What will a lawyer charge to negotiate my injury claim?

When you make an injury claim: settle or go to court are the major options you have. Regardless of which option you choose, you may wonder if you need legal help to pursue your claim. Determining whether to hire a lawyer to help negotiate your personal injury settlement can be a confusing process.  You may be afraid that the lawyer will only be in it for his own ends, or that he will end up taking all of the money that you achieve from the settlement, leaving you with pennies on the dollar.  These are common misconceptions, old wives’ tales that can be easily dispelled.  What will a lawyer charge to negotiate a personal injury claim, and how much is fair?

• Many personal injury lawyers do not charge anything unless they can negotiate a settlement or unless you win the case, so you may not be out any amount of money unless you win the case.  
• Most lawyers will charge based on a percentage of recovery, perhaps with a larger percentage if the case goes all the way to trial as opposed to just settling.  

When hiring a car accident lawyer, you can also shop around to be sure that the rates you are being quoted are competitive for personal injury lawyers in your area.  Check with the Bar Association in your area to make sure that your chosen lawyer has a good reputation, both for honesty and for closing cases.