Tag: car accident

Categories
Legal Personal Injury

How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?

How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?

The cost for hiring a lawyer after a car accident can vary based on the accident and the injuries you received. However, unlike other attorneys, they do not usually charge hourly. You will probably pay some fees and not be liable for the attorney fees if your lawyer does not win your case.

Lawyer Contingency Percentage

This will be the main part of what you will pay a personal injury lawyer after being in a car accident. It is usually about 25-40% of the money you receive in compensation. Most will charge you one-third, so be prepared to not take home the whole amount of the money you recover.

Make sure you review the contingency fee with the lawyer and ensure you understand the rules behind it before you sign anything.  Always ask them to explain it to you if you don’t understand it.

Contingency fees will vary based on the lawyer and your personal injury case. You will usually pay a higher fee if you have to have a trial by jury. If the settlement is met quickly, you will probably owe less of a contingency fee.

Contingency fees can also be negotiable, so always discuss with your lawyer what they expect and what you think is fair.

Other Fees and Expenses

Most personal injury lawyers do not charge upfront litigation expenses or court fees. They will usually pay the costs for medical records, police reports, court reporter fees, and expert witness fees. If they win your case, you will have to reimburse them for all these costs.

Some personal injury lawyers though will make you pay these fees as they become due. They will usually send you a statement weekly or monthly to say the money they’ve spent and expect you to pay them the money when you receive the statement. These fees will need to be paid before they will advance with your case.

If you are using a large firm, they are more likely to pay these fees for you upfront. Smaller firms or family firms will need the money sooner because they won’t have enough to upfront the costs.

All the fees will automatically be taken out of your settlement amount, so always keep a record of all fees so you can double-check to make sure they’re correct.

Other Fees

Some lawyers will not have a pure contingency fee even though this is the most common way for personal injury attorneys to charge their fees. You might have an attorney that charges a retainer fee instead. They will then end with a contingency fee based on your settlement and how much item they put into the case.

Overall, there will not just be a flat fee for getting a personal injury lawyer. It will depend on the records and paperwork they need for the case. It will also depend on your settlement number and if the case will go to trial. Make sure to review all fees and percentages with your lawyer.

Categories
Financial Insurance

How Long Does a Car Accident Stay on my Record?

How Long Does a Car Accident Stay on my Record?

Those shopping for car insurances right now can surely expect a low rate. But, only if they’ve maintained the cleaning driving record one can have. It is a fact that the safest drivers are the favorites of insurance companies while those with shifty records may end up with big costs.

However, the good news is that car records do not last on your records forever. You’ll be able to reduce your premium once you understand when accidents clear off your history.

When Accidents Leave Your Records

There is no doubt that car accidents are very scary and stressful. Not only physically, mentally and emotionally but also financially. In addition to dealing with the other entire trauma surrounding your life and body from an accident, you also have to bear the financial burden resultantly.

Your insurance premiums simultaneously increase when you suffer an accident. Can you guess why? Simply because the insurance company now views you as a “high risk” for its business. But you do not need to lose heart just yet: accidental blemishes will disappear from your record with time. You only need to be patient.

The length of time it takes for records to clear depends on how severe your accident was. It also depends on which state you met the accident in. Car laws vary by state and many states have a pint system where they follow traffic violations.

So if you’re a driver that committed an egregious vehicular crime God forbid, you’ll be getting more point for it. In the case of too many points, chances of license suspension altogether are also high. The problem in some states is that their points system is not the kind that indicates the length of time your records will show the accident.

For example, if you’re in California and you commit a DUI offense there, then you can forget about low rates for straight thirteen years because that’s how long your car accident is going to feature in your records. But if you’re in Michigan, the car law is going to be slightly easy on you and they will only hold your accidental offense for two years on your records.

Here is a helpful table to see how long your accident will feature on your records:

  • Minor Accident – For three years
  • First minor accident – For many insurance companies, this is a forgivable incident. If you have had a minor first-time accident, it may likely not show on your records at all.
  • DUI – This offense stays on your record for ten straight years.
  • Hit-and0run – Another accident that occupies a place on your record for ten years.

The best idea is to refer to the local guidelines of your state or get in touch with your local motor vehicle department for specific information regarding your case.

If the Accident Wasn’t Your Fault

Not every accident will by purely your fault. Sometimes you just are the victim of another driver who caused it and you simply got unlucky. In such a situation, the accident does enter into your driving record and stays there for the stipulated time but it does not impact your insurance premium.

All you need to do is get your police report copy to serve as evidence of your innocence in the accident.

Categories
Legal Personal Injury

Why Get a Lawyer For a Car Accident That’s Not My Fault?

car accident not your fault personal injury lawyer

Have recently been in an accident that you did not cause? Well, you have the right but not the obligation, to hire legal counsel. Since you did not cause the accident, you may think that it will be easier, quicker, and least costly to file your claim yourself, rather than working with an attorney. Many people think that since the accident was not their fault, that they will have an easy case. However, this is not always the way things work out. Sometimes you will need to defend against allegations of contributory negligence.

While you certainly can file your claim without representation, you may be limited to only what the insurer feels is a fair offer. Without legal help, you may find yourself with a settlement check that does not even cover all of your medical costs. By working with a personal injury lawyer, you can concentrate on recovering from a painful and traumatic accident, as they take care of the case and the filings.

How A Lawyer Can Help Your Case

If you have suffered damages and losses both economic and non-economic, from an accident that someone else caused, you should not be responsible for the financial burden that their negligence placed on you. By working with a qualified attorney, you have access to a wealth of knowledge on the claims process and answers to any questions you may have. You will also benefit from their priceless professional expertise.

Your lawyer will do the difficult job of finding and obtaining evidence that helps strengthen your case. They will often get a copy of the official police report to begin. They may also speak with witnesses and gather admissible testimony. In some cases, your attorney may consult with experts and accident reconstruction resources. Doctors and other medical professionals may be consulted regarding your records, do ensure accurate case valuation.

What Types Of Damages Can I Seek?

Each case is different, but generally speaking, you will be able to collect multiple types of damages with your claim. Common damages will include:

  • Medical costs – Both current expenses and projected future costs can potentially be recovered.
  • Lost wages – If you needed to miss work, work at reduced capacity, or now have a reduced capacity to earn as a result of the accident, you may be able to seek lost wages.
  • Pain & suffering – Your injuries likely caused you significant psychological trauma. Your lawyer is experienced in adding a component for pain and suffering in monetary terms.

Your Lawyer Is Your Advocate

When you work with a lawyer, you gain an ally that fights hard for you. They are with you at each step of the claims process. They will take care of the paperwork, the filing, and the stressful phone calls. While you are concentrating on physically and emotionally recovering from your injuries, your attorney will be managing your case and negotiating with the insurer for you.