How Much Does it Cost to Work With an Attorney?
The cost of hiring an attorney can vary widely, but most personal injury lawyers in New Jersey take cases on a contingency fee basis. This fee structure means the client is only charged attorney’s fees if the case results in financial compensation. Other possibilities include flat rates and hourly rates, with many lawyers averaging around $100 to $500 per hour. Make sure to speak with a car accident lawyer in New Jersey for legal guidance.
Contingency Fees
Many injured accident victims in New Jersey make the mistake of choosing not to hire personal injury lawyers under the assumption that one will be too expensive. What they don’t realize is that most personal injury lawyers choose not to add to clients’ financial stress by billing them directly. Instead, they use contingency fee payment arrangements.
With contingency fees, the client pays $0 upfront to retain the lawyer’s services. If the case does not result in a settlement or jury verdict, the fee remains $0 for services rendered. If the case is successful, the attorney’s fee is taken directly out of the overall amount won on behalf of the client. That way, the client never has to pay out of pocket.
Most lawyers with contingency fees keep their percentages at around one-third, or 33 percent. However, this can vary depending on case complexity, the law firm and the experience level of the attorney. Contingency fees protect the client financially and motivate the attorney to achieve the best possible results, since the lawyer won’t get paid unless the client does.
Hourly Rate
Another possibility is an hourly rate. This is more common among family, employment and criminal defense lawyers rather than personal injury attorneys. With an hourly rate, the lawyer charges a certain amount per hour for the number of hours the case takes. In New Jersey, this rate can range from $100 to $600 or more per hour, depending on the attorney. Expect a lawyer’s hourly rate to increase if the case has to go to trial and requires litigation.
Flat Rate
For à la carte legal services or simple legal matters, a lawyer may charge a flat rate. With this arrangement, the client will pay a pre-agreed-upon amount for a specific service, no matter how long it takes the lawyer to complete. Flat fees can vary significantly depending on the lawyer and type of case, from about $250 to $30,000 and beyond.
Other Expenses
While fee structures such as contingency agreements can keep high-quality legal representation affordable for injured accident victims, it is often not the only costs associated with pursuing a claim. Other potential expenses to be aware of include:
- Court fees
- Document printing or photocopying fees
- Deposition costs
- Expert witnesses
- Retainer fee
- Initial consultations (usually free among personal injury lawyers)
Depending on the lawyer you choose, these expenses may be covered upfront by the law firm. Then, these litigation costs will be reimbursed from the settlement in addition to the base attorney’s fee. Be sure to ask your lawyer what fees and costs to expect ahead of time.
To discuss how much a New Jersey personal injury lawyer will cost for a specific personal injury claim in New Jersey, request a free initial consultation at The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. We are proud to operate on a contingency fee basis to bring our clients peace of mind in difficult times.