How Much Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge in Elko, NV?
One of the most common questions asked by personal injury victims in Elko is: how much do personal injury lawyers charge? Personal injury lawyers typically handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so they only take a portion of your settlement or verdict after successfully resolving your case. Therefore, if you plan to hire a personal injury lawyer, it’s helpful to learn more about how a contingency fee arrangement works.
For more information, schedule a free consultation with Bradshaw Law by dialing 775-738-7444.
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Attorney Fee Arrangements
An injury lawyer can be beneficial if you’ve been injured and need to pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit in Elko. Good injury lawyers will be able to guide you through how to handle a personal injury case from start to finish.
In most cases, personal injury lawyers charge a contingency fee. However, it’s not mandatory for lawyers to work on contingency fee arrangements in Nevada. Occasionally, personal injury lawyers may work under an hourly fee arrangement.
Examples of Traditional Hourly Rates
Suppose a personal injury attorney charges you $300 an hour and takes 10 hours to resolve your case. The attorney will keep time sheets describing the hours spent working on your case, including any task that helps with your case, and bill you for the work done. Under this arrangement, attorneys typically bill their clients at the end of the month. Attorneys who charge on an hourly basis normally charge an upfront retainer.
A per-hour arrangement can be financially crippling, as fees accumulate rapidly the more hours it takes to resolve your case. Additionally, the attorney fees accumulate regardless of the outcome of the case. Contingency fees avoid these problems. Hence, they are the most commonly used fee arrangement in personal injury cases.
How Do Contingency Fees Work in Elko?
Reputable injury lawyers in Elko take on cases on contingency fee arrangements. In a contingency fee arrangement, a lawyer gets a percentage of the money you recover at the end of your case. The lawyer’s fee is contingent on whether he or she wins your case.
The contingency fee typically ranges from 25% to 40%. Suppose your personal injury lawyer quotes a 35% contingency fee. If your damages award is $100,000, your lawyer will earn a fee of $35,000.
The contingency fee percentage can vary depending on the case. A personal injury attorney can use a smaller percentage for a case involving minor injuries and less compensation to allow a victim to receive more money. On the other hand, an attorney may charge a bigger percentage for a case that takes up plenty of the attorney’s time, effort, and resources.
The stage when the case was settled could determine the percentage. An attorney may charge a lower percentage for a case settled before filing a lawsuit and a higher one for a case that settled after filing a lawsuit or that went to trial, since litigation usually requires more work than negotiating a settlement.
Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct require contingency fee arrangements to be in writing, clearly state all fees and expenses, and be signed by the client.
Advantages of a Contingency Fee Arrangement
A contingency fee structure benefits accident victims in several ways. Victims don’t have to pay money upfront to bring a personal injury lawyer on board. The arrangement allows everyone to pursue a personal injury case and afford legal services. Consequently, you avoid the stress and financial burden of paying for legal services while you’re recovering from your injuries and are unable to work.
The arrangement is low risk for you because if a personal injury lawyer loses your case, you won’t owe the lawyer a legal fee. This arrangement gives injury lawyers an incentive to work hard to successfully negotiate a settlement or win your case at trial.
Reduced compensation is one of the dangers of not hiring a personal injury lawyer. Studies have shown that personal injury victims represented by lawyers recover larger amounts of compensation than those who choose to represent themselves. This comes as no surprise, as contingency fee lawyers have the incentive to get their clients the highest compensation possible. They earn more as your settlement or verdict increases. As a result, a contingency fee arrangement aligns your lawyer’s financial interests with yours in maximizing your compensation.
How Much Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge in Additional Costs for Your Case?
Personal injury cases may lead to additional costs that are separate from the contingency fees for legal services. These costs are essential for keeping your case on track as it moves through the Nevada legal process. Common costs include:
- Court filing fees
- Expert witness fees
- Medical records copying charges
- Deposition costs
- Postage fees
- Travel costs
The amount of costs varies from one case to another. A medical malpractice case will likely require more expert witnesses and incur higher expert witness fees than a car accident case. Costs also increase the further your case progresses on the trial court route.
Your contingency agreement will outline how these costs will be paid from your settlement or court award. An attorney for injury claims may cover these costs for you while your case is pending. However, when you win the case, the expenses will be deducted from your financial award to reimburse your attorney. You should discuss these and other financial issues with your attorney during your case evaluation.
Personal injury lawyers who work on contingency usually offer a free initial consultation, during which they evaluate your case. You can take advantage of the free consultation to learn about their fee structure. Personal injury lawyer Denise Bradshaw and her team have a track record of success in handling personal injury cases, recovering millions on behalf of clients in Nevada. We offer free initial consultations and take cases on a contingency fee basis, only getting paid after we win your case. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
