In most cases, it won’t cost you anything up front to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer in Nashville, Tennessee. The vast majority of these attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if they recover compensation for you at the conclusion of your case. If your claim doesn’t result in a settlement or jury verdict, you don’t owe your lawyer a dime for their work in terms of attorney’s fees.
Read on for a more detailed look at how this payment structure works and what you should know before signing a fee agreement.
What Is a Contingency Fee?
A contingency fee is an arrangement where your attorney’s payment is tied directly to the outcome of your case. Instead of billing you by the hour, they agree to take on your case in exchange for a percentage of whatever they recover on your behalf. If they don’t win, they essentially don’t get paid.
This model was designed to give people access to legal representation regardless of their financial situation, keeping in mind the reality that these accidents can result in severe expenses that may place the victim in a difficult position.
How Much Is the Typical Contingency Fee?
The standard contingency fee for personal injury cases in Tennessee is usually around 33% of the total recovery. This percentage can vary depending on the complexity of your case and how far along in the process it gets before resolving. Some attorneys charge a higher percentage if a lawsuit needs to be filed or if the case goes all the way to trial, since those stages require significantly more time and resources.
Before any work begins, you and your Nashville-based personal injury lawyer will review and sign a fee agreement that spells out the exact terms. Make sure you read it carefully and ask questions about anything that isn’t clear. A good attorney will have no problem walking you through every detail.
What About Case Expenses?
In addition to the contingency fee, there are usually costs involved in building your case. These might include court filing fees, charges for obtaining medical records, expert witness fees, and accident reconstruction expenses. How these costs are handled depends on the law firm. Some deduct them from your recovery at the end of the case, while others might handle them differently.
Ask your attorney how case expenses work at their firm so you know what to expect from the start. This is a normal part of your free initial consultation, and there shouldn’t be any surprises if the terms are laid out clearly up front.
Why This Setup Works in Your Favor
The contingency fee model does more than just make legal help affordable; it also aligns your attorney’s financial interest with yours. Since their fee is a percentage of your recovery, they have every reason to pursue the highest possible result they can for your claim. That built-in motivation works to your advantage at every stage of the process.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Pedestrian Accident
Cost should never stop you from finding out whether you have a valid claim worth pursuing after a pedestrian accident. With a contingency fee, you can hire an experienced attorney without paying anything up front. Contact Woodard Injury Law by calling (615) 640-3648 or by reaching out online to get started with a free consultation. We have a longstanding track record of success that you can trust.