information and evidence you can get from the accident site. You can gather the information of any witnesses that are at the crash scene.
Step 3 – Contact your Attorney:
The sooner you contact an attorney in San Francisco for your car accident case, the better.
Contact the Best Accident Lawyers in San Francisco, CA!
Looking to get legal representation for your car accident case? Then, hire the best and most experienced San Francisco, CA personal injury lawyer from San Francisco Injury Lawyers.