How Much Would It Cost To File Your Personal Injury Case

Figuring out how much one could expect from an insurance company is mind boggling. You've been computing your damages over and over again, and when you thought you got the numbers down pat, lo and behold! The insurance company thrusts an amount that's different from your expectations. In fact, it may have been a little bit lower than your computations.

So after everything-- you got your claim, thanks to your lawyer-- now, you have to think about the costs that were incurred when you got your legal representation. And mind you, it's a known fact that legal fees are usually high and the rates are often outstanding. So how much does it cost to hire a lawyer?

Bill against work done.

Providing a retainer to the law firm is one option of getting your lawyer paid. This means that the client (you) provide the retainer fee which will be based on the work done on the file. Most often, this is the hourly rates of lawyers. The retainer is intended to cover both legal fees and expenses as the case progresses. However, whatever legal fees and disbursements outside of the case are not included in the retainer fee. This is aside from other basic fees or disbursements such as courier charges, court filing fees, and the cost of any medical legal reports which are not covered by the insurer. The size of the retainer and the cost of disbursements will vary depending on the circumstances, including the seriousness of the injury. It is best therefore to come in for a consultation to obtain information regarding this matter.

A percentage of the award.

This involves payment of a certain percentage of the award from the insurance company. The percentage will vary depending upon whether the matter has been settled before it reaches the Court. In addition, you are still required to provide your lawyer payments for disbursements actually incurred on the case. Again, your lawyer can advise you as to the amount involved.

One legal site gives this advice when hiring a lawyer: "It is highly recommended that at the outset of the file, the client enter into a signed retainer agreement with the lawyer covering the financial as well as other terms under which the lawyer is being hired… Such agreement will go a long way towards preventing disagreements later… when both the lawyer and the client may have a less than perfect recollection of the original agreement."

(Submitted to Anna Lim via email 012005)