Can’t Afford an Injury Lawyer in California? We Help (GJEL Accident Attorneys)
- Free Consultation & Zero Upfront Costs: Contingency Fee Means You Don’t Pay Unless We Win.
- Focus on Recovery: We Handle All Case Costs. You Get Maximum Compensation.
- Free Consultation: Protect Your Rights.
Read the full article for a California personal injury attorney’s detailed explanation of how contingency fees work and why you don’t need money upfront to hire GJEL Accident Attorneys. Learn how we fight to get you the compensation you deserve after an accident.
You don’t need money to hire a personal injury attorney like GJEL Accident Attorneys because we work on a contingency fee basis. this means you don’t pay unless and until we win your injury case.
Most people injured in an accident don’t have the money to pay for a lawyer out of pocket, and that’s OK.
Most people, I’d say 90-95 percent of the people hurt in serious accidents certainly do not have any extra funds to pay for a lawyer. Their problem is quite the opposite – how are they going to make their mortgage payments, their insurance payments when they’re injured, paying doctor’s bills, and are out of work.
Our personal injury attorneys fully understand the tremendous financial challenges that most victims face after an accident. To account for this, we work under a fee structure that is truly in the best interests of our clients.
What If I Can’t Afford a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Since we work on a contingency fee basis you don’t need to pay us unless and until we win your case. We get paid through the winning settlement from the insurance company.
Since insurance companies are always trying to pay out the least amount possible, you can’t afford not to hire an attorney in a serious injury matter.
Since you don’t need money out of pocket and there is little or no risk of hiring an accident attorney due to the contingency fee model you should be able to hire a personal injury lawyer.
What You Need to Know About Our Personal Injury Lawyer Fees
We all started here giving free legal services to the poor when we got out of law school, and there’s never a fee in advance, there’s never a charge in advance. What we charge is a percentage of what we collect for you but we don’t take it until and unless we collect for you.
This type of fee structure is known as a contingency fee arrangement. Over our decades of experience, we have found that contingency fee agreements offer many different benefits for our clients. Specifically, some of the advantages of using this type of payment structure include:
- Zero out-of-pocket costs for you: Most importantly, if you work with our team, you will not be required to pay out-of-pocket costs to bring your personal injury claim. Instead, our team will front all of the costs and fees needed to pursue your case. We want to put money back into your bank account, not take anymore out of it. No matter your current financial status, you can afford to hire our highly qualified personal injury lawyers.
- No hourly billing: Some lawyers bill clients using hourly rates. This means that if you call your lawyer, and talk for 30 minutes about your case, you will be charged for that time. With a contingency fee agreement, there are no hourly charges. This is great news for you, as it means that you can call your lawyer without worrying about getting charged for the time.
- No financial risks: The last thing any victim needs after a serious accident is to pursue a legal case, only to be unsuccessful, ending up with even more bills to pay. That will not happen with our firm. We will happily take on all the financial risks of bringing your claim. If you do not recover compensation, we do not collect our legal fees; it is as simple as that. We are so confident in our ability to assist you, that we have no worries about fronting the costs and accepting all of the risks.
- No fear of insurers with deep pockets: It is no secret that the big insurance companies have very deep pockets. However, when you work with our firm, you do not need to be worried about this. We will not let them bury you in costs or paperwork. Our firm has the skills and the resources to take on any insurance company, no matter the size.
- Fully aligned interests: Finally, it is important to note that this structure allows us to fully align our financial interests with that of our clients. For victims, this is the best type of structure to have, because it means your lawyer only gets paid if you get paid.
Who pays the costs of litigation in a personal injury case?
The short answer is that we do and you do. Initially our firm will advance all costs necessary to handle your case from initial investigation all the way through trial (if necessary). At the time of recovery, whether it’s through settlement or trial, then you pay us back out of the proceeds of your case.
