If you were recently injured in an accident in Houston caused by someone else, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. This compensation may cover medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Most personal injury cases will be resolved through a settlement. In most cases, you will not receive the entire settlement amount, as other costs may need to be paid first. Let’s look more closely at some of these costs to see how much of one may go into your pocket.
Attorney’s Fees in Personal Injury Cases
Many injured people choose to hire a personal injury attorney to help them seek as much compensation as possible for their case. If you hire a personal injury attorney, their fee may be paid from your settlement award – instead of paying them upfront or by the hour.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer?
Working with an experienced personal injury attorney has clear benefits. They understand the legal process and know how to communicate with insurance companies. They’ve seen cases like yours and understand whether the insurance company has made a reasonable settlement offer. They may even help you secure a larger financial settlement than if you don’t have an attorney.
Perhaps most importantly, they can focus on your case while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney Cost in Houston?
Personal injury attorneys usually work for a contingency fee. This fee is paid at the end of the case if the attorney successfully recovers compensation for the client.
The attorney’s contingency fee will be taken from the settlement award before it is paid to the client. Most contingency fees are between 30% and 40% of the settlement amount.
While paying a personal injury attorney will reduce how much of the settlement goes into your pocket, the benefits of hiring an attorney likely outweigh the costs.
Legal Costs
When pursuing a personal injury claim or lawsuit, you will incur costs, such as filing and copying fees. Most personal injury attorneys will cover these costs for the client, who will reimburse the attorney from the settlement later.
This could also include the expense of hiring an expert witness. However, not all lawyers treat legal costs the same, so make sure you understand how the matter will be handled in your case.
Subrogation Claims and Medical Liens
The final costs that may need to be paid from your settlement include subrogation claims or medical liens. For example, if your insurance company covered some of your expenses, they may be entitled to reimbursement from the settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Further, some medical providers will treat you while your case is pending and place a lien against your future settlement. If you have medical liens, your attorney will pay these liens from the settlement amount before disbursing the remainder of the settlement to you.
How Much Is My Claim Worth?
Of course, how much of your settlement goes into your pocket will also depend on the amount of your settlement. The value of your personal injury claim depends on several variables, including:
- The extent of your injuries
- The extent of your property damage and other losses
- Whether you were partly responsible for the accident
- The insurance policy limits
Contact a skilled personal injury lawyer to discuss the potential value of your claim.
Contact the Undefeated Houston Personal Injury Lawyers from Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today
If you were injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation through a personal injury claim. Our record-setting undefeated personal injury lawyers are here to help you through this process.
For more information, please contact our legal team in Texas at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours