While having a legal representative fight your legal battles can increase your odds of success, it has its fair share of financial implications. Hiring a lawyer is almost always expensive. According to Clio, the hourly rate for a typical lawyer in Alabama ranges between $83 and $292.
But you shouldn’t let that piece of information dishearten you. If you can present clear liability and a means to collect a settlement, a contingency fee lawyer in Alabama can help you overcome that financial hurdle.
Who Is a Contingency Fee Lawyer?
To understand who a contingency fee lawyer is, you must first understand what a contingency fee is. In simple terms, it’s an agreed-upon amount of money that a claimant agrees to pay their lawyer after they receive compensation.
With the understanding of what a contingency fee is, it’s clear that a contingency fee lawyer is someone who takes a client’s case for no money up-front. Instead of charging an hourly fee, they only receive attorney fees if and when they secure compensation for their client.
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How Much Does a Contingency Fee Lawyer in Alabama Charge?
Unlike many other states, Alabama doesn’t enforce a cap on lawyer’s fees, giving attorneys and their clients the liberty to agree upon rates. According to Alabama Code Title 41, the contingency fee may be an amount that’s either fixed or is to be determined by a formula.
It’s common for the contingency fee to be 33% to 40% of the sum the lawyer secures for the client.
Assume you’re a claimant in Alabama. You enter a contingency fee arrangement with a lawyer, who helps you receive $300,000 in compensation. If your agreement stipulated that your lawyer would receive one-third of the recovered amount, your lawyer would get $100,000, and you’d get $200,000.
Note that the fee is usually a percentage of the total amount awarded. Any expenses the lawyer may have paid up-front will also be deducted from this total amount.
When to Call a Contingency Fee Lawyer
Whether you’ve experienced a car accident, medical malpractice, workplace injury, or any other misfortune resulting from negligent behavior, it’s important to contact a contingency fee lawyer immediately. This will allow your lawyer to conduct investigations when the evidence is readily available. Be sure to work with a law firm that specializes in different areas of personal injury law.
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Benefits of Hiring a Contingency Fee Lawyer
If you’re not sure whether entering into a contingency agreement with a lawyer is a smart move, the following benefits are worth your consideration.
Zero Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Attorney Fees
Even if you’re relatively sure that your attorney will win your case, it may still be difficult for you to pay the hefty legal bills you may incur along the path to victory, especially if you’re under financial strain. A contingency fee agreement is of particular benefit to you, as you won’t have to pay your attorney up-front. Therefore, you’ll have the ability to choose a competent attorney who’ll handle your case and not hesitate to go up against powerful individuals or companies.
Chances of Winning Your Case Are Higher
When attorneys open themselves up to the risk of non-payment that comes with handling a case on a contingency fee basis, it means two things: they’re confident that their clients have a good claim and their case should result in victory. Moreover, a contingency fee lawyer has every reason to work twice as hard to ensure a favorable settlement since it includes their pay. This should give you confidence that you have a good chance of winning your case.
Minimal Financial Risk
If you have to pay hourly attorney’s fees out-of-pocket, a lengthy lawsuit will work to the unfair advantage of the party you’re seeking compensation from. A lack of sufficient funds to meet your legal fees may force you to accept an unfair settlement to avoid expensive litigation. By entering a contingency agreement, a wealthier opponent won’t be able to use their relative financial strength as leverage.
What to Keep in Mind When Hiring a Contingency Fee Lawyer in Alabama
Before hiring a contingency fee lawyer in Alabama, it’s important to know what they can and cannot do for you. For instance, some contingency fee lawyers agree to cover all legal costs associated with their clients’ cases. These include filing fees, records fees, depositions, etc.
Another thing to keep in mind is that contingency fees aren’t applicable to all compensatory cases. Contingency fee arrangements are explicitly for civil litigation. In Alabama, for instance, a contingency fee lawyer shouldn’t charge a contingency fee in domestic relations matters, such as child support or alimony arrearage in a completed divorce.
Get Quality Legal Representation Today
If your personal injury claim or worker’s compensation claim winds up in court, the legal team representing the offending party will do its best to claim they’re not at fault. It will take a legal professional with a sharp legal mind to argue your case and earn you the victory. Hiring a contingency fee lawyer can help keep the costs of representation low.
At Morris Bart, LLC, we have over 150 skilled and experienced legal professionals who are dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes for our esteemed clients. If your claim is something we can help you with, we’ll explain the services our contingency fee lawyer in Alabama can provide and the next steps we should take. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
