How Much Does a Car Accident Attorney Cost?

As of 2022, there were 334.9 million people and 283.4 million registered vehicles in the United States. Suppose you remove the 21.7% of people ages 17 and under. In that case, there are more registered vehicles in the country than adults, and as of 2024, over 91% of all households in the U.S. had at least one registered vehicle.

With so many vehicles, driving or riding in a car is routine. Although most people use cars without incident, car accidents are everyday occurrences. Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) involved over 12 million vehicles in 2019, and as of 2020, the U.S. had one of the highest MVA fatality rates in the world.

MVAs might be everyday occurrences, but they aren’t an everyday occurrence for you. Despite how common they are, it’s natural to be in shock and concerned about your options after a car accident. You may wonder how much a car accident attorney costs and how you’ll pay for legal fees. Let’s examine how car accident lawsuits work and how an auto accident attorney can help.

How Much Does It Cost To Sue Someone?

Suppose you’re considering a lawsuit after an MVA. In that case, chances are you have medical and repair bills and other costs because of your accident. It’s natural to be concerned about money, which may make you wonder how much it costs to sue someone and whether you can afford a lawsuit.

Fortunately, you don’t need any money to file a lawsuit. Personal injury attorneys charge contingency fees. This means they do not charge a set amount or hourly rate for their services. Instead, they take a percentage of your settlement when they win your case.

What Are Contingency Fees?

Contingency fees are fees paid after an attorney wins your case. They are a percentage of the settlement a victim wins in a lawsuit. You and your attorney agree to a percentage when you hire them. When you receive compensation, the law firm is reimbursed for court costs and related expenses. Your legal team takes their assigned percentage of the balance remaining, and you get the rest.

Some of the benefits of contingency fees include the following:

Affordability: Contingency fees ensure everyone can afford to file a lawsuit
Maximum compensation: Victims usually receive higher settlements when they have legal representation
Motivation: Your legal team gets paid when you win, motivating them to fight for the maximum compensation available
No risk: You won’t owe any legal fees if you do not win your case

Car Accident Victims Who Hire Attorneys Tend To Receive Higher Payouts

You have a greater chance of receiving a settlement from your claim if you hire an attorney, with 74% of MVA victims and attorneys receiving damages from their lawsuits. In addition to increasing the likelihood you’ll receive compensation, you’re also more likely to receive a substantially higher amount of damages. In 2022, it was reported the average compensation for car accident victims with attorneys was $44,600, more than three times the $13,900 the average MVA victim without a lawyer received.

How an Attorney Can Help You Recover More in Damages

Your attorney understands all the costs you can seek compensation for and will help you calculate the damages you seek.

Economic damages cover any costs you incur because of your accident, including the following:

Childcare fees
Funeral and burial expenses
House cleaning bills
Lost wages
Medical expenses
Personal care costs
Property repairs and replacement costs
Transportation costs

Your attorney can also help you calculate the non-economic damages owed due to the accident’s impact on your life. Compensation for non-economic damages can include compensation for the following:

Anxiety
Depression
Grief
Loss of companionship
Loss of intimacy
Loss of quality of life
Pain and suffering
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress disorder

Your car accident lawyer can also determine if your case supports a claim for punitive damages.

In addition to ensuring all applicable damages are included, your attorney has the legal knowledge to prove liability so the at-fault party is held accountable. It’s common for insurance companies to make low settlement offers, hoping for a quick resolution. Still, your car accident attorney understands how much your claim is worth and will use their legal expertise to negotiate the best settlement possible without going to trial.

If You Have Been Injured in an Accident, Call Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys, Today

Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys, located in Tampa, Florida is ready to help you with your car accident claim. We understand you may be scared about the physical and financial impact of your crash and worried about the future. When you let us handle your car accident claim, you can prioritize your recovery without compromising your legal rights.

Our team gathers evidence during our investigation, files court paperwork, and handles settlement negotiations with the at-fault party. We will keep you informed of your options and any developments and fight for you to receive the maximum compensation available after your car accident.