How Much Does a Lawyer Cost in Denver?
Following an accident, you’ll want experienced personal injury lawyers by your side. The benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer are vast, but you might wonder how much it will cost.
The cost of a personal injury lawyer in Denver is case-specific; it depends on various factors. Below, we discuss what to expect generally.
Lawyers Discuss the Cost of Representation During the Initial Consultation
When you meet with a lawyer for the first time to discuss your case, the meeting is called a consultation. At the consultation, you’ll want to share everything you know about your case with the lawyer.
It’s also the perfect time to interview the lawyer to determine if the lawyer is a good fit.
Some lawyers charge for consultations. However, many understand that nobody saves to hire a lawyer in case of an accident.
That’s why attorneys offer clients a free initial consultation to discuss their cases. They want to alleviate any worries about upfront costs. Contact an attorney today to schedule a free consultation.
Personal Injury Lawyers Charge Contingency Fees
When a personal injury lawyer takes on your case, they are confident in their ability to win. They are so sure, in fact, that they only get paid if they do win. Many charge a contingency fee, which is a fee contingent on the outcome of the case.
If the case outcome is successful–because the attorney reached a fair settlement or won the case after a trial–they get paid for their work representing you. And if they do not win your case, you do not owe any attorney fees.
The payment is based on a percentage of your recovery amount, which will be outlined in writing in the agreement for legal services.
Typically, personal injury lawyers charge 33 to 40 percent of the recovery amount. The fees they earn can range from thousands to millions of dollars. This payment model incentivizes the attorney to work very hard to win your case.
Other Types of Lawyers Charge Hourly or a Flat Fee for Their Services
Lawyers typically charge clients for their work on an hourly basis. In this arrangement, the client usually pays a retainer fee–an advance payment for work the lawyer will complete. It is rare for personal injury lawyers to charge their clients hourly.
The total fees would rack up quickly. Personal injury lawyers know that clients are already racking up medical bills and may be unable to pay legal costs upfront. They do not charge hourly for this reason.
Other lawyers charge a flat fee for their services. This is a common fee arrangement when a lawyer will help you with a particular transaction.
For example, a lawyer might charge you a flat fee to prepare your will or file a U.S. naturalization application on your behalf. For clients, flat fees are preferable to hourly fees because they are much more predictable.
Personal injury lawyers do not charge a flat fee. They do not want you to worry about upfront fees; instead, they want you to focus on your recovery.
Contingency fees are best for personal injury lawyers, too. They keep them focused on working hard toward a big recovery.
You May Be Charged for Out-of-Pocket Expenses
In a contingency fee arrangement, you will not have to pay anything upfront to cover the lawyer’s work. But in doing that work, a lawyer may have to pay some costs to work on your case.
These include court filing fees, medical record retrieval, and expert witness fees. Some lawyers front these out-of-pocket expenses and then reimburse themselves from your compensation.
It Will Be Even More Expensive Not to Hire a Lawyer
Experienced personal injury lawyers know the ins and outs of the law, are skilled negotiators, and work tirelessly to recover the damages you deserve.
Without a lawyer, you will be left to negotiate with insurance companies that minimize payouts. Insurance companies are in the business of paying as little as possible to personal injury victims.
Hiring a lawyer will be less expensive than not hiring one–by representing yourself, you will likely leave money on the table.
Hiring a lawyer will also give you a priceless benefit–peace of mind. You can focus on recovering while your personal injury lawyer works diligently to recover fair and full compensation on your behalf.
A Denver Personal Injury Lawyer Can Assess the Value of Your Personal Injury Claim
Personal injury lawyers are skilled at assessing your damages–the amount of money awarded to you in compensation for your losses. Your damages award includes property damage, medical bills, and lost wages.
The award is intended to restore you to the financial position you would have been in had the accident not occurred. In a straightforward case, you might think it is easy to calculate damages–you add up the payments you’ve made in every category, and you are set.
However, calculating damages can become very complex. To begin, your damages award will also include your future damages.
Future damages are difficult to estimate because you have yet to incur them. If you have lost the ability to return to work because of your injury, you are entitled to future lost wages. We assess your future damages by analyzing your income, work history, and projected life expectancy.
You may also recover your future medical expenses.
Because you have yet to incur those expenses, we typically hire experts to show what that number might look like. An expert will examine factors like your projected life expectancy and the cost of obtaining the necessary medical care in the future.
An experienced lawyer can assess whether you may also recover noneconomic damages. Unlike economic damages, noneconomic damages are not meant to compensate you for your financial losses. Instead, they pay you for your personal losses, which include your pain and suffering.
An experienced lawyer will prove your noneconomic damages by showing evidence of how your life has changed since the accident.
When you are ready to hire a lawyer to help you recover the compensation you deserve, schedule a free initial consultation with a Denver personal injury lawyer.
Contact our Denver Personal Injury Law Firm Today For Help
For more information please contact Zaner Harden Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.
Zaner Harden Personal Injury Lawyers
1610 Wynkoop Street, Suite 120. Denver, CO 80202
(720) 613 9706
24/7
