How much a personal injury lawyer costs depends on the law firm, but a personal injury lawyer almost never charges any upfront fee. Clients do not pay anything to hire an attorney but instead agree to give the law firm a percentage of their financial recovery.
This contingency fee structure means attorneys receive payment only if they win their client’s case. This is one reason so many victims of negligence hire attorneys to represent them, as there is no immediate financial risk to the client.
How Personal Injury Lawyers’ Cost Structures Work
Our legal team has a personal understanding of the cost of negligence, and compassion is always our priority. Part of being compassionate is understanding the financial pressure that victims of negligence face, and contingency fees allow a personal injury lawyer to help anyone—even when a client doesn’t have money to pay.
When you suffer injury or illness or lose a loved one through wrongful death, you can hire a personal injury lawyer by:
- Choosing the law firm you want to hire
- Agreeing you will grant the law firm a percentage of any financial recovery it secures for you
- Allowing the law firm to cover all case-related expenses
- Waiting for your case to finish, at which point you may receive the money you deserve for your damages
Part of being the voice of the unheard is serving clients in the most challenging financial positions. Our fee structure allows us to do this.
Benefits of Contingency Fees for the Client
There are several benefits of contingency fees for clients, including the following:
- You can reap the benefits of professional legal representation regardless of your financial status: Whether you live paycheck to paycheck, make a comfortable living, or fall somewhere in between, you can get legal help. That is the most apparent benefit of contingency fees.
- You avoid financial risk: People who hire personal injury lawyers can face medical expenses, property expenses from accidents, and the financial uncertainty that results from being unable to work. Our firm ensures you face no further financial stress—we cover the entire cost of your case, and we don’t recover a fee unless we win.
- You know your lawyer is motivated to win: Our lawyers and support staff work hard. We must win our clients’ cases if we want to receive the financial rewards of that hard work. Your financial goals and ours are the same.
If you do not hire a lawyer to lead your case, you will face the financial cost of completing your case. If you don’t win, the expense and time you invested would be lost. This is why people hire personal injury lawyers to fight for their financial recovery.
How Much Are Lawyers Paid?
When you agree to a firm’s contingency fee arrangement, a portion of your settlement or judgment goes to the law firm. The percentage can vary by state and in other circumstances, but on average, Michigan personal injury law firms earn approximately one-third of the final amount, per Michigan Court Rule 8.121.
Of course, our team will review the terms of our agreement with you outlining how much of the final amount will go towards the firm. We will discuss how our expenses work, what we charge for, and other factors that can impact your settlement or verdict.
Why Would I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
There are two primary circumstances under which you may hire a personal injury lawyer:
- You suffered injuries or became sick because of someone’s negligence.
- You lost a loved one or witnessed one suffer harm because of someone’s negligence.
In the latter case, your loved one may be unable to retain an attorney. Whether it’s because they have passed away, are elderly, or are incapacitated, you can retain a lawyer from our firm on their behalf.
We handle a wide range of case types, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Trip and fall accidents
- Other premises liability cases
- Boating accidents
- Toxic exposure
If you suffered injuries, developed illness, or witnessed harm to a loved one who cannot get help on their own, we want to hear from you. A list of our practice areas will show the kinds of cases we handle.
What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
Our personal injury lawyers seek justice for our clients, which means obtaining the financial recovery they deserve. We work to achieve this goal by:
- Recording your account of the events that caused you harm
- Speaking with you about your damages
- Obtaining all case-related evidence
- Documenting your damages
- Calculating the value of your recoverable damages
- Working with experts whose services benefit your personal injury case (and paying their fees)
- Leading settlement negotiations on your behalf
- Taking your case to court if necessary
We also manage communications and complete paperwork for our clients’ cases. These are essential services that can directly contribute to your case’s outcome. By serving as the touchpoint for all communications, we will ensure that insurance companies and others do not violate your rights.
What Kinds of Costs Does a Lawyer Take On?
Personal injury cases are quite complex, and there are often many expenses related to a case. Without a contingency fee arrangement, the expenses would be quite daunting and a lot to keep track of. Some of the expenses associated with a personal injury case include:
- Court fees: The costs of filing a lawsuit can vary based on the case and the circumstances surrounding the case. There are filing and motion costs, deposition fees, and other costs.
- Witness fees: If we need to draw on experts, we will likely need to pay them for their contributions to your case.
- Administrative costs: We’ll cover any costs related to administrative tasks and expenses.
- Costs of investigation: When investigating your case, our firm may need to hire experts and other parties to look into the details of your case.
These and other expenses can add up, but our firm will manage all these costs so you don’t have to.
What Damages Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Seek Compensation For?
Each personal injury client has different damages, which often include:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Diminished earning power
- Property damages
- Medical equipment
- Rehabilitation costs
The cost of damages varies based on several factors. The National Safety Council (NSC) explains that the severity of your injuries is a primary factor in determining the value of your case. We will consider all relevant information as we fight for your financial recovery.
We Help With Wrongful Death Claims, Too
We also represent clients who have suffered wrongful death. Recoverable damages in these cases may include:
- Surviving loved ones’ pain and suffering
- Any treatment the surviving loved ones need to cope with their loss
- The decedent’s pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of a parent’s guidance
- Lost financial support
- Loss of the decedent’s household contributions
Our team offers its condolences if you’ve lost a loved one to wrongful death. We will compassionately fight for the justice you and your loved one deserve.
What Sets Christensen Law Apart from Other Personal Injury Firms?
Trying to select a law firm can be quite challenging. It’s difficult to know if you are picking the right firm, and making a decision at this time might feel overwhelming. We’re here to show you why Christensen Law is the right personal injury firm for you:
- We have over 30 years of experience with personal injury law. Since 1991, Christensen Law has been helping Michiganders fight back against negligent parties. We have helped our clients receive millions of dollars for their injuries and harm. While no amount of money will ever make up for the trauma, pain, and losses you’ve endured, it’s important to us that we help make these difficult times more manageable.
- We prioritize your needs. Some firms may just take the easy way out and urge you to settle for less in order to get a faster payout. That’s not what we do. Christensen Law believes in putting your needs front and center, doing everything in our power to get you a satisfactory outcome. We don’t hold back when utilizing our resources—you deserve a firm that will put you first, not their numbers.
- We believe a compassionate approach is best. Our lawyers believe in making sure our clients are listened to and comfortable with our team. You deserve a legal team that is interested in your well-being and best interests, and we aim to provide this level of care with everyone who comes to our firm.
Call Christensen Law Today for Your Free Consultation
Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805 generally requires that we file your personal injury case within three years of the harmful event, and we face the same deadline for wrongful death cases. Do not wait to contact us about your case. We can review your legal options and explain the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer. As noted earlier, personal injury lawyers generally work on contingency and don’t receive payment unless they win their client’s case.
Call Christensen Law today for your free consultation. Our team has secured notable case outcomes, and we will fight for your complete financial recovery.
