"I Can’t Afford to Speak to a Lawyer”
Finding an accident lawyer who
doesn’t charge upfront fees may seem impossible or flat out too good to be
true. For many accident victims, the expected cost of litigation is just
another major factor leading to further financial burden resulting from an
injury. If you’ve been in an accident that has resulted in an injury, you may
think that consulting a lawyer is expensive or simply unaffordable. This misconception
is a common reason why many people do not pursue their legal rights to accident
benefits and other types of accident settlements.
The perceived cost of litigation should never prevent you
from pursuing damages from injuries sustained in an accident. There are
respected and reputable personal injury law firms in Toronto that will be able
to provide legal services for accident victims without any upfront or
out-of-pocket expenses.
Free Consultations with No Obligation
A free consultation with a
personal injury lawyer is an excellent way to learn about your rights as an
accident victim and to see if you have grounds to pursue accident benefits or a
tort claim. Many accident victims are left with questions and concerns about
their injuries. A free consultation will address these questions without adding
further financial burden at a time when there are likely already money concerns
due to the accident.
The consultation will provide an
opportunity for a personal injury lawyer to find out the specifics of the
accident and any injuries that have occurred. The lawyer can use this
information and their experience to advise you whether to pursue a claim for
accident benefits or a tort claim to recover costs incurred as a result of the
accident.
If it is difficult for you to get to the law firm’s office
following the accident, a lawyer may be able to consult with you at your home
or even at the hospital if necessary.
Contingency Fee-Based Legal Services
In addition to law firms that
provide a single free consultation for accident victims, there are other
reputable personal injury law firms that charge on a contingency fee basis.
This means that you can benefit from the comprehensive legal services of a
professional and experienced law firm with no upfront costs. In other words,
you don’t pay for the legal services unless you successfully receive a
settlement.
The fees will be based on a
negotiated portion of the settlement, so you never have to worry that you will
not be able to afford the legal services. This also provides peace of mind that
your legal representation will work hard to negotiate a fair settlement and that
you won’t be pressured to accept a settlement that is less than what is
deserved.
Some of the top personal injury
law firms offering legal services in Ontario operate on a contingency fee
basis. There are law firms working on this fee basis that are members of
respected legal organizations such as The American Trial Lawyers Association,
the Toronto Lawyers Association and the
Canadian Bar Association.
Never let the fear of financial burden prevent you from
seeking professional legal help. Take advantage of the excellent accident
lawyers who charge no upfront fees to pursue the accident settlement you
deserve today.
The
Cost of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injury lawyer fees should not be
something that you have to stress or worry about. This is why it’s important to
find a personal injury lawyer in Toronto that you trust.
Most personal injury lawyers charge on a
contingency fee basis, which is a negotiated percentage of your settlement.
What this means is that you don’t have to pay until you get the money that you
deserve. At Sokoloff, cases are funded so that you don’t have to be afraid of
being forced into a settlement that is less than what you deserve.
Contingency
Percentage
Make sure to discuss the contingency fee
with your lawyer. Although your lawyer is not paid a fee unless they win the
case, when they do win, you may pay 33%, 50%, or more of the verdict. Make sure
that the fees are outlined and that you understand how much your expenses will
be. You can even ask your lawyer if they will offer a sliding scale for smaller
verdicts or share expenses if the case is unsuccessful.