When you sustain personal injuries, there are laws in Cincinnati, Ohio, that allow you to claim compensation. Car accidents, workplace accidents, and injuries caused due to the use of a defective product or harmful drugs that are marketed as safe to use are just some examples of personal injury cases where a person can be eligible to receive compensation.
But when handling personal injury cases, most people often debate whether they should hire a lawyer. There are still a lot of people who think that hiring personal injury lawyers are expensive, but it is a misconception. In reality, a personal injury lawyer is much more affordable than you may think. So let’s clear that misconception and consider how much it can cost to hire a Cincinnati personal injury attorney.
Why should you hire a lawyer?
Before we talk about the costs associated with hiring an attorney, we want you to understand why it is vital to hire one in the first place.
Most people think personal injury lawyers charge high fees, and they see it as an unnecessary expense. So they think of saving money by not getting an attorney involved. But that will cause you to lose more money in the long run. Even if you don’t have a lawyer, you still have to bear other expenses related to your cases, such as court costs and various fees (like filing and deposition fees).
You may have to travel to different locations for the court proceedings, so that’s an additional expense. And you’ll most likely miss a few days of work when working on your case, so the loss of wages must also be considered. If you lose the case or receive no settlement, all those expenses will be paid from your pocket.
That’s why hiring a lawyer is essential for such cases. They improve your chances of success and take care of many important works on your behalf, saving you time and money.
How much will it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in Cincinnati?
Personal injury lawyers can charge you for their services in two ways:
Upfront fees
The lawyer will provide you a quote for an upfront fee that needs to be paid immediately. Whether you win or lose the case, you have to pay the fees regardless at the start of the case. This type of service model is not preferable at all. A trustworthy personal injury lawyer will never ask you for upfront fees, and you should avoid any lawyer who does.
Contingency fees
All reliable personal injury lawyers practice the system of contingency fees. The lawyer will not charge you anything out of your pocket. They will handle your case for free and will only take a percentage out of your settlement if they win the case for you. But if they lose the case, they will not charge you a single penny. Simply put, contingency fees are charged only if the lawyer wins your case and are paid not from your own pocket but from a portion of the settlement money you receive.
So as we said before, hiring a personal injury lawyer is cheaper than you think because you only have to pay them if you win the case and receive ample compensation.
What percentage do lawyers charge as contingency fees?
There isn’t any fixed rate set by lawyers or the state government of Ohio regarding contingency fees. It is decided personally between you and the lawyer, based on the nature of your case and possible compensation that you can get. You can get in touch with multiple attorneys, discuss your case with them, and get a personal quote from them as to what percentage of your settlement they will take. Then you can hire the one who offers you the best rate. But don’t just focus on the percentage that they charge. Also, consider how much total compensation they can negotiate on your behalf.
Once you and your lawyer agree, a contract will be set up detailing all the terms and conditions between both parties. Usually, the lawyers will pay for all the expenses related to the case, which will also be adjusted later in your settlement amount. Just ensure that you have fully discussed and understood the terms of the agreement before you finalize the contract.
An expert lawyer can help you get bigger settlements
An average person with limited legal expertise doesn’t usually know how much compensation they can ask for. So if you’re handling the case without a lawyer, the other party can trick you into settling for less than you deserve. That’s where a lawyer can come to the rescue. They are well aware of the different categories of compensation you can claim, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages/income
- Compensation for physical suffering
- Repair costs if your property has sustained damages too (for example, damage sustained by your vehicle or devices like phones and laptops)
These are just some of the obvious factors for claiming compensation. Depending on the nature of your case, there may be more categories under which you will be liable for settlement. An expert lawyer can consider all those factors and negotiate higher settlements for you. After all, if the lawyer is charging contingency fees based on a certain percentage of your settlement amount, negotiation for bigger compensation will benefit you and them.
Reach out to a reliable lawyer for personal injury cases
Now that you know the cost of personal injury lawyers Cincinnati, OH, and how affordable it is, we encourage you to get in touch with a reliable lawyer immediately if you or your loved one sustain personal injuries due to any incident. With an attorney handling your case, you’re more likely to win the case and receive substantial compensation. All the while, you don’t have to spend anything throughout the case and only need to pay off all expenses, including the lawyer fees at the very end out of the settlement amount.
