Durham Personal Injury Attorney – What Do I Have to Pay My Attorney?

The Contingency Fee
In most personal injury cases, attorneys are paid on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee is a portion of the settlement that is awarded in court. You and your attorney will come to an agreement, or a contingent fee agreement, outlining the payment. By law, you must make a written contract specifying the exact attorney fee so that there is no confusion after settlement. Most contingency fee agreements state that you do not have to pay your attorney until or unless they reach settlement or a verdict in your favor. The contingency fee agreement assures you as the client that your attorney is working hard on your case in order to receive the agreed upon portion of the settlement. In addition to attorneys’ fees you will still have to pay the firms out-of-pocket expenses whether or not your case settled or a verdict was rendered in your favor.

Out-of-Pocket Costs
These costs are largely dependent on the time, effort, and expertise of your attorney. The amount of research time your attorney must put in on your claim can translate into a higher bill. Other costs are factored into your final bill as well such as rent, files, and paralegal fees. Other fess will include charges from doctors and hospitals for medical reports, photocopies, telephone calls, photographs, expert fees, and litigation filing costs. These costs are your responsibility even if there is no settlement or verdict award in your favor. You may have to pay these costs as they are incurred rather than at the end of your case. You may be requested to advance money for out-of-pocket costs to finance your personal injury claim.

If you are concerned about the costs of your injury claim, contact a Durham personal injury attorney today. Pierce Law Offices can provide you with detailed information about what type of costs you are likely to incur with your personal injury claim.