How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Legal services pay for themselves in lawsuit financing and increased compensation
The great advantage of filing a personal injury lawsuit is that most attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. That means that rather than charging upfront legal fees or an hourly rate, the attorney works without compensation until the case resolves through a jury verdict or settlement. At that time, the attorney takes a percentage of the award. The contingency fee arrangement helps plaintiffs who could not otherwise afford the costs of civil litigation to pursue just compensation without worrying about expenses. It also means that your ability to retain an excellent lawyer does not depend on your ability to pay, but rather on the attorney’s assessment of the strength of your case, or the importance of delivering justice to someone in your particular circumstances.
All attorney contingency fees are not equal
If the real, compensable injuries and the facts indicate someone other than yourself is responsible for the harm you’ve suffered, you’re in a good position to shop for the right attorney. You should understand that just because a number of lawyers claim to operate on a contingency basis, that doesn’t mean they all operate on the same terms. For example:
- Contingency fee rates range from about 30 percent to 40 percent of the damage award or settlement.
- Some attorneys pass on court costs to plaintiffs as they accrue.
- Some attorneys, who pay upfront for court costs, reclaim those expenses off the top of the damage award, then assess their percentage from the remainder, while others stick to a strict percentage of the award.
Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler advances all costs of litigation and offers a competitive contingency rate.
Not every law firm has the resources to fully finance a personal injury trial
Lawyers can work on a case for years before it settles or goes to trial. Working on contingency means, they see no payment for their efforts during all that time. Many attorneys are very good but do not have the resources to keep the lights on in the office for that long. Under those circumstances, it’s hard for them not to think of their own financial circumstances when advising a client to settle or go to trial. What’s worse, opposing counsel are well aware of those personal injury lawyers who rarely take a case to trial. They know they can wait them out and force them to settle for less than a case is worth.
At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, we have the financial resources to fully fund your case all the way through trial to verdict. The opposing counsel knows we aren’t afraid to go to trial, because we have the skill and the financial backing to support litigation. Our track record of success in court is one of our greatest assets, giving us leverage in negotiations.
The clock is ticking; contact Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler today!
There’s truth to the old legal adage that he who sits on his rights loses them. Act today to assert your right to full, fair compensation for your injuries. Call Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler at 253-383-5388 or contact our Tacoma office online to arrange your free consultation.
