How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge in California?
Hiring a car accident lawyer to handle your case in California can come with many important benefits, from pursuing maximum financial compensation during insurance settlement negotiations to holding someone accountable at trial. Before you decide which attorney to hire, it’s critical to understand how much the lawyer will charge.
Understanding Contingency Fees in a California Car Accident Case
Most personal injury and car accident attorneys in Los Angeles, California operate on a contingency fee basis. If you see this advertised, it means you can expect to pay the attorney nothing at all unless your case results in financial compensation for your medical bills, property repairs or other losses. Contingency-based car accident lawyers work on a no-win, no-fee basis.
The general structure of this payment arrangement is:
- The client pays $0 upfront to hire the attorney. Unlike other types of lawyers and payment structures, there is no retainer fee to initiate a contract with a contingency fee attorney. The initial case review is also free.
- If the car accident case results in a financial settlement or positive jury verdict, the attorney will charge a fee by taking a pre-agreed-upon percentage of the total amount won.
- If the car accident case does not result in financial compensation for the client, the client will not be charged anything for legal services already rendered on the case.
With this system, the car accident attorney takes on all of the financial risks associated with taking legal action. If the car accident case does not result in a settlement from an insurance company or a positive jury verdict in court, the attorney won’t charge the client anything. This incentivizes the lawyer to recover the most compensation possible for the client.
How Much Does a Car Accident Attorney Charge?
What Is the Average Percentage Charged by a Car Accident Attorney in California?
Every car accident attorney in California has their own standard rate in terms of the percentage charged in contingency fees. Most fall within the range of 25 percent to 40 percent, with the most common being around 33 percent, or one-third.
The rate of the percentage will depend on the circumstances, such as the experience level of the attorney, the complexity of the case, and whether or not it goes to trial. Before choosing an experienced personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, about his or her rate before signing anything.
How the percentage rate works is the attorney will apply it to the overall amount won for your car accident case. If you receive a settlement offer of $100,000 and the contingency fee is set at 33 percent, for example, the attorney will receive $33,000 as payment.
Is Hiring a Car Accident Attorney in California Worth It?
Every car accident case in California is unique. Some will significantly benefit from the crash victim hiring an attorney while others may reach satisfactory outcomes without a lawyer’s representation. Whether or not you should hire an attorney depends on the complexity of your case.
If you suffered catastrophic injuries or a loved one suffered a wrongful death, a car accident attorney can be instrumental in fighting for the amount of financial compensation that you deserve for past and future losses. Challenges such as multiple at-fault parties or an insurer denying liability can also point to the need to hire a car accident lawyer. To find out if your specific case needs an attorney, request a free consultation at Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP. We operate on a contingency fee basis.