We specialize in injury claims in Colorado Springs. We handle cases like car and auto accidents, Uber and Lyft accidents, pedestrian accidents like when walking or jogging, and e-scooter and e-bike, to name a few. The way that we charge is straight forward. Everything is charged on a percentage basis out of what we recover in the case.
This article will address the details of personal injury contracts in Colorado Springs. We hope that it is a good resource for you while researching law firms. If you would like us to evaluate your case, please contact us. A phone call, text, or email is always free of charge.
What Percentage Do Personal Injury Lawyers Take in Colorado Springs?
The standard percentage that personal injury lawyers take in Colorado Springs is 33%. Unlike most other states, the Colorado Rules do not require that a specific percentage be charged, but 33% has become the norm. This percentage has been determined by clients and the lawyers to be the most fair to both. If a personal injury lawyer is charging more than 33% in Colorado Springs without a lawsuit, then you are overpaying and should terminate the contract immediately.
What is a Contingency Fee Agreement for an Injury Case in Colorado Springs?
A contingency fee agreement means that the personal injury lawyer is charging you a percentage of the money that he/she recovers in the case. The lawyer’s fee is taken out of the settlement money at the end of the case. If no money is recovered, you do not owe the lawyer anything.
What is Taken Out of My Settlement Money at the End of the Case?
At the end of your personal injury case, there are several important steps that have to take place. First, all of your outstanding bills have to be paid. We take the time to get those reduced as low as possible for you. Second, if you have had any bills paid to health insurance, those liens need to be paid. Again, we try to get every lien reduced for you. Third, the attorney’s fees and costs are taken out. Finally, all the money left over goes to you. We never settle a case without making sure that there is plenty of money left for you at the end.
Can You Negotiate the Percentage That Personal Injury Lawyers Take?
Yes! Most people do not know this, but the percentage that a personal injury lawyer charges can be negotiated. At our firm, if a client is trying to decide between us and someone else, we always offer reduced fees. And, we are fair. If your case settles and you are upside down, we will even cut our fees to make it more fair to you. We do this because it is the right thing to do, not because we have to. We want our clients to be happy that they hired us.
Contingency Fee Agreement vs. Upfront Costs
For all of our personal injury cases, we do not charge upfront costs. We work on your case without getting paid until the case settles. If no money is recovered for you, you don’t owe us anything.
Contingency fee agreements are regulated by the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. These rules are patterned after the American Bar Association Rules on contingency fee agreements. The key factor of these rules is that a personal injury lawyer must charge a reasonable fee.
What Makes a Lawyer’s Fee Reasonable?
The factors set forth by the Colorado Rules Of Professional Conduct on reasonable attorney fees are:
- the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly;
- the likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer;
- the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services;
- the amount involved and the results obtained;
- the time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances;
- the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client;
- the experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and
- whether the fee is fixed or contingent.
At our firm, you can be assured that every fee that we charge is reasonable. Not only would we never take advantage of anyone, we treat our clients the way that we would want to be treated.
Do I Owe a Lawyer If I Do Not Win the Case?
No! The best part about charging on a percentage basis is that if no money is recovered, you do not owe your personal injury lawyer anything. That means that you pay nothing for the lawyer’s time and nothing for any of the expenses that have been paid. This makes the arrangement no risk to you. For the lawyer, it is part of the risk that he/she takes. As a personal injury lawyer, we try to pick cases that have a good chance at recovery, but it doesn’t always happen. But, that still means that we try hard to recover money in every case!
What Do Lawyers Charge for Expenses and Costs?
Costs and expenses are part of the reimbursement out of the settlement. If no money is recovered on your claim, you do not need to pay these. There are many examples of costs, but if there is no lawsuit, they should be minimal. Some common expenses are for photocopies, certified mail, paying to get your medical records, and copies of police body cam.
If you do have to file a lawsuit, the costs increase. You have to pay a filing fee to the clerk and pay to get the lawsuit served. During the case, you have to pay for a court reporter at hearings or depositions and pay for copies of the transcripts. Lawsuits can be expensive, but the hope is that you recover enough money to pay for those costs and a lot more.
Does the Percentage Change if a Lawsuit is Filed?
Yes. Once a lawsuit is filed, the percentage that a personal injury lawyer in Colorado Springs changes. The fee that the lawyer takes increases from 33% to 40%. This is a standard increase for almost all personal injury law firms. The reason why the fee increases is because a lawsuit requires much more time and risk from the lawyer. But, it has been our experience that most cases settle for more money in a lawsuit. So, the goal is that the increased amount of money that you win will offset the higher fee and more.
Key Factors That Affect What Personal Injury Lawyers Charge
As mentioned above, all of our cases are charged with a 33-40% contingency fee agreement if they are resolved without a lawsuit. We only lower our fees, we never raise them. And, we never ask our clients to front costs or pay anything out of pocket. But, other law firms do things differently. Some factors that can affect what a personal injury lawyer charge are:
- Charging personal injury contingency fees versus upfront costs
- The possible outcome of the personal injury claim/chance for success
- Administrative fees and expenses
- Time and services provided throughout the case
- The complexity of the case
- The client’s expectations or directions to the lawyer
Hire a Trusted Personal Injury Lawyer in Colorado Springs
After an accident, a personal injury case in Colorado Springs is the best way to make your family whole. You don’t need to feel guilty about hiring a lawyer. No one needs to know that you have hired a Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer. And, you don’t need to feel bad that you are taking money out of someone’s pocket. All of our claims are paid by the insurance company and do not require the other person to pay anything out of pocket.
Our goals are to get you the medical treatment that you need, pay your bills, and have plenty of money left over for you. We have handled every type of injury case there is. We are certain that we can help you too. Contact us today for a free consultation.
About Personal Injury Lawyer Sean McQuaid
Sean McQuaid is a top rated personal injury lawyer in Colorado Springs. He handles injury cases throughout the state. Beside his impressive legal awards and accolades, he prides himself on being fair to clients. His goal is to take care of his clients, not get a paycheck for himself. That means that you always have a trusted family man looking after you and your loved ones.
