Jason Stephens | November 18, 2021 | Car Accidents
Have you been injured in a Fort Worth, Texas car accident? Drivers in Texas are required to carry auto insurance to cover the losses victims sustain when accidents result from their negligence. So, you can seek compensation for your losses (such as medical bills) after a Fort Worth car accident by filing a claim to collect from the insurance of the negligent party who caused it. You may file a lawsuit to pursue damages in court if this is not an option.
However, merely filing a claim does not guarantee a payout. Insurance companies are businesses. Thus, they are motivated to protect themselves financially.
It is not uncommon for insurers to look for any reason they can find to justify denying a claim or offering a victim less compensation than their claim may be worth. To recover the full amount of compensation you are eligible to receive, you need to prove negligence, document your losses, negotiate for a fair settlement, and more.
This is challenging to do on your own. That’s one of many reasons it’s wise to enlist the help of a Fort Worth car accident lawyer when filing a claim or lawsuit. Your odds of recovering a fair amount of compensation will typically be greater if you have legal representation.
That said, some car accident victims believe that hiring an attorney will be too costly. You are likely already struggling financially due to medical bills, lost wages, and similar potential consequences of an accident. It makes sense that you would not want to add to your financial burdens.
However, hiring a lawyer might be much less expensive than you imagine. Keep reading to learn why.
Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Fort Worth: How Much Will it Cost Me?
Some lawyers charge upfront fees for their services. For example, you need to pay a criminal defense attorney at least part of their fee as soon as you hire them.
This is not the case when you hire a reputable car accident attorney. That’s because the vast majority of car accident attorneys charge contingency fees.
You are not always eligible for compensation simply because you’ve been injured in a car accident. In Texas, you can generally only recover compensation if your accident resulted from someone else’s carelessness.
If car accident lawyers charged upfront fees, they could be motivated to take on unwinnable cases. A contingency fee arrangement guards against this type of incentive.
A contingency fee arrangement ensures a lawyer will not charge fees for their legal services until they recover compensation for their client. As a result, car accident lawyers only take on cases they believe they can win. If they fail to recover compensation for their client, they can’t charge them. This is true even if they spent a lot of time working on their case.
The amount of money a car accident lawyer charges will be a reasonable percentage of the compensation they recover for a client. Contingent fees are usually anywhere from 33% to 40% of your award.
The percentage of your compensation an attorney may receive can vary depending on several factors. For example, even if your case is winnable, proving negligence may require conducting a lengthy and thorough investigation. Your lawyer will have to account for this when deciding how much to charge.
How Can a Lawyer Help After a Car Accident in Fort Worth?
You are much more likely to receive a fair payout if you hire a lawyer instead of attempting to work with the insurance companies on your own. Although no ethical lawyer can promise you will receive a specific amount of compensation, an attorney can help you more effectively pursue what you may deserve.
A lawyer can improve your chances of receiving a fair settlement offer by:
- Investigating your accident
- Filing a claim with supporting evidence
- Coordinating with doctors
- Negotiating with insurers
Keep in mind that pursuing compensation after a Fort Worth car accident can also be a challenging process if you are recovering from your injuries at the same time. Hiring an attorney will give you more freedom to focus on your needs as you heal.
Working with an attorney also involves virtually no financial risk. Most injury attorneys offer free consultations. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s in your best interest to consult a Fort Worth personal injury attorney to learn more about your legal options.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX – Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth car accident lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000
Open 24 hrs.