Do You Have to Pay Lawyer Fees Upfront?

One of the primary reasons more individuals dealing with legal issues do not hire a lawyer is because they cannot afford to. Depending on the type of case you have, you may be required to pay lawyer fees upfront if you want to get a legal professional working on your case. However, more than likely, you need a lawyer who only gets paid when you win.

An experienced Atlanta contingency lawyer at John Foy & Associates may be the answer you have been searching for. Our legal team typically does not require our clients to pay any retainer fees or costs associated with pursuing their cases. However, you need to find out whether we have the legal experience to handle your case.

Some types of lawyers are unable to work on contingency. If you believe you have the right to compensation in any type of civil claim, our team may be able to help. Here is more about how contingency agreements work, when we get paid, and what happens if we lose your case.

How Attorneys Get Paid

Legal advocates and law firms can get paid in a variety of ways. The type of legal issue you have will determine the way your attorney charges for their services. Here are some of the most common ways your lawyer could get paid:

Hourly Rates

Some types of lawyers will charge an hourly rate. This is seen often in criminal defense cases, divorces, family law issues, and estate planning. These attorneys will charge an hourly rate, usually hundreds of dollars per hour, depending on the lawyer’s skills and experience and your location.

Contingency Agreements

Most personal injury law firms and legal advocates dealing with civil issues work for their clients on contingency. Contingency agreements allow clients to hire attorneys without having to put a retainer down in most cases. Then, yohttps://www.johnfoy.com/atlanta-personal-injury-lawyer/ur lawyer only gets paid if they win your case.

Employment law attorneys, some copyright infringement and intellectual property lawyers, personal injury attorneys, and even whistleblower lawyers are often willing to work on a contingency basis. We will need to carefully review the details of your case to determine whether we believe you have grounds for legal action and are capable of winning your case. We will cover every cost that comes up as we move through the claims process, so you do not have to.

The Purpose of a Retainer

Many lawyers will also request a retainer whether they are working hourly or on contingency. You may need to put down thousands of dollars as a down payment for your lawyer’s services. Then, your attorney will use the retainer to cover any expenses that arise throughout your case.

For example, a criminal defense lawyer might need to have forensic evidence analyzed by laboratory specialists. A divorce attorney may need to cover the costs of hiring expert witnesses. These expenses typically come out of the retainer fee, and the attorney pockets their hourly rate of pay.

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Cases a Lawyer Who Works on Contingency Handles

You may be interested to know whether you could qualify for a contingency agreement. The good news is that many civil attorneys and lawyers who deal with insurance negotiations work for their clients on a contingency basis. Some of the most common types of cases we handle at John Foy & Associates include:

• Dog bites
• Truck accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Premises liability claims
• Worker’s compensation
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Construction accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Car accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home neglect and abuse

Do not feel discouraged if the type of accident or lawsuit you are dealing with is not listed above. There are many other types of cases our team is prepared to handle. The best way to find out whether you can recover compensation for your damages and hire a lawyer on contingency is to contact our legal team to discuss your case in specific detail.

How Your Contingency Attorney Is Compensated 

You know that your contingency lawyer will only get paid if they win your case. Will you need to pay them on an hourly rate? Will you get your retainer deposit back?

In most cases, retainers are nonrefundable. However, your contingency attorney does not typically work on an hourly basis. This is because they will be compensated through your trial verdict award or insurance settlement payout.

The specific details of each contingency agreement may be different. However, in most cases, contingency plans require claimants to pay out as much as 40% of their award in attorney’s fees. This amount could be much higher or lower depending on the specific circumstances of your case.

The Value of Your Settlement

It is not unusual for injury victims to have concerns that up to 40% of their settlement could go towards attorney’s fees. However, it is important to remember that your lawyer will be covering the costs of pursuing your case. If they lose, they do not get paid at all, meaning most of the risk is on your contingency attorney.

Fortunately, you have the right to be fully repaid for your damages. Not only should you be reimbursed for economic damages, which are financial, but non-economic damages as well. These types of losses do not have a financial value but are significant and will be taken into consideration accordingly.

Medical expenses, lost wages, and personal property damages or just a few examples of compensatory damages you could recover. When you include the impact your injuries or legal issues have had on your life or future, you can expect the value of your claim to be much higher. Punitive damages could also result in a substantial increase in the total value of your settlement.

Get Help from a No Win No Fee Lawyer When You Call in The Strong Arm

When someone else’s negligence, misconduct, or wrongful acts have a devastating impact on your life, it is crucial that you have legal support to guide you through the claims process and recover maximum compensation. With a respected Atlanta contingency attorney at John Foy & Associates backing you up, you can make the at-fault party pay. Your personal finances do not need to prevent you from demanding justice.

Call in The Strong Arm. Reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer at our firm for a no-cost, risk-free consultation today. You can get started by completing our quick contact form or calling our office.