I Was In A Car Accident In Seattle. How Much Will Hiring An Attorney Cost Me?
If you were injured in a car accident in Seattle, you might be wondering whether hiring a lawyer will be a wise investment in the long run. The truth is that hiring a team of seasoned legal professionals to represent you actually boosts your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve. Thankfully, most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. This is a great advantage to victims of car accidents as they do not have to cover any expenses until the attorney wins the case.
In this article, we will discuss how different factors can impact the overall cost of hiring an attorney, the different fee structures most attorneys in Seattle use, and what are the pros and cons of each approach in order to help you make a better decision in this difficult time.
Factors That Affect The Cost Of Hiring A Seattle Lawyer For A Car Accident
There are many factors that can affect the cost of hiring an attorney. They might also vary depending on the type of case.
In the average car accident case, there are four main factors to keep in mind when deciding which attorney to hire. They are:
The Complexity Of The Accident
As we’ve discussed in the article What Does A Car Accident Lawyer Do?, one of the jobs of an auto crash attorney is to investigate your accident. If an accident happens because a third party broke the road rules of the state of Washington, the case is easier to win than one involving an accident in which it might be harder to prove which party is to blame. When accidents are more complicated to prove, the attorney’s job to investigate and develop a case plan for their client becomes more complex, which could raise the costs.
The Severity Of Your Injury
When an accident case in Seattle results in injuries, that increases the likeliness that a third party will be held responsible for the injuries. If your car accident case is a good one, that means that the compensation available is also more significant. However, not all injuries are equal. Different types of injuries will require different medical treatments and different financial problems. All of those factors will eventually increase or decrease the cost of hiring an attorney.
The Attorney’s Experience
Experienced, reputable, and large law firms have resources and the knowhow to take care of pretty much any type of case. Smaller law firms or independent attorneys are not as seasoned and do not have the same resources and personnel. All of these factors will cause the prices to go up or down depending on what type of attorney you’re willing to work with.
How Long Your Case Takes To Settle
Many cases require a series of additional steps before settlement. If your case requires arbitration, mediation, or if it ends up going to trial, the attorney might charge higher contingency fees.
How Lawyers Charge for Car Accident Cases
Most car accident attorneys in Washington and in the U.S. charge their clients on a contingency fee basis. This means that the victim will pay a percentage of the compensation the attorney helps them recover. The payment is not due until the case is settled and the victim does not owe the attorney anything unless they win the case.
Average Cost Of Hiring A Seattle Lawyer for a Car Accident
Washington car accident attorneys’ average contingency fee is slightly higher than the national average when compared to other states. As it is across the country, however, Washington car accident lawyers may charge as low as 25% and as high as 40% depending on the factors mentioned previously. Keep in mind, those are just averages. Lawyers will charge more or less depending on the case.
In some cases, attorneys pass on any court cost to plaintiffs as they accrue, which increases the overall costs. If court costs are due upfront, attorneys may reclaim those fees by adding them to their percentage once the case is settled. However, others will simply maintain the percentage without adding any additional costs related to court fees to the total.
It is important for the Seattle car accident victim to keep in mind that a reputable personal injury attorney will always provide them with the cost breakdown in a written contract that spells out their fees.
You should never hire an attorney or sign a contract that does not provide you with detailed information regarding what you are required to pay.
Worried About Your Seattle Car Accident Case?
Hiring an attorney might sound like a costly ordeal until you realize that the process is more straightforward than you had imagined.
If you’re suffering due to injuries caused by a negligent driver in Seattle, don’t wait until your case is no longer viable.
The data is clear: car accident victims receive 40% more in their insurance settlement when they hire an attorney to represent them.
