Motorcycle accidents often result in enormous losses for the motorcycle rider. Serious injuries are typical for the bike rider, and recovery time also means lost wages and other expenses piling up. You may be wondering about the cost of a motorcycle accident attorney and if you can afford one to represent you. Fortunately, choosing the right motorcycle accident attorney might cost you nothing upfront and allow you to focus your time and energy on recovering from your injuries.
The attorneys at Morgan & Morgan are experienced in motorcycle accidents and will help you receive the compensation you deserve. We have attorneys throughout the United States, so no matter where you’re located, we can help. Throughout our careers, we have recovered more than $15 billion dollars for our clients in all types of personal injury and wrongful death cases. Morgan & Morgan works on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll never have to pay us anything until we win. Once we successfully win or settle your case, we will take our portion of the compensation, and then you receive the rest. This way, you never have to worry about what you owe us. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case evaluation.
All About Contingency Fees
The following information is important to note regarding contingency fees and the cost of a motorcycle accident attorney.
- Contingency fees mean you pay nothing upfront. When you work with an attorney on a contingency fee agreement, it means you pay nothing at the beginning of the case. Your attorney will not charge a flat fee or hourly rate for their services. Instead, they will retain a percentage of what you are awarded in your case. Contingency fee rates are different among attorneys, but often fall between 33% to 40% of your total award amount. If you do not win your case, your attorney typically collects no fees. This not only allows victims of any economic background to hire experienced motorcycle accident attorneys, but it also gives the attorneys motivation to negotiate the largest possible settlement for you. When you hire a firm that uses a contingency fee basis, you never have to worry about the cost of a motorcycle accident attorney.
- Ask about other related expenses. Other expenses related to your case may be paid separately from the contingency fee. These expenses can include fees for medical records and hospital documents, accident re-creations, expert witness testimony, and court fees. Most attorneys will keep track of these expenses and deduct them from your compensation amount after your case is settled or won in court. Discussing the potential costs with your motorcycle attorney during your initial consultation will give you a better idea of what to expect when your case is settled or won in court.
- The attorney believes in your case. When an attorney takes a case on a contingency fee basis, the attorney is likely confident in their ability to win the case. An attorney will not want to take a case that is questionable or hard to prove in court if they only get paid upon a successful outcome. If your attorney has taken your case on a contingency fee basis, they firmly believe they can win your case. After all, they are not going to want to take a case that is hard to prove and, therefore, will not result in a win or a settlement. When your lawyer does not get paid unless you do, they will do everything they can to win your case so they do not work for free.
- Your case can often be settled quickly. Experienced motorcycle accident lawyers will know what it takes to win a case for injured bikers better than lawyers who don’t have experience handling these types of cases. They know the specific traffic and safety laws that pertain to motorcycles. They will also have existing relationships with court officials and insurance representatives that they deal with all the time. Because they have so much experience in this field, it is quite possible they can come to a speedy settlement in your motorcycle accident case. Winning a settlement quickly will allow you to focus on your recovery and worry less about the cost of the motorcycle accident attorney.
You Only Pay If You Win
Contingency fees are great for many people, especially those who do not have extra money to pay hourly fees for an attorney. Generally, if you lose your case, you will not have to pay your lawyer for the time spent preparing and defending your case. However, not all contingency agreements are the same. It is essential to understand your agreement when you initially hire your attorney. Attorney fees will generally be a portion of the settlement. If you lose and receive nothing, then your attorney receives $0.
However, there may have been expenses incurred during the preparation of your case. These can include court fees and document fees. These fees are generally paid by the lawyer as they prepare for your case. At the end of your case, you may be responsible for these expenses if it was part of your agreement. During the initial consultation with your motorcycle accident attorney, make sure you discuss all the possible fees and expenses. You need to know what you will be responsible for paying.