
Common Costs in Personal Injury Cases
In some cases, the plaintiff may not even need to institute a lawsuit to recover damages. Sometimes a simple telephone call or a letter from a law office can promote the necessary exchange without having to settle a claim. However, most civil cases generally proceed in a standard manner. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of how personal injury cases progress through different stages and list the costs commonly associated with personal injury cases.
The fee charged by a lawyer is the charge for their time. Costs, on the other hand, are those out-of-pocket expenses that the lawyer pays in the furtherance of your case. Costs include, among other things, charges for getting medical records, postage, copying, faxing, long distance charges, court filing fees, etc. When you retain a lawyer for your personal injury case, make sure they explain whether their contingency fee includes both fees and costs or whether instead the costs are separate from the fees and exactly what you are responsible for. Below is a list which includes many of the costs you might encounter in a personal injury case. Keep in mind that this list is not the entire list, as there may be costs for your case that are uncommon. For instance, perhaps in your case liability is being contested and it may require the use of an accident reconstructionist and you and your attorney believe that you need to pay an expert to help explain the accident in the courtroom. This is not common, but it could happen. Also, keep in mind that the suggested cost range is typical, but may be more or less than what is listed based on what your lawyer charges, local market conditions, etc.
Filing Fees: Filing a lawsuit varies by state and perhaps even by county. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 to a couple hundred dollars for a personal injury case plus fees for serving the complaint and summons on the defendant(s).
Research Fees: Some lawyers pass on the costs of Internet legal research services to their clients. This could be as little as a few dollars or as much as several hundred dollars depending on how much research is needed for your case.
Expert Fees: Vary considerably. Could be less than $50 per hour or more than $1000 per hour, depending on the type and availability of the expert. Remember, the expert’s expenses (airfare, hotel, mileage, food, etc.) are usually in addition to his fee.
Exhibit Preparation: Clients are usually charged the actual costs of any diagrams, anatomical models, video recreations, etc.
Travel: If your lawyer incurs travel fees (hotels, airfare, rental cars, etc.) related to your case, he or she will probably charge them to you as a cost. Food costs while traveling related to your case are usually not charged to you.
Accident Attorney in Miami & Broward
There are many different types of personal injury cases. Car accidents are among the most common types of injury or tort cases. These cases can be difficult for attorneys who are not familiar with property damage claims. Apart from experience, it is also important to find an attorney who has the skills and experience needed to resolve your claim. The personal injury lawyers at Suarez and Montero are ready to provide you with top-notch legal services. We take all types of personal injury matters including motor vehicle accidents involving trucks, government vehicles, cars, motorcycles, motorcycles, ATVs, pedestrians, etc. We have the tools and legal experience and would like to put it to work for you! At Suarez and Montero, we would like to help our clients focus on recovering from their injuries while we focus on protecting their legal rights under the law. Our personal injury lawyers are ready to provide proven legal representation and stand ready to protect your rights. We are available 24/7 to give you a free, no risk case consultation!
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.