Paying for a Personal Injury Attorney

If you find yourself involved in a personal injury lawsuit, you probably know you need to hire an attorney. This is incredibly common advice and rightfully so. Having an attorney is incredibly important if you wish to win your case. However, everyone knows that attorneys are expensive, right? So what are your options if you feel that you cannot pay for an attorney? Read on to find out.

If You Are the Plaintiff

If you were the person who was injured and are now seeking compensation for your injury, then attorney fees are likely not something you need to worry about. It is incredibly common for attorneys to take the case with no upfront cost. Then, only if you win the case, your attorney will take a portion of the winnings as payment, typically about 30%. If you lose the case, then you probably owe the attorney nothing.

30% may sound like a very high amount, and it is, but you have to see things from the attorney’s perspective. He or she is taking a huge risk by taking the job with no guarantee of being paid at all. On top of that, the attorney will likely pay the court fees out of his or her own pocket.

If You Are the Defendant

If you are defending yourself after accidentally injuring someone else, there are no winnings to be earned at the end of the trial. You are fighting to not have to pay a large sum, which means you have to pay your attorney up front. However, there are several options available to those who cannot afford an expensive attorney:

• Legal Clinic – Just like medical clinics that examine individuals for free, legal clinics provide free legal advice and simple services.
• Legal Aid Law Firm – Some law firms are funded by the state and provide legal representation for little or no cost to the client. However, they only take certain clients.
• Pro Bono Attorney – Every attorney is encouraged by the American Bar Association to provide 50 hours of legal services for free each year. Not every attorney follows this advice, but many do.

This has all been discussions of civil lawsuits, but if you find yourself as the defendant in a criminal case, then you can receive a public defender for no cost to you. You should never attempt to represent yourself in personal injury cases, but hire a lawyer, like a Denver personal injury lawyer from Richard J. Banta, P.C.. It is so difficult to do, even attorneys will usually get another attorney to represent them.