As to the question of how much, litigation costs in a lawsuit can vary anywhere from a couple thousand dollars all the way up to a half a million dollars on some of the largest and most complex cases. Again, our firm will advance all costs no matter how much they may run. The reason costs vary from case to case have to do with the types of issues that are contested in your case, and the degree to which they are contested. For example, proving the defendants fault in some cases may require the use of expert consultants.
The same is true for issues such as medical causation: is a particular medical condition directly related to your accident. Again, we often use highly qualified medical experts to help us with those issues.
We will spend whatever it takes to get the best recovery in your case, but we are always conscious of how much we are spending, and we don’t do it unless we know it’s going to benefit your case, and ultimately you.
What are attorneys fees?
Attorneys fees are the charges that a lawyer or law firm charges for their legal services. These fees can vary widely depending on the type of case, the complexity of the matter, and the experience and qualifications of the attorney. In general, there are several different ways that attorneys may charge for their services, including:
- Hourly fees: This is the most common method of charging for legal services. The attorney will bill the client for the number of hours worked on the case, at an agreed-upon hourly rate.
- Flat fees: In some cases, an attorney may offer a flat fee for their services. This means that the attorney will charge a set amount for the entire case, regardless of how many hours are spent working on it.
- Contingency fees: In personal injury and other types of cases, an attorney may offer to take the case on a contingency basis. This means that the attorney will only be paid if they win the case, and their fee will be a percentage of the settlement or award.
- Retainer fees: Some attorneys may require a retainer fee upfront, which is essentially a deposit that is held in a trust account. The attorney will bill against this retainer as they work on the case.
It’s important to note that attorney fees may also include expenses associated with the case, such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, and other costs. It’s always good to ask an attorney about the fees and costs associated with a case before hiring them.
Get Free Legal Help Today from GJEL Accident Attorneys Today
At GJEL Accident Attorneys, our team also offers free, no-obligation legal consultations. If you have questions or concerns about your injury claim, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call our office at 1-855-508-9565 to request a free review of your case. We serve communities throughout the Bay Area, including San Jose, Oakland, Richmond, Fresno, Concord and Berkeley.
Understanding the Costs of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
One of the most common concerns about seeking legal representation is the cost. These selected articles demystify the financial commitments involved in hiring a personal injury lawyer, focusing on contingency fees and what it means for clients with limited upfront financial resources:
- Navigating Contingency Fees: A Client’s Guide – This article breaks down how contingency fee agreements work, allowing clients to hire a personal injury lawyer without any upfront fees, paying only if their case is won.
- Key Questions to Ask About Legal Fees – Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, it’s essential to understand the financial arrangement. Discover the critical questions regarding costs and payment structures.
- The Ethical Considerations of Legal Fees – Learn about the ethical standards governing how lawyers charge for their services, ensuring transparency and fairness in legal representation.
- Understanding Taxes on Personal Injury Settlements – Get insights into how your settlement or award might be taxed, which is crucial for financial planning and understanding the net value of any compensation received.
- Post-Settlement Financial Concerns – Addresses the question of whether a case can remain open for future medical bills and the implications for your financial recovery strategy.
- Strategies to Maximize Your Settlement – Offers insights into maximizing your personal injury settlement, which can help ensure that the legal fees are a worthwhile investment.
- The Art of Negotiating Settlements – Understanding the negotiation process can demystify how legal professionals earn their fees by securing the best possible outcome for their clients.
- Why Evidence Matters in Cost-Effective Legal Representation – Explains the role of evidence in strengthening your case, potentially leading to a more favorable settlement that justifies the legal costs.
- Types of Personal Injury Cases and Fee Structures – Delves into the different types of personal injury cases and how fee structures may vary, offering clarity on financial expectations.
- Financial Expectations During a Personal Injury Lawsuit – Provides a comprehensive look at what to expect throughout the lawsuit process, including potential costs and how they are managed.
Written by Andy Gillin. Last Updated 04/15/2024