After an accident, the idea of hiring a lawyer can feel financially out of reach, especially when you’re already facing medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about the future.
Fortunately, most personal injury lawyers in Geneva, Illinois offer flexible fee arrangements designed to make legal help accessible. Understanding how these fee structures work can help you make informed decisions about your case.
Common Types of Legal Fee Arrangements
Illinois personal injury lawyers typically use one of several billing models. While contingency fees are the most common, it’s important to know the difference between all major fee types:
- Flat Fees: A single, predetermined fee paid for a specific legal task. Flat fees are uncommon in personal injury law but may be used for basic services like reviewing a settlement offer.
- Hourly Fees: The lawyer charges a set rate for each hour spent working on your case. This model is typical in many areas of law, but less common in personal injury claims due to the high costs that can accumulate quickly.
- Retainer Agreements: You pay an upfront deposit, and the lawyer bills hourly against that amount. Retainers are more common in ongoing legal matters but are rarely used in standard injury cases.
- Contingency Fees: These are the most common arrangement for personal injury claims. You pay nothing upfront, and your lawyer only gets paid if they recover money for you. Their fee is a pre-agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or verdict, often around 33% for pre-litigation cases and up to 40% if the case goes to trial.
In addition to these fees, your attorney may advance case-related costs like filing fees, expert witnesses, and medical records. These are usually reimbursed from your settlement if your case is successful.
Liens and Subrogation in Personal Injury Cases
Even if you win your case, a portion of your settlement may go toward paying back third parties that rendered or helped pay for your medical care. Liens and subrogation are two common ways this is done.
- Medical Liens: Hospitals, doctors, or health insurance companies may place a lien on your settlement if they paid for your care. These liens must often be resolved before you receive your final payout.
- Subrogation: If your health insurance or a government program (like Medicare or Medicaid) paid your medical bills, they may have a right to recover those costs from your settlement. Your attorney can often negotiate these amounts down to help you retain more of your compensation.
Understanding how these claims work is essential because they can significantly affect your net recovery. A skilled personal injury lawyer will not only handle your case but also work to reduce liens and negotiate with insurance providers on your behalf.
Why Contingency Fees Benefit Injury Victims
Contingency fees are ideal for personal injury clients because they eliminate upfront costs and financial risk associated with hiring a lawyer. This structure allows you to pursue justice without worrying about paying legal bills out of pocket.
It also aligns your attorney’s goals with your own: the more compensation you recover, the more your attorney earns. This encourages aggressive advocacy throughout your case because both you and your lawyer benefit from a successful outcome.
Contact an Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer for Help
If you’ve been injured and are unsure about your legal options, consider scheduling a free consultation with an Illinois personal injury lawyer. Contact Feagans Law Group or reach out to us online to schedule a complimentary case review to learn more about your rights.