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Call Us (866) GO-SEE-SAM
Oct 26, 2023
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident as result of someone else’s negligence, you may be owed financial compensation via damages that can be obtained through a civil claim. But while you may be wondering if you even need to hire a personal injury lawyer (or if hiring a car accident lawyer is the right decision), upfront fees shouldn’t deter you from securing top-rated legal representation.
In the sections below, we will review everything you need to know regarding how much a Glendale, California, car accident lawyer charges, how much your case may be worth, and how to secure a maximized cash settlement quickly.
The good news is that most personal injury attorneys – including the proven team at Dordulian Law Group – work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis (as opposed to an hourly fee).
When you bring your Los Angeles car or motorcycle crash case to Dordulian Law Group (DLG), we’ll fight for the justice you deserve without charging any upfront fees or out-of-pocket expenses. This means that we believe in the merits of your car accident claim and are willing to accept the risk to pursue recovery of financial damages without charging anything in advance.
Rather than charging an hourly fee or upfront retainer, DLG’s contingency car accident attorneys will only accept payment after we’ve secured you a cash settlement or verdict. Once your settlement or verdict is reached, the contingency fee typically equals one-third (or 33.3%) of the maximized damages award.
A contingency fee can be defined as a lump sum that an attorney receives if your personal injury case is won. Personal injury cases such as car accidents, dog bites, and slip and falls are the most common types which include a legal contingency fee rather than an upfront hourly rate. Contrary to hourly fees and upfront retainers, contingency fees are only paid if your case is successful. A contingency fee for an attorney is usually one-third of the final verdict or award (but it can vary from case-to-case and may increase to 40% if your claim requires a lengthy and expensive trial or expert witnesses).
You should always discuss your contingency agreement in detail with your car accident lawyer before signing any official documents.
In a contingency fee agreement, a client seeking legal representation can hire a lawyer regardless of their financial ability to pay at the beginning of the case. A contingency fee agreement is a payment arrangement where your lawyer accepts a percentage of the total damages awarded which is ultimately paid to you. A contingency agreement allows you to avoid paying a large upfront fee, (as well as having to pay additional fees at certain times during the legal process). Instead, the fees are only paid when the case is successfully resolved and the financial compensation is received. Moreover, you will not be liable for any out-of-pocket costs via a contingency agreement.
In short – the answer to the above is “immediately.” You do not want to wait to file your claim after suffering in injury in a car accident or other type of case. While most claims against private entities are bound to a two-year statute of limitations, it’s in your best interest to contact DLG’s team of personal injury attorneys immediately after your accident. This will ensure that your case has the best chance of success and that you are able to recover the maximum cash settlement you deserve (which takes into account your injuries as well as any losses due to medical expenses, lost wages, etc.).
Most personal injury lawyers cover case costs and expenses as they arise. When your case reaches a successful conclusion, a total amount of costs and expenses is then deducted from your share of the settlement or verdict. In rare cases, some personal injury lawyers charge a client for costs and expenses once they are due.
But not DLG – we do not charge clients for costs or expenses before a case is settled. Instead, only after a case has reached its final conclusion (and only if we prevail in securing money for the client) do we ever charge a fee. At no time will one of our clients ever owe DLG money merely for pursuing a case.
Examples of costs and expenses that may accumulate throughout a personal injury case include:
All of these details, including the approximate value of your car accident cash settlement and the amount of time it will take to litigate your claim, will be discussed during your free consultation with a member of the DLG team.
The first and most important step to take after any type of motor vehicle or personal injury accident is seeking medical attention from a licensed California physician. Once you have been examined and your injuries have been addressed, contacting Dordulian Law Group (DLG) for a free consultation is imperative.
In your personal injury lawsuit, you as the client are known as the “plaintiff” (the party who makes a claim against the negligent person or company). Even if you are unable to identify the at-fault party, it can be helpful to consult an attorney from DLG.
Our team of dedicated car accident lawyers offers free legal consultation to new clients like you. You can ask questions during this meeting and describe your case in detail.
DLG is California’s top-rated and most trusted car accident and personal injury firm serving victims of motor vehicle accidents, sexual assaults, slip and falls, pedestrian accidents, dog bites, wrongful deaths, and much more throughout the Los Angeles-area.
Our experience and results span all types of personal injury cases. We are committed to ensuring you receive every penny to which you are entitled via a cash settlement following an unfortunate car accident.
Call us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM for your free California car crash attorney consultation. We’re here to answer any question you may have 24/7.
Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.
Don’t put your case in the hands of a firm where you’ll be nothing more than a number. DLG is not a settlement mill – we treat every client like family and are dedicated to prioritizing every claim. We will fight aggressively against the at-fault party or insurance company with everything we have – protecting your right to maximum financial compensation.
Contact our experienced personal injury team today to learn more.
Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.
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