When we ask new clients why it took them so long to call our office for a motorcycle accident lawyer, they almost always give us the same answer. They say that they were afraid it would be too expensive. When we explain that all potential clients are entitled to a free, initial consultation, they seem confused. Many motorcycle accident victims tell us they thought law firms told people this to get them into the office. They assumed that, at the end of their meeting, they would be told they needed thousands of dollars to retain their East Point motorcycle accident lawyer.
Unfortunately, a lot of people believe this. Perhaps they had a bad experience with another law firm in the past. Or they may read too much into what they see on television and social media. The truth is that all of our clients are given the chance to meet with an experienced East Point personal injury attorney at no charge. If you decide to retain our services, you still don’t pay anything upfront.
Here, we’ll explain how much it costs to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in East Point, Georgia. We will also discuss how personal injury attorneys are paid. If you have specific questions about your motorcycle accident case or want to meet with one of our associates, give us a call. One of our friendly staff can help you schedule your free, initial consultation.
Can You Really Meet with an East Point Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Free?
Some of our clients are surprised when they realize we do let them meet with one of our East Point motorcycle accident lawyers for free. They ask several times when they set up the appointment.
The reason we do this is two-fold. First, we want to give you a chance to meet with one of our associates and see if you even have a case. We also want you to have a chance to decide if you want to retain our services.
At the same time, it’s important that we have a chance to review your case. If we don’t feel it has value, or you’re too close to the Georgia statute of limitations period, we may pass. Our attorneys are always upfront and honest with potential clients. It’s fair to both parties.
What Happens if You Decide to Hire an East Point Personal Injury Attorney?
If you decide you want to retain the services of an East Point personal injury attorney, you will let us know at the end of your free consultation. At that point, we would have you sign the necessary paperwork. This will include a contingency fee agreement that explains how your attorney is paid.
Once this is out of the way, we’ll get started on your case right away. First, we’ll reach out to the insurance company to find out why your claim wasn’t paid. If need be, we’ll also file suit against the other driver.
Once suit is filed, we will start to prepare for trial. However, keep in mind – more than 95% of all personal injury lawsuits settle long before trial. Our goal is to settle your case so you can walk away with a lump sum of money. Trials take a long time and can be very expensive. If we can settle for a fair amount, it’s always better than taking the chance of losing in court.
How Much Money Will Your Attorney Get You in Damages?
Your East Point Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Isn’t Paid Until Your Case Settles
One thing we explain during your free consultation is how a contingency arrangement works. Almost every personal injury lawyer in Georgia operates on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t pay anything upfront. Instead, your East Point motorcycle accident lawyer will cover any of the costs of litigation. It isn’t until you settle your case that they take their fee.
When your case does settle, there is a certain order in which people are paid. The first things that comes off the top is your East Point personal injury attorney’s fee. Since contingency fees range anywhere from 33-40%, we’ll use 40% in this example.
Imagine that you sue the defendant for $500,000. You end up settling for $400,000. Right off the top, your attorney will deduct their fee of $200,000. Out of the remaining $300,000, any costs associated with your case will be deducted. These monies have to be reimbursed to your lawyer’s office. It is against the law for an attorney to pay their client’s court costs or filing fees.
Once these monies come out, any outstanding medical bills will have to be paid. After this is done, the rest of the settlement proceeds are yours. Some people ask why they should pay an attorney 33-40% of their settlement. The best way to answer that is to say that keeping 60% of something is always better than keeping 100% of nothing.
If you don’t have an attorney there to help you along the way, you may very well walk away with nothing. Plus, your East Point motorcycle accident lawyer deserves to be paid. If they do a good job and win or settle your case, then they deserve their fee.
Take Advantage of Your Free Initial Consultation with a Seasoned East Point Personal Injury Attorney
Now that you understand how your East Point motorcycle accident lawyer is paid, you should feel much better. You don’t need thousands of dollars to pursue somebody who hurt you in an accident. If their insurance company refuses to do the right thing, we can always file suit on your behalf.
We recommend that you call our office as soon as possible after your Georgia motorcycle accident. This gives you a chance to sit down with an experienced East Point personal injury attorney and tell them your story. Once they’ve had a chance to review your case, they can give you a better idea of what your case is worth. They can also tell you what your options are.
If you decide to move forward, you can retain our firm to handle your motorcycle accident case. This will give you time to recover from your injuries. It will also give you the peace of mind you need during this difficult time.
