A Washington Injury Lawyer Explains: What is a Contingency Fee?
More Information About Contingency Fees
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- Advantages of a Contingency Fee.
- Expenses Related to Your Case.
- Why not Handle the Case Myself?
- Hiring an Attorney Avoids Hassles.
- Will My Settlement be Reduced?
Get Superior Legal Services with No Upfront Costs
If you or a family member has been injured as the result of negligence, you’ve probably been advised to contact a Washington injury lawyer. However, for most people, the biggest obstacle to hiring a lawyer is the cost. If you are injured and out of work, you may be thinking, “How can I afford a lawyer when I can barely pay the bills?”
At Etengoff Pak Law Group – Vancouver Personal Injury Attorney, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you receive the benefit of quality legal assistance without paying any money upfront. Instead, you pay our firm an agreed-upon percentage of the settlement only after your case is resolved.
Advantages of a Contingency Fee
Legal cases are generally handled in one of three ways:
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- a contingency fee
- a flat fee
- or an hourly rate.
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A contingency fee offers several advantages to our clients:
You probably know someone who had to come up with thousands of dollars in advance to hire a divorce attorney or to defend a DUI charge. With a personal injury case, you pay nothing upfront. Instead, you agree to pay our firm a certain percentage of the settlement after your case is resolved. In the event that we are unable to settle your claim, you are not responsible for any attorney’s fee.
You don’t pay an hourly rate, which means the attorney isn’t charging you every time you call with a question. Etengoff Pak Law Group will devote as much time to your case as it takes to get you the best possible settlement.
You have immediate access to first-rate legal representation. The sooner an attorney can begin advocating for your interests, the better your odds for a successful settlement. More important, you’ll be free to devote all of your time and energy into getting well, instead of haggling with insurance company representatives.
We Advance All Costs for Expenses Related to Your Case
Another advantage of hiring the Etengoff Pak Law Group – Vancouver Personal Injury Attorney is that, unlike some other firms, we advance all necessary out-of-pocket costs on the client’s behalf.For example, doctors charge for copies of medical records and reports; the police department charges for copy of the police report; or your case may require an investigator. For a typical case that does not go to court, these expenses generally do not exceed $500.
GaveIf your case does go to court, these costs can add up quickly and substantially – as much as tens of thousands of dollars. For example, we may need your doctor to testify to the nature and extent of your injuries, and doctors often charge thousands of dollars to appear in court.
Or we may need depositions, which require court reporters who must be paid for their services. Our firm advances these costs on behalf of the client, and when the case settles, we are repaid out of the client’s portion of the settlement.
Why Should I Pay a Washington Injury Lawyer Instead of Handling the Case Myself?
If you have never been involved in a personal injury case before, you may not be aware of the time, energy and expertise it takes to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. It’s important to remember that insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind; their first concern is their bottom line. Therefore, they will take advantage of an inexperienced client who is willing to settle for less than their top offer.
Most People Hire an Attorney to Avoid Hassles. Not to Get Rich Quick
In the end, most people hire an attorney because they don’t want the stress and the hassle of dealing with the insurance company. You’ll have no further contact with the insurance (company) once you hire us. Even people with the experience and expertise to manage their own claim will often hire an attorney in order to avoid the headaches and to better focus on recovering from their injuries.
Will Hiring an Attorney Reduce My Settlement?
Negotiating with Insurance Adjusters at the Etengoff Pak Law Group – Vancouver Personal Injury Attorney, we are confident that by hiring an attorney, you will end up with more money in your pocket, even after you pay our fee. Our more than 25 years of experience in negotiating claims is a better match against the insurance adjuster, who has experience and training in negotiating claims. We know what to say and what not to say. We know what records the insurance companies are entitled to and which ones they are not entitled to.
When you have an attorney whose sole interest is in representing you, there is a much better chance of getting the best possible settlement.
