The devastation and loss following a serious truck accident can be overwhelming. The financial burden of medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages are often overwhelming for the injured victim. Hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer will ensure that you get fair compensation following an accident.
However, there is a lot of difference in cost between attorneys. You can rest assured that San Antonio’s top trusted truck accident attorney legal team has decades of experience representing the interests of truck drivers in all kinds of collisions, including tractor-trailer accidents. Read on to learn the different fees of hiring a truck accident lawyer.
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Contingency Fee
Many truck accident lawyers use the contingency fee model for their services. If you hire a lawyer on a contingency basis, you won’t have to pay anything upfront. Instead, your attorney will get paid from funds obtained in the case (usually a settlement or court judgment).
A contingency fee is a percentage you agree to pay for your attorney’s services. It will vary based on the attorney you work with and how much work they need to put into your case.
Typically, these fees will range from 33% to 45% of your total settlement. If you win $100,000 in your case, you would owe between $33,000 and $45,000 in legal fees.
Flat Fee
A flat fee is a single fixed amount that a service provider charges for services rendered. It’s a one-time payment for all of their work, so there are no hourly rates to worry about, and you won’t have to make another payment until the next time you need their services. Mostly this fee is for paperwork. The flat fee starts from $300 if the case is simple.
Hourly Rate
Another common way for truck accident lawyers to charge for their services is hourly rates. If a lawyer uses this method, they will bill you for every hour they work on your case. Attorneys’ hourly fees range from $100-$400.
Retainer Fee
A retainer fee is an up-front payment that covers any expenses your lawyer might incur while working on your cases, such as court costs or expert witness fees.
You may choose to pay a retainer fee if you have the financial resources and want to ensure that a lawyer is available to represent you. Retainers fee for truck accident lawyers ranges from $2000-to $100,000.
The amount of the retainer fee generally depends on several factors, including:
- The estimated length of time required to handle the case
- The complexity of the case
- The level of experience a lawyer has with similar types of cases
When Selecting a Truck Accident Lawyer Focus on Experience and Cost
Determining how much it will cost to hire a truck accident lawyer typically comes down to the amount of experience your attorney has and how they charge for their services. It would help if you also got quotes from multiple attorneys about what they will expect from you financially.
Truck accidents are complicated, and recovering damages after a collision can be lengthy. You need an experienced attorney who understands that process and knows how to navigate it.
How Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
A truck accident lawyer can help you get compensation for any injuries or property damage sustained in a collision with a truck. A truck accident lawyer protects your rights and enables you to get the compensation you deserve. A truck accident lawyer can help you understand your legal rights after a collision.
Some common ways a truck accident lawyer can help are:
- Determining your eligibility to receive compensation for medical bills and lost wages as well as pain and suffering
- Ensuring that relevant records—including maintenance logs, driver logs, and police reports—are collected and preserved
- Coordinating with insurance companies, other attorneys, and law enforcement officials on your behalf
- Investigating all possible sources of compensation for damages caused by accident, including personal injury protection (PIP) and insurance coverage
Many people who have been victims of truck accidents worry about how much it will cost to hire a truck accident lawyer. It is a significant concern, but you should know that most truck accident lawyers do not require payment upfront. Instead, they work on what is called a contingency fee basis.
The costs of hiring a truck accident lawyer or firm depend on several factors. It includes the complexity of your case, how quickly you and your attorney need to move forward with your claim, the severity of your injuries, and the extent to which you wish to pursue financial compensation beyond medical expenses.