If you are involved in a wrongful death lawsuit, you may wonder how much it will cost to pay your attorney. It will vary based on your lawyer and the specifics of the case, though there are some typical guidelines many lawyers will follow. The following are some things that may help you determine how much you’ll pay for your attorney.
Contingency Fees
A large number of wrongful death attorneys charge on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t be paying the attorney by the hour, but rather a percentage of your settlement if you win the case. If you don’t win the case, you won’t have to pay the attorney fee at all. Many contingency fees run the range of 33% to 40%, though it could be more or less based on the experience, availability and policy of the particular attorney you hire.
If your attorney can estimate a settlement amount by totaling up the damages you plan to seek, you can get a better idea of how much your attorney will get. This may not be exactly accurate, because the course of the lawsuit could go a different direction, but it will give you something to go off of.
Additional Fees
Every lawyer charges additional fees differently. One lawyer may ask you to pay these costs as they occur, while another might pay them as they come up and recoup the costs with the contingency fee at settlement. Some expenses may include:
- Filing, copying and mailing fees
- Transcription fees
- Costs for obtaining medical records
- Private investigator and expert witness costs
- Court reporter fees
- Processing fees
Changing Lawyers
If during the course of your case, you decide to switch lawyers, be prepared to pay for the expenses already incurred by the original lawyer. Some lawyers may put a lien on your settlement so they will get paid when you do finally complete the case. Others will ask for you to pay them at the time you change to a new lawyer. You should seriously consider whether this is the right option for you and your case before you choose to do it, as there could be some serious financial impacts.
Contacting a Lawyer to Get Your Case Going
Dealing with a wrongful death can be heartbreaking and stressful. If you have found yourself in this situation, it’s best to have a wrongful death lawyer in Harrisonburg, VA by your side. Contact a lawyer today to get your case going and to learn what the costs will be.
Thanks to MartinWren, P.C. for their insight into personal injury claims and paying your wrongful death attorney.