How much does it cost to hire a bicycle accident lawyer? In most cases, hiring a bicycle accident attorney costs you nothing out of pocket or upfront.
Generally, a New Orleans bicycle accident attorney will work on a contingency basis. This means that their earnings come directly from how much you win in your case.
How Contingency Fee Basis Lawyers Work
Unlike other types of attorneys who may charge hourly rates or large retainers, most bicycle accident lawyers work on a contingency fee structure. Typical contingency fees range depending on the amount of work, complexity of the case, and the time involved.
This system is helpful for multiple reasons. To start, after a bicycle accident, your primary concern should be recovery. This allows you to do so without the added financial strain of upfront retainers, making quality attorneys more accessible.
This also financially incentivizes your attorney. Beyond the satisfaction of winning a case, contingency structures mean that the more money you win in your case, the more your attorney can earn. This is a win-win situation for both parties.
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(504) 500-1111What Contingency Fees Typically Cover
When determining the cost of hiring a bicycle accident attorney, it is essential to understand what those costs encompass. Typically, this can include:
- Your attorney’s time and legal knowledge
- Filing paperwork, documents, and other evidence
- Negotiating with insurance adjusters
- Costs for accident investigation, including witness interviews and evidence collection
- Expert witness fees (i.e., accident reconstructionists or medical professionals)
- Court filing fees, records requests, and other administrative expenses
- Trial preparation if your case doesn’t settle out of court
You deserve time to relax and recover after your accident, so this is when to hire a personal injury lawyer and let them handle the behind-the-scenes work.
Other Costs Can Come From a Bicycle Accident
A skilled attorney will help you recover costs that cover more than just their own fees. After a crash, you could have medical bills from evaluations, tests, and procedures. You may also incur costs to obtain records from each different practitioner you see.
If you are calling in witnesses, someone will be responsible for covering their travel expenses, missed work, and other related costs. The same applies to accident reconstructionists and expert witnesses, who may charge for their expertise in addition to travel expenses.
Administrative costs can also add up. There are fees associated with court filings, obtaining police reports, printing, legal research databases, and other related expenses. Your attorney may add this to the list of things that you are compensated for after a bicycle accident.
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(504) 500-1111Typical Contingency Fee Percentages Explained
Contingency fees can typically range between 33.3% and 40% of the total amount recovered. The exact amount depends on your state’s rules and how complicated your case becomes.
In Louisiana, there is no formal cap on how much attorneys can legally charge, so long as the total fee is reasonable and the lawyer provides meaningful legal services (Louisiana Legal Ethics Rule 1.5, Fees).
Some law firms use a tiered structure, where the percentage increases at certain stages of the case. For example, 33.3% if it settles before a lawsuit is filed, and 40% if it needs to be brought to court. This reflects the greater time, risk, and cost involved in litigation.
You will want to be sure to confirm if the contingency fee is calculated before or after expenses are deducted. A good attorney will break down these numbers clearly during your consultation so you can understand how much it costs to hire an attorney after a bicycle accident.
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(504) 500-1111Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Suppose you have determined that you need to hire a bicycle accident lawyer. In that case, you will want to vet an attorney thoroughly to ensure they have the experience and qualifications you are looking for.
Some examples of questions you could ask are:
- What percentage is your contingency fee?
- Are case expenses included in that fee or billed separately?
- Who pays those expenses if the case doesn’t win?
- How often will I receive case updates or billing statements?
- Will I owe anything if the case is dropped early or dismissed?
- How much experience do you have with bicycle accident claims specifically?
Understanding an attorney’s fees, experience, and what to expect up front will help you truly understand how much it costs to hire a bicycle accident lawyer. Having the right lawyer means having someone in your corner, fighting for you to get the best results.
Having the Right Legal Experience is Invaluable
Some people feel that they are better off representing themselves, as they think it will save them money. These people are often mistaken and end up losing out on potential compensation.
Your lawyer has undergone years of schooling, has hands-on experience, and has the right qualifications to get you the maximum payout.
Oftentimes, insurance adjusters would like to minimize the amount they are required to pay after a bicycle accident. They can achieve this by providing lowball offers, discrediting your case, and downplaying the severity of your injuries.
Having a New Orleans personal injury lawyer means having someone who is experienced in combating these situations.
Worst-case scenario, if you attempt to represent yourself, you can end up missing deadlines for filing, such as Louisiana’s two-year statute of limitations (Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1), meaning you cannot recover any damages at all. The amount lost is usually much higher than the cost of hiring a New Orleans bicycle accident lawyer.
At Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, We Fight For The Win
The cost to hire a bicycle accident lawyer in New Orleans can truly vary case by case, but at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, we fight to make every penny worth it.
With us, you have a team that not only cares about your recovery but also about recovering every cent that you are owed. Call us today for your free, no-obligation consultation to get started.