How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in North Carolina? 2024

If you have been injured by another party and plan to pursue a personal injury claim, you may ask, “How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in North Carolina?” Many hesitate to seek legal counsel when they need it due to the misconception that hiring an attorney is always extremely expensive. The reality is that with the right attorney, it may not cost anything upfront, and you’re likely to achieve better results with their help than you could expect on your own.

Understanding Attorneys’ Fees in Personal Injury Cases

Every attorney has a different billing policy. Some attorneys offer flat rates for very specific legal services, and many charge their clients an hourly rate for the time spent working on their cases. The longer the attorney must spend on a client’s case, the more the client pays in legal fees. For very long cases, the client may need to continue paying the attorney incrementally as their proceedings unfold. This continues until they either win or lose their case.

Most personal injury cases involve ordinary people who have been unexpectedly injured by the actions of others, and many of these victims do not have much financial flexibility to afford expensive hourly legal fees. This, unfortunately, deters many of them from seeking legal counsel when they need it most, but the reality is that many personal injury attorneys account for this and offer contingency fee billing. This billing arrangement makes legal counsel more accessible.

Benefits of Contingency Fee Billing for Personal Injury Cases

When a client has a contingency fee agreement with their attorney, they do not pay any upfront legal fees at all, nor are they required to pay ongoing attorneys’ fees as their case unfolds. Instead, the attorney’s fee is “contingent” upon their ability to secure compensation for the client. If the attorney is successful with the case, they take a percentage of the client’s settlement or trial award. However, if they do not obtain compensation for the client, they are paid nothing.

When an attorney offers contingency fee billing to their clients, they are required to be upfront about the percentage they will take. This ensures there are no surprises for the client when it comes to their attorneys’ fees and that they have access to the legal representation they need regardless of their personal finances. It also encourages the attorney to seek maximum compensation for their client in every case.

If you are already struggling with the financial effects of a personal injury, attorney contingency fee billing is a tremendous benefit. Christina Rivenbark & Associates use this billing policy to make our legal representation as accessible as possible to as many potential clients as possible. Our success hinges on our ability to ensure success for our clients, and we do everything we can to maximize each client’s total compensation when we accept their case.

FAQs

Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

A: You need to hire a personal injury lawyer in the state because you will be significantly more likely to succeed with your case with their help. You can rely on them to guide and support you through all the various stages of your recovery, from proving fault for your injury to securing compensation for all of the damages you suffered. Ultimately, you are far more likely to succeed with a personal injury case of any kind with legal representation supporting you.

Q: Will I Win More Compensation if I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

A: You are likely to win more compensation if you hire a personal injury lawyer than you could reasonably expect to secure on your own. Even after you account for the cost of hiring them, your attorney may significantly enhance your total recovery far beyond what you may have initially expected. They can also assist you in resolving your case efficiently, reducing the amount of time you will need to wait to receive compensation for your damages.

Q: How Is a Contingency Fee Calculated?

A: In North Carolina, a contingency fee in a personal injury case will be a percentage of the total case award. Whether the plaintiff secures a settlement or wins a case award at trial, their attorney takes a percentage of their final recovery as their fee. The exact percentage the attorney charges will typically vary depending on the overall complexity of the case. The attorney must be upfront about the percentage they intend to charge the client before a contract is signed.

Q: What Happens if I Do Not Win Any Compensation in a Personal Injury Case?

A: If you do not win compensation for your personal injury, then you will not have to pay your attorney anything if you have a contingency fee agreement. Most personal injury attorneys accept cases on contingency because they know the average person will not have the financial flexibility to pay expensive hourly rates for legal representation. This also means that an attorney is unlikely to accept a case they don’t believe has a chance of winning.

Q: How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case?

A: The time required to settle a personal injury case in the state hinges on several factors, such as the severity of the plaintiff’s damages and whether the defendant’s liability for causing them is clear. Your attorney can provide an estimate of how long it could take for you to settle your personal injury case in the state, and they will know how to potentially streamline these proceedings so you can recover your losses as quickly as possible.

Christina Rivenbark & Associates accepts personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis to ensure our clients have access to the legal counsel they need when they need it most, regardless of their financial situations. If you or a loved one has been hurt by another party’s negligence or misconduct, we can assist you in holding them accountable. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can assist you with your personal injury case.