Car accidents can be a traumatic and life-changing experience. The aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming and stressful, especially when you are dealing with physical injuries, medical bills, and the stress of navigating the legal system. In South Carolina, individuals who have been injured in a car accident may be entitled to compensation for their damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you have been injured in a car accident in South Carolina, you may be wondering how you can afford to hire a lawyer to represent you in your case. Fortunately, many personal injury lawyers in South Carolina work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyer will not charge you any fees upfront and will only be paid if you win your case. This article will explore the basics of contingency fee arrangements in South Carolina car accident cases.
A contingency fee arrangement is a fee agreement between a lawyer and a client in which the lawyer’s fee is contingent upon the outcome of the case. In other words, the lawyer only gets paid if the client wins the case through a settlement or a verdict. If the client does not win the case, the lawyer does not get paid. Contingency fee arrangements are commonly used in personal injury cases, including car accident cases.
In South Carolina, contingency fees can typically range from 33⅓% to 40% in a personal injury. As an example, with a one-third contingency fee, it means that if you win your case and receive a settlement or judgment of $90,000, your lawyer’s fee would be $30,000. If you do not win your case, you do not owe your lawyer anything for the time spent working on that case. South Carolina’s Ethics Rule 1.5 allows contingency fees.
It is important to note that in addition to the lawyer’s fee, there may be other costs associated with your case, such as court fees, expert witness fees, and medical record fees. Some lawyers may agree to pay these costs upfront and deduct them from the client’s recovery if the case is successful. Some firms may agree that the client will not be required to reimburse the firm for these case expenses if the case does not result in compensation to the client.
Contingency fee arrangements can be beneficial for clients who have been injured in a car accident and cannot afford to pay a lawyer’s fees upfront. With a contingency fee arrangement, the client can obtain legal representation without having to worry about paying for it out of pocket. Additionally, because the lawyer’s fee is contingent upon the outcome of the case, the lawyer has a vested interest in obtaining the best possible outcome for the client.
Another benefit of contingency fee arrangements is that they can help level the playing field between injured individuals and large insurance companies. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers and vast resources at their disposal. Without a contingency fee arrangement, it may be difficult for an individual to compete with an insurance company’s legal team. However, with a contingency fee arrangement, the injured individual can obtain legal representation without having to worry about the costs associated with hiring a lawyer. The law firm’s written fee agreement should state how case costs will be handled. If the case is being handled on a contingency fee, the written fee agreement should make clear whether the contingency fee percentage is deducted from the gross recovery before any case costs are deducted.
If you have been injured in a car accident in South Carolina and are considering hiring a lawyer on a contingency fee basis, it is important to choose the right lawyer for your case. Here are some tips for choosing the right lawyer:
Look for a lawyer with experience handling car accident cases.
Check the lawyer’s credentials and reviews from past clients.
Meet with the lawyer in person to discuss your case and determine if you feel comfortable working with them.
Ask the lawyer about their fees and costs associated with your case.
Make sure the lawyer is committed to being responsive and communicating with you throughout the case.
When it comes to attorney’s fees, the most important thing to understand is that there are no hard and fast rules. Every case is different, and each lawyer has their own fee structure. Some attorneys work on an hourly basis, charging for the time they spend working on your case. Others charge a flat fee for all of their services. But for most personal injury and car accident cases, lawyers will most often work on a contingency fee basis.
No matter which type of fee arrangement is used, the fee arrangement should be documented in writing. That way you can be sure that both parties are clear on the terms and expectations.
When the negligence of another seriously hurts you or a family member, you may be wondering whether you can afford an experienced Columbia injury attorney to represent your interests. If you need legal assistance after a motor vehicle accident or slip and fall but are unsure if you can pay the legal fees, Proffitt & Cox, LLP offers victims of personal injuries the ability to afford legal representation through contingency fee agreements. We also offer free consultations in injury cases – get started today.
If you suffered an injury from a serious auto accident, you may be facing significant medical bills. You may also be struggling to pay for your expenses because of an inability to work while you recover from your injuries. However, help is available to those who suffered injuries due to the negligence of others as well as for the families of fatal accident victims.
For years, our Columbia injury lawyers have worked on behalf of the people of South Carolina to gain them compensation for their motor vehicle accident injuries. We may be able to provide personal and effective legal support for you as well. Call the attorneys at Proffitt & Cox, LLP today at 803-834-7097 for a free consultation. You can also call the firm toll free at (877) 276-0533 or by filling out the contact form on our site.
We offer free initial consultations for all injury cases. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis which means that our fees are a percentage of what we recover for you. You will not owe us any attorney’s fees in such cases unless we are successful in obtaining compensation on your behalf.
Our South Carolina accident attorneys have recovered over $30 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. These claims involved automobile accidents, trucking accidents, harmful prescription drugs, medical malpractice, product liability, slip and fall accidents and class action cases. Review our representative cases to see some of our past successes and review our client testimonials to see what some of our clients have to say about us.
Contingency fees are calculated based upon the gross amount recovered. Case costs paid by the firm are also reimbursed to the firm from the amount recovered. In most cases, the client will not be responsible for case costs if there is no recovery. Our agreement regarding fees and expenses applicable to your specific case will be provided in writing.
Any result our lawyers may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Each case must stand on its own merit based upon the facts and the law. Some cases referenced were handled by our attorneys while working at other firms, and in some cases, other lawyers participated in the representation of a client.
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