Many people prematurely decide to not hire attorneys after an injury caused by another party because they believe legal counsel is not affordable. That is a bad assumption to make. Although legal counsel is not free, it is affordable for everyone who has a viable personal injury case. No matter how destitute a victim is, it is likely that he or she can afford a personal injury attorney since there is no upfront cost. As long as there is a viable case, that is enough to hire a personal injury attorney in Baltimore.
Almost all personal injury lawyers are willing to work on a contingency basis. This means the lawyer does not get paid anything unless there is a settlement or jury award. If the client loses the case, there is nothing owed to the lawyer. Keep in mind that out-of-pocket expenses such as court filing fees and expert witness fees are still the responsibility of the plaintiff. However, law firms typically advance these out-of-pocket expenses to clients. When the case is settled, the out-of-pocket expenses are paid from the settlement funds.
It is important to know that a personal injury attorney in Baltimore is not going to take a case on a contingency basis unless there is a very good chance of winning. If the potential client’s case is not viable, the lawyer will refuse to take the case on a contingency basis. Effectively, this means clients are not going to get a lawyer to work for free. However, it is affordable for clients since they are likely to get a substantial settlement at the end of the case.
The actual cost is a fraction of the settlement or jury award. This amount is negotiable. However, the lawyer does need to pay for overhead. The lawyer also needs to make a profit to make a living. Clients who are negotiating should remember that the lawyer needs sufficient compensation. So it is important to be realistic when negotiating.
In the end, those with personal injury cases will be a lot better off hiring a lawyer even after factoring in legal fees. Insurance companies don’t pay fair settlements unless there is a good chance of losing big in court. Those who are serious with going to trial are the ones getting fair settlements
