Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
The cost to hire a truck accident lawyer varies. Across Indiana, we’ve seen an increase in the number of semi-trucks on the road in recent years. Nationally, trucks account for approximately 8% of all traffic, yet are involved in more than 10% of fatal crashes. The rise in truck traffic, combined with increased distraction and other concerning risk factors, has caused an increase in the risk of being involved in a crash with a semi-truck.
Collisions involving commercial vehicles in Indiana increased by 5 percent each year since 2013, with 87 percent of these incidents occurring on Indiana state roads, interstates, and U.S. routes, according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
The aftermath of truck accidents has victims grappling with physical injuries, emotional trauma, and the daunting prospect of legal proceedings. The size and weight of trucks make them extremely dangerous in accidents and sadly, passenger vehicle occupants tend to suffer the most.
A common question many truck accident victims ask during this challenging time is, “How much will it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer?” Understanding the factors influencing legal fees for truck accident representation is crucial for those seeking justice and compensation.
In this blog, we’ll explore how much will it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer and shed light on the importance of transparent cost communication.
Types of Legal Fee Structures
Firstly, let’s define commercial vehicles. Commercial vehicles include large trucks, combination vehicles, pickup trucks over 10,000 pounds, buses with a passenger occupancy exceeding 15, school buses, or vehicles with a hazardous material placard. Truck accident lawyers with a rich history of handling commercial vehicle accidents typically employ three main fee structures: contingency fees, hourly rates, and flat fees. Each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Understanding legal fees for truck accident representation including potential expenses, such as court fees, expert witness fees, investigation fees, and administrative costs, is essential before engaging with an attorney.
Contingency Fees
Contingency fees are prevalent in personal injury cases, including truck accidents. In this arrangement, the lawyer’s fee is contingent on the successful outcome of the case. Clients only pay if they win, commonly known as the “no win, no fee” principle. While this structure aligns the lawyer’s interests with the client’s, it’s essential to clarify the percentage the attorney will receive upon resolving the case.
Hourly Rates
Hourly billing involves charging clients based on the time spent working on their cases. When considering the cost to hire a truck accident lawyer, fee structures based on hourly rates are not common in truck accident cases. Hourly rates can lead to unpredictable billing to a client, even before a recovery is reached.
Flat Fees
Flat fees involve a predetermined, fixed amount for legal services. While this structure may provide clarity for clients, it may not be suitable for cases with unpredictable complexities. Generally, this type of fee structure is not used for truck accident cases because it misaligns the attorney’s interest from the client’s.
Case-Related Costs to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
Beyond truck accident attorney fees, truck accident victims should be aware of costs, including court fees, expert witness fees, and case-related expenses. Transparent communication about these costs is essential for building trust between the client and the attorney.
Discussing Fees with Your Attorney
During the initial consultation with a truck accident lawyer, it’s vital to discuss truck accident attorney fees openly. Clients should seek clear fee agreements and understand the disbursement structure when a recovery is made. Transparency ensures no surprises down the road and helps establish a solid attorney-client relationship.
Team Green’s Fair Fee Guarantee
At Team Green Law, we prioritize transparency and client satisfaction. Our fee is always contingent based, meaning we don’t get paid until we recover for you. Team Green Law is client-centered and offers a Fair Fee Guarantee, which ensures that our fee is never greater than what you receive in the pocket.
Following Your Journey to Justice
Navigating the legal aftermath of a truck accident can be overwhelming. Understanding the cost to hire a truck accident lawyer is a crucial step toward seeking justice. Whether it’s a contingency fee, hourly rate, or flat fee, finding the right structure for your case is vital.
Team Green Law is here to guide you through this process. Your journey to justice begins with a conversation. Contact us for an initial consultation to discuss your case with an attorney, and take the first step toward securing the compensation you deserve.
Team Green is a different kind of law firm. We’re not going to make you promises we can’t deliver on. This is our promise to you: we will guide you through the legal process, working with you through straight talk and personal attention, and we’ll work for you with smart, aggressive representation to get the settlement or judgment you deserve. Other lawyers show their case results on their websites, but not only does that imply results they can’t guarantee — it’s against the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct (Rule 7.1 [2] (2)). But you should know that the results of one successful case does not tell us what will happen with you. We will work with you to set realistic expectations of the timeline and money that could be recovered for your unique case.
