If you are planning on hiring a workers compensation attorney to assist you after a workplace injury, chances are good that you are unable to work and that money is tight. However, there are ways that you can reduce your legal fees. Then, you'll be able to afford to hire an attorney to help you with every step of your case, but you can keep costs at a minimum.
1. Hire a Lawyer on a Contingency Basis
First and foremost, you might not have the chance to pay a lawyer up-front right now while you are out of work. Even if you do have money in savings, it can be smart to save this money for living expenses while you are recovering, since it can take a while for these cases to settle. Luckily, many attorneys who specialize in this area of law actually work on a contingency basis. This means that they will take a percentage of your settlement, if you win, rather than expecting you to pay up-front.
2. Shop Around and Compare Rates
Even though many areas have regulations on the maximum amount that lawyers can charge for these cases, rates can vary. Some attorneys may charge the state maximum, while others may strive to attract more clients by charging a lower rate. Shopping around and comparing rates can help you get the most affordable legal fees, but make sure that you are also paying attention to other factors, such as the attorney's experience.
3. Negotiate Your Rate
You can always talk to your attorney and try to negotiate a better rate for his or her services. However, if you do want to give this a try, make sure that you do so before signing a contract. Once the contract is signed, chances are good that you won't be able to do anything about the rate that you agreed to.
4. Cut Out Additional Expenses
Many attorneys will charge you for additional expenses that go along with your case, such as the cost for depositions. Some of these costs are unavoidable, but you may be able to cut some of them out by doing some of your own legwork, such as by bringing or faxing medical documents to your attorney's office rather than requiring your attorney and his or her assistant to retrieve these documents.
As you can see, you may not have to spend as much on hiring a workers compensation lawyer as you think. If you follow these four tips, you should be able to keep your legal fees at a more reasonable level. Then, instead of worrying about how much you are spending on legal fees, you can focus your attention on getting better and on trying to win your case.
For more information, talk to a professional like Hardee and Hardee LLP.
Share9 September 2016
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