On average, there are six million car accidents across the United States every year. Whether minor accidents or severe collisions, an accident can have a huge impact on your life.
It may leave you with physical or psychological injuries and it can leave your finances at risk. In fact, American traffic accidents cost $871 billion worth of damages each year.
If you have been in an accident, then hiring a Houston accident lawyer could help you to recover from the financial damage this has caused. However, at this financially delicate time, most people do not have much money to spare. You need to know just how much hiring an accident lawyer in Houston could cost you.
Well, you are in the right place! Read on to find out everything you need to know about the cost of hiring an accident lawyer and what could affect this.
How Much Does Hiring a Houston Accident Lawyer Cost?
There is no quick way to work out the cost of hiring a lawyer in Houston. However, there are some good places to start.
For example, getting an idea of a Houston car accident lawyer’s hourly fee can help you to compare how much you may have to spend on a lawyer. When finding out about this, make sure that you ask about any additional charges that could drive your final bill up. We’ll take a close look at these in just a moment. (Our law firm, does NOT charge you anything upfront until we win. We are an older established brand that can afford to do this.)
The reason it’s good to look at a lawyer’s hourly rate is that there is no way of knowing how long your case will go on. Cut-and-dry accident cases in which one person is clearly liable are usually settled quickly. However, if someone wants to dispute your claim in court this could go on for a long time and involve additional court fees.
At least if you know you are getting a good hourly rate, you know if your case goes on for a while you will not have to pay ridiculous fees.
Additional Charges from Lawyers
When looking for a car accident lawyer in Houston, you should always ask about what their given fees cover. Some lawyers’ fees may include certain expenses, while others will charge extra for additional work.
For example, you may also be billed separately for:
- The cost of obtaining your medical records and billing information
- The costs of obtaining evidence, including police reports or logs
- The cost of filing, copying, and storing your case
- Travel costs
So a Houston truck accident lawyer, for example, will not simply bill you for the hours they spend building your case and corresponding on it. Asking about these additional charges and reading the terms before hiring a lawyer will ensure that you don’t get stung for more later on. You should always ask about fees via email so that you have a written record of the fees presented to you by a lawyer.
However, how much you pay a lawyer is only one side of the deal when it comes to hiring an auto accident lawyer in Houston. Your method of payment may save you from spending loads upfront. Let’s take a closer look at how this works.
Upfront Payment vs. No-Win-No-Fee Lawyers
There are generally two types of lawyers: ones which ask you to pay your bills throughout your case and those that delay bills.
A lawyer who presented you with bills throughout your case will expect these to be paid on time. These bills include the lawyer’s hourly rates and any additional expenses associated with your case. This is not a problem for anyone who has financial income at hand to cover these bills.
In contrast, no-win-no-fee lawyers offer their clients the chance to defer their fees until the case is won. If the lawyer does not win the client’s case, they do not have to pay for their time. If a client does win the case, then they can use some of their financial settlement to pay off the lawyer.
This seems like a good option for anyone in a financially challenging position who cannot afford lawyers’ fees upfront. Some people also prefer these lawyers as they have an added incentive to win your case. However, you should always check out all the terms a no-win-no-fee lawyer offers before you hire them.
In most cases, these lawyers will still bill you for expenses regardless of whether or not you win your case. The no-win-no-fee, after your case financial settlement, is an overall safer choice.
To decide on the best lawyer for you, make sure that you assess both options and look at the long-term financial impact it could have.
Other Things to Consider
When looking for a car accident lawyer in Houston, TX, the fee is not the only thing you should take into account. You should also compare the lawyer’s background and the rate of successful cases.
Successful lawyers may charge more for their services or may take a bigger cut. However, if they have a better success rate then this is definitely something worth investing in (experience matters).
There is no point in trying to cut your bills by a margin only for you to lose your case. If this happens then all the money you have spent will have been for nothing. In fact, you will be worse off financially than when you started the process. (Note: Our firm does not charge unless we win)
Make sure that you do your research into a lawyer’s success rate. Do not simply use the information they share on their website as this could be based on select cases. Instead, look for feedback from previous clients on independent sites to see if a lawyer can really live up to their claims. (Google reviews also give you great insight. Our firm 5 Star, with 53+ ratings on Google)
Get Help From an Experienced Lawyer Today!
If you are looking for a Houston accident lawyer, there are several things to keep in mind if you want to find the best price. Remember, a good lawyer for your case is an investment so do not try to cut corners.
For more support with your accident claim or to get a quote for your case, get in touch with our team today. We’re here to help!