Do All Personal Injury Lawyers In Oklahoma City Work On Contingency Fee Basis?
In Oklahoma, most reputable personal injury attorneys do not charge upfront fees to represent injury victims in their compensation claims or lawsuits. Unlike criminal attorneys, family lawyers, divorce lawyers, or contract attorneys, personal injury attorneys in Oklahoma City typically work on a contingency fee basis.
Very few people have the resources to save up for a serious or catastrophic injury and no one thinks it will happen to them. What’s more, when a preventable injury occurs due to someone else’s careless, reckless, or wrongful actions, the injury victim shouldn’t be left responsible for the damages, like medical expenses, lost income, and the pain and suffering caused by serious injury. For these reasons, personal injury lawyers do not take upfront fees.
Oklahoma Personal Injury Lawyers Offer Free Case Evaluations
Some injury victims choose to handle their compensation claims on their own because they don’t have the financial resources to pay attorney fees. Sadly, many do not realize until after accepting a lowball settlement or a claim denial that they can schedule free consultations with one or more Oklahoma personal injury lawyers and pay nothing at all to hire the attorney of their choice. Personal injury attorneys offer free case consultations to injury victims. During the initial consultation, they hear the details of the case, ask many questions, and examine available evidence like the police report. They may review medical records of the injury and evaluate the merits of the case. If both parties agree to representation, the attorney will explain how contingency fees work and the amount of their fee.
How Do Contingency Fees Work in Oklahoma City Personal Injury Cases?
Personal injury attorneys do not charge upfront fees for representation. Instead, their fees are contingent upon recovering their client’s compensation through a settlement or jury award for damages. When working on a contingency fee, the attorney performs an investigation, documents evidence, files necessary paperwork, and negotiates with insurers to obtain the largest possible settlement. If the insurance company disputes the claim or fails to offer an acceptable settlement, the attorney files a lawsuit within Oklahoma’s two-year statute of limitations and takes the case to court for a jury to hear the evidence and testimony and make a decision. Court cases take longer to resolve, but juries tend to be sympathetic to injury victims and often award them ample compensation for their damages.
When working on a contingency fee basis, an attorney only charges for their work on the case after they’ve obtained their client’s compensation. Typically, they take a percentage of the total amount of compensation, ranging from 25-50%, with most charging 30-35%.
How Contingency-Based Payment for a Personal Injury Attorney Benefits Your Case
Not only does the contingency fee method help an injury victim obtain legal representation at no upfront cost, but it also incentivizes their attorney to work diligently on their behalf and argue aggressively for the highest compensation amount available. If the attorney loses the case, they do not get paid since payment is contingent upon recovering compensation. Despite the attorney’s fee, injury victims often come out with more compensation than they’d have recovered without skilled representation.
How Can an Oklahoma Personal Injury Lawyer Help My Case?
If you’ve suffered a serious injury with economic and non-economic damages, and the injury was the direct result of someone else’s negligence, don’t hesitate to call a personal injury attorney due to your financial concerns. Attorneys understand that injuries cause economic hardship and it isn’t the time for clients to pay for legal counsel when they’re facing medical expenses and income loss. Call Dan Davis Law in Oklahoma City today to set up your free case evaluation so we can take action with no upfront costs to you.