Many injured plaintiffs in San Jose feel reluctant to take legal action, and this may be due to concerns over legal fees. One of the most common questions for car accident victims is simple:
“How much do personal injury lawyers charge in California?”
It’s a valid question. After all, you might be facing serious medical bills and months of missed wages. In addition, you might be struggling with PTSD or anxiety after a traumatic crash on Monterey Road, Highway 17, or another dangerous roadway in San Jose. Amidst these concerns, the last thing you need is to worry about legal fees.
With all that said, the cost of hiring San Jose personal injury lawyers may be much more reasonable than you think.
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Here’s why:
San Jose Personal Injury Attorneys Typically Charge Contingency Fees
Personal injury lawyers in California almost always charge their clients based on a system of “contingency fees.” This system allows virtually anyone to file a personal injury lawsuit – including low-income, working-class San Jose residents who don’t have a penny to spare for legal fees. There’s a reason the Consumer Attorneys of California refers to this system as the “key to the courtroom” for thousands of average Americans.
Image source: https://www.caoc.org/?pg=feekey
But how is this possible?
Essentially, personal injury lawyers promise to work for free until you receive compensation for your car accident. When this moment arrives, they take a certain percentage out of your total compensation. Note that if you fail to win your injury lawsuit, the lawyer doesn’t receive any payment whatsoever.
In other words, your San Jose attorneys assume virtually all of the financial risk. You pay them if and only if they succeed in getting you the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, missed wages, and other damages.
So… How Much Does an Injury Lawyer Cost?
Even though you won’t have to pay your San Jose personal injury lawyers up front, you’ll need to compensate them eventually. While many lawyers are motivated primarily by a sense of justice, they still need to earn a living. The real question is how much you’ll need to pay your lawyer out of your settlement or jury award.
There is no easy way to answer this question, as each injury case is slightly different. Relatively moderate injuries may result in minor settlements, while permanent disabilities could result in eight-figure settlements. As a result, it’s difficult to determine the specific amount you’ll pay your lawyer until you actually receive your compensation.
The good news is that your contingency fee will take the form of a percentage – giving you a general idea of how much you’ll need to pay in legal fees. The specific percentage is something you can discuss with your collision attorney during an initial consultation.
Many Injury Attorneys Offer Consultations
For those who don’t know, a consultation is an initial meeting with representatives of a law firm. During this first meeting, you can discuss a wide range of topics – including legal fees. Fortunately, many firms in San Jose – including the Hann Law Firm – offer consultations.
While internet research is a positive first step, it cannot replace a face-to-face meeting with a lawyer. During this meeting, you can receive personalized legal advice based on your specific situation. At the conclusion of your consultation, your attorney may recommend taking further legal action.
Personal Injury Attorneys Won’t Take Your Case if it’s Not Worth Their Time
Here’s another key benefit of the contingency fee system: Personal injury attorneys won’t bother taking your case if they don’t think you can win. Because these lawyers are assuming all of the financial risk, they tend to choose cases they feel most confident about. If a personal injury attorney agrees to take your case, it usually means that you have a solid chance of victory.
Of course, the downside is that lawyers are less likely to gamble on “long-shot” cases. Either way, these legal professionals tend to be clear and transparent with you about your chances of receiving compensation. This gives you the information you need to move forward with confidence.
Personal Injury Lawyers Are Incentivized to Negotiate for Higher Settlements
In addition, the contingency fee system ensures that injury lawyers are incentivized to pursue the highest possible settlement on your behalf. The higher your settlement, the more they’ll earn from your case. As a result, many personal injury attorneys bring strong negotiation skills to the table as they work with insurers to pursue fair settlements.
How Much Compensation Will I Get from My San Jose Car Accident Claim?
Based on all of the information above, it should be clear that your legal fees depend entirely on how much compensation you receive. Therefore, the real question is simple:
How much will you get for your auto accident?
It all depends on your damages. In the legal world, “damages” represent all the losses you experienced due to your accident. These losses might be economic or non-economic in nature.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Missed wages
- Medical expenses
- Funeral expenses
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- PTSD
- Depression
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of purpose
- Anxiety
- Pain & suffering
- Emotional distress
Add up the total value of your non-economic and economic damages, and you’ll get an idea of how much your personal injury claim might be worth.
Where Can I Find a San Jose Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me?
If you’re ready to pursue compensation with help from car accident lawyers in San Jose, consider booking a consultation with the Hann Law Firm at your earliest convenience. Remember, these consultations are completely free of charge, and you assume no financial risk by moving ahead with your claim. Working-class Americans deserve to hold negligent parties accountable for car accident injuries, and the contingency fee system ensures that everyone has a shot at justice. Reach out today to get the ball rolling alongside qualified San Jose personal injury lawyers.
Sources
- https://www.caoc.org/?pg=feekey
- https://www.ktvu.com/news/san-jose-gets-2-million-grant-to-study-redesign-of-the-citys-deadliest-road
Address: 84 W. Santa Clara St. Suite 790 San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 755-3498
Email: hlfmail@hannlawfirm.com
