Lawyers’ Fees in Your Personal Injury Case

If you’re moving forward in a personal injury case, you may be wondering what the costs associated with your case may be. This is understandable, seeing as you have likely already had to pay for some things out-of-pocket just as a result of becoming injured. From auto repair costs to hospital stays and even prescription copays, getting in an accident can be a pricey expenditure even before you factor in court costs. Here’s what you should be sure to ask your legal team about when it comes to fees.

Understanding court costs

One thing to note about your court case is that you will likely be charged just to take the case before a judge. Many times, you will be charged a few hundred dollars in filing fees to simply get the case seen. There may also be costs associated with getting copies of the court reporter’s written transcripts of the proceedings, should your legal counsel deem the document relevant to your defense. Transcript costs are generally calculated based on the number of pages you are requesting, so the longer the transcript is, the more expensive it will be. It’s also worth remembering that these sorts of costs will need to be paid for on your own before the case can begin, and as such, can not be covered by any settlement you may receive.

Understanding lawyers’ fees

Lawyers’ fees are different than other court costs, and this is an important distinction to make. Whereas court costs may include filing fees, legal fees are any costs incurred as a result of your attorney providing legal counsel and representing you in your case. For example, if you’re in Nova Scotia and hired a team from Preszlerlaw-NS to represent you, any legal fees would be paid to them. Since these costs can add up quickly in longer cases, it’s always a good idea to find a firm like Preszler Law who offers free consultations so that you aren’t spending any additional money on a lawyer you may not even want to use. You also may want to find a team like Preszler that only charges contingency fees, since those costs are taken out of the settlement you’re awarded. If you don’t find such a law firm, you may end up paying even more for your lawyers, since hourly rates can be quite high and many personal injury lawsuits can take a year or longer to settle, depending on their complexity and the number of parties involved.

Witnesses can charge fees, too 

There are a few other fees that you may incur over the course of your case, and one that frequently surprises plaintiffs is that witnesses can charge fees, too. Especially if you’re looking to use an expert in your case to corroborate something serious such as a product malfunction or medical malpractice, these types of witnesses may come with a hefty price tag in order to make time to speak as part of your case. Especially if you have more than one expert testify on your behalf, these costs can really add up, but they may be necessary if you want to win a complicated case.

There are many different fees and costs associated with any court case, and if you aren’t careful, they can add up quickly. Find a good attorney who has experience and is willing to be paid on a contingency-fee plan, as that ensures that you have more money to cover other aspects of the case, like expert witness testimonials and filing fees. With the right legal aide, you’ll be able to easily navigate the expenses of your case.