One of the first things people ask after a Tennessee motorcycle accident is whether they can afford to hire a lawyer. It’s a fair question, all things considered, as these crashes can lead to significant financial expenses for victims. The good news is that most motorcycle accident lawyers in Nashville, TN don’t charge anything up front and only receive attorney’s fees if they win compensation for you.
Read on for more information about how the payment process works and what you should expect financially when hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer.
How Contingency Fees Work
Most motorcycle accident lawyers in Tennessee operate on what’s called a contingency fee basis. This means that your attorney’s payment is contingent on the outcome of your case. If they don’t recover compensation for you, you don’t owe them anything for their services in terms of attorney’s fees.
There are no hourly rates to worry about and no retainer fees to pay before the work begins, either. Essentially, this means that your lawyer must recover compensation for you in order to receive payment for their work.
How Much Is the Contingency Fee?
The standard contingency fee for personal injury cases in Tennessee is typically around 33% of the jury verdict or settlement that is secured on your behalf. This percentage can vary, however, depending on the complexity of your case. Some attorneys charge a higher percentage if a lawsuit needs to be filed and if the case reaches the courtroom as well.
You’ll review and sign a fee agreement before any legal work begins so that you’ll know what to expect as your case moves forward. If anything in the agreement is unclear, your attorney should be willing to walk you through it and answer your questions before you commit.
Are There Any Other Costs I Should Know About?
In addition to attorney’s fees, there are usually case-related expenses involved in building a successful claim. These can include things like court filing fees, costs for obtaining medical records, expert witness fees, and accident reconstruction expenses.
How these costs are handled varies from firm to firm. Some attorneys deduct them from your recovery at the end of the case, while others may ask you to cover certain expenses as they come up. Make sure you understand how your lawyer handles costs before signing the fee agreement so you know exactly what to expect.
Why the Contingency Fee Model Benefits You
The contingency fee structure exists for a reason. It gives people access to experienced legal representation regardless of their financial situation. You also don’t need to have money in the bank to hire a qualified motorcycle accident attorney; all you need is a valid claim.
Further, this system aligns your attorney’s interests with yours. Since their fee is tied directly to the amount they recover for you, they have every reason to fight for the highest possible result. If your case is worth more, they earn more, too. That built-in motivation works in your favor throughout the entire legal process.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Cost should never be the reason you don’t explore your legal options after a motorcycle accident, as the contingency fee payment system is designed to allow anyone the ability to hire an experienced attorney for their case.
Schedule a free consultation with Woodard Injury Law today to learn more by calling (615) 640-3648 or reaching out online. With 19 years of experience and millions recovered for our deserving clients to date, we have the track record to back up our commitment to your case.