How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost in Athens?

If you are involved in an auto accident, you may find yourself in a difficult financial situation. This might make you reconsider hiring a lawyer to help you pursue compensation from the driver or entity responsible for the accident. However, it’s almost always in your best interest to hire a car accident lawyer despite the fees attached.

With the right attorney, it will be easier to build a strong case that proves the defendant is responsible for the crash and your injuries. This way, you maximize the amount of compensation you’re eligible for. But how much does a car accident lawyer cost in Athens?

This post is aimed at answering this question and helping you understand what to expect when it comes to car accident lawyer fees. If you have any questions or concerns about your case, feel free to contact Rafi Law today at (706) 995-7547.

How much does a car accident lawyer cost in Athens?

Instead of the hourly fees commonly associated with legal services, personal injury lawyers, including car accident lawyers, handle cases on a contingency fee basis. Under this arrangement, the client doesn’t have to pay any upfront fees to hire an attorney to represent them in their case. The client is only required to pay the legal fees if the attorney successfully recovers compensation on behalf of the client.

With this in mind, you can seek the best representation you can and focus on making a full recovery without having to worry about how you will pay for legal representation. Once your lawyer gets a settlement for you, they will receive a percentage of the amount. This percentage will be outlined in detail in your retainer agreement.

What is a Contingency Fee?

As mentioned, most personal injury lawyers represent their clients on “contingency”. This means that the client doesn’t pay them by the hour. Rather, the only fee that personal injury lawyers charge is a percentage of your jury award or your settlement.

The contingency fee system gives you confidence that your lawyer has your best interests in mind and that they will fight to get you the maximum compensation possible for your case. You may be curious about what the normal contingency fee is for personal injury cases. Well, most lawyers will ask between 30% and 40% of the total settlement amount, but this will vary from one firm to the next.

If the law firm doesn’t win the case, then you won’t owe them any fees. Contingency fees ideally make it affordable for injured victims to obtain professional legal help. The fees also help to create an incentive for the attorney to take up cases that have merit, otherwise, they might do all the work for no pay if they lose.

The amount you receive and the legal fees you pay will mainly depend on whether you settle the case before or after filing a lawsuit. If you settle before a lawsuit, the lawyer will get about a third of the settlement amount. If you go to trial, the case will take longer and have much more work, meaning your lawyer may increase the percentage up to 40%.

Court Fees and Other Expenses

While you don’t have to pay your lawyer unless you win, there are some fees and expenses that will need to be paid. These include police reports, filing, fees, medical records, expert witness fees, trial exhibits, and copying and postage fees.

Lawyers differ on how they charge you for these court expenses and fees. Some lawyers will bill you for the costs they incurred. For instance, your lawyer may send you a monthly bill and ask for payment within a given period. Other lawyers might keep track of the expenses and deduct the total from the amount you receive upon winning the case.

The total amount of these costs is difficult to estimate. If you are worried about high court costs and other expenses, get in touch with your Athens car accident lawyer at Rafi Law ahead of time. They may have ideas on how to contain these costs as much as possible.

What Does the Law Say About Contingency Fee?

According to Georgia Law, lawyers are required to put the contingency fee arrangements in writing as part of their retainer agreement. It’s in your best interest to read this agreement closely, as it will also explain your obligations, such as when to pay for the costs of the lawsuit.

Once your case settles, your lawyer will receive a check from the insurance company or the defender. Your Car accident lawyer is required to provide you with your fees a written statement of how much they withheld and for what reasons, and a check that pays your portion.

Call Athen’s Best Car Accident Lawyers Today

You have legal options and rights if you have been involved in a car accident in Athens, GA. Even if you feel like you’re not ready to commit to working with an attorney, reaching out to our team to get a full evaluation of your case will allow you to explore your legal options and possible outcomes, all for free.

Call Rafi Law today at (706) 995-7547 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.