A lot of people think that they can’t afford to hire a car accident lawyer in Augusta, Georgia. They’re afraid that they’ll spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to hire a lawyer. Then, if they don’t win their case, they’ll be out all of that money. In reality, you don’t have to pay anything to retain an experienced car accident lawyer in Augusta. In fact, the initial consultation is absolutely free.
Something else a lot of people don’t understand is that their lawyer doesn’t get paid if they don’t win your case. The way a car accident lawsuit works is that your lawyer works on a contingency basis. They take a percentage of your money if and when you settle or win your case. That’s why they have to be smart about which cases they decide to handle. If a case isn’t strong or the defendant has no assets, it may make more sense to turn down the case.
You want to hire a lawyer who will be honest with you. If your attorney promises to get you a ton of money, you may want to think about hiring a different Augusta car accident lawyer. Or, if your attorney tells you that you have to pay a ton of money upfront, something’s wrong. The best thing to do is call an experienced Augusta car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your crash. If what they tell you seems too good to be true – it probably is. Any seasoned accident lawyer knows that there’s never a guarantee when it comes to a lawsuit. However, if your case is strong and there’s evidence to prove the other driver was at fault, you do have a good chance at recovery.
You’ll Be Asked to Sign a Contingency Agreement
If your attorney decides to take your case, they’ll ask you to sign a contingency agreement. This document will outline how your attorney gets paid. It will specify the percentage your lawyer will take if and when you settle your case. For example, most car accident lawyers in Georgia charge anywhere from 30% to 40% to handle your case. If the case doesn’t go to trial, you’ll probably pay closer to 30%. However, if your case goes to trial, you may pay a higher percentage. That’s because your attorney will have to dedicate a lot more time, money and resources to your lawsuit.
The only way to know what percentage you’ll be charged is to ask. Your attorney will be upfront and honest with you from the start. The good news is that, if you don’t win, you don’t have to pay anything. For example, let’s consider a case where it’s not clear who was at fault. The insurance company refuses to settle. The case goes to trial and the jury finds that you and the other driver were both 50% at fault. If this happens, you won’t receive any damages. However, you won’t have to pay your attorney anything either.
What Kind of Damages Will Your Augusta Car Accident Lawyer Demand?
When you file suit, your Augusta car accident lawyer will have to state your damages. If you don’t ask for it in your initial complaint, you probably won’t be able to add it on down the road. Some of the types of damages you may be entitled to are:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Lost future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Property damage
Your Augusta car accident lawyer will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Call and Schedule Your Free Consultation with an Experienced Augusta Car Accident Lawyer Today
As we said earlier, you can schedule a free initial consultation with our office. This way, an experienced car accident lawyer in Georgia can review your case. If they don’t think there’s enough evidence to prove your case, they’ll let you know. However, they’ll also let you know if you have a legitimate claim for damages. The only way to find out is to sit down and tell them your story.
When you first meet with your lawyer, it will cost you nothing. Your attorney doesn’t get paid until you settle or win your case. They’ll work hard to get you as much money as possible. Just keep in mind – it’s not your lawyer’s job to make you rich. It’s their job to make you whole. So call today and schedule your free initial consultation. The defendant will have a lawyer working for them and you should too.