If you are fortunate, you will never need a personal injury lawyer to represent you in Las Vegas. Everyone wants to live their life safe from harm caused by others. Unfortunately, many people aren’t that lucky.
If a dog bites you or a loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse, you may need the services of a Las Vegas personal injury attorney to help you get compensation. When that happens, you will almost certainly have one important question: How much will it cost to hire a lawyer?
Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers Don’t Charge By The Hour
One of the reasons people are often hesitant to hire a lawyer is because lawyers have a reputation for being expensive. If you have watched movies or television, you may have seen attorneys who charge hundreds or thousands of dollars per hour. However, personal injury lawyers typically don’t charge by the hour.
While there may be some personal injury attorneys who are willing to charge hourly for certain services, almost none charge that type of fee for typical personal injury cases. Instead, personal injury lawyers charge a contingency fee.
What Is A Contingency Fee?
When a lawyer charges a contingency fee, you only receive a bill if they win money for you. This means that if the lawyer fails to get you compensation for any reason, you won’t pay a legal fee — regardless of how much time they spent on the case.
It may seem implausible that any professional would agree to that fee structure, but almost every personal injury lawyer does. These attorneys are so willing to risk not getting paid because they are experienced in identifying whether clients have a strong case. Most personal injury lawyers win money in almost all of their cases.
Assuming that your attorney successfully gets you money, how much will their services cost? The specifics differ for every lawyer, but typically, an attorney will take between 25% and 40% of the compensation they obtain for you. This means you will never pay more in legal fees than the lawyer won for you.
Other Costs
Sometimes, costs associated with a case are not included in the contingency fee. For example, if you need the testimony of an expert witness, you will usually have to pay that witness for their time. This is a cost that typically isn’t covered by a contingency fee — it is an additional cost that you will be required to pay.
Nevada Regulations Regarding Legal Fees
To practice law in Nevada, lawyers need to be approved by the State Bar of Nevada. Their license to practice can be revoked if they do anything unethical, including violating regulations regarding legal fees.
Those regulations are set by state law. A lawyer may not charge or collect an unreasonable fee for services rendered. The definition of reasonableness is based on factors like:
- The amount of effort required by the attorney
- What other lawyers in the area would charge for similar services
- The results of the case
- Any limitations placed on the attorney by the client or circumstances
- The experience of the lawyer
Furthermore, any fee agreement must be placed in writing before the attorney takes the case. Your lawyer has to answer any questions about the fee agreement. It isn’t binding if you enter into an agreement that you don’t understand or that isn’t fully explained.
Because you have to agree to all aspects of the fee agreement, you also have the right to refuse certain expenses in advance. Thus, in the expert witness example given above, you could tell your lawyer that you don’t want to pay for that cost. Your attorney would then need to litigate the case without that resource.
Every Lawyer Has A Slightly Different Fee Structure
Before choosing a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer, you should discuss their fee structure and compare it to that of other nearby lawyers. Different lawyers will charge different percentages. Additionally, some lawyers will only charge you for additional costs if they win, and they will eat those costs if they lose.
These differences may seem relatively minor, but they can sometimes add up to thousands of dollars or more. You should compare several attorneys by taking advantage of free consultations before choosing to sign with one.
Contact De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers Today
If you need legal assistance to recover damages after suffering an injury in Las Vegas, the attorneys at our law firm are here to help. Call us or contact us online today at (702) 222-9999 to schedule a free consultation with De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers to evaluate your case and discuss legal fees.
