When hiring a personal injury lawyer, it is important to take costs and fees into consideration. Most personal injury attorneys in Houston work on what’s known as a contingency-fee basis, meaning their fees are determined by the amount of money obtained on your behalf. If your case doesn’t result in a monetary recovery, you won’t owe anything.
When associated with legal practice, a contingent fee is defined as a fee charged for a lawyer’s services that are payable only if a lawsuit is successful or results in a favorable settlement. It is usually in the form of a percentage of the amount recovered on behalf of the client.
A personal injury lawyer will not send bills in the mail, or charge you an hourly rate. Instead, they will investigate the incident, gather medical records, hire experts, negotiate with the at-fault party to get a fair and just settlement, and, if necessary, take the case to trial — all before you pay anything. If you receive a financial recovery for your injuries, your attorney will take a fixed percentage of the settlement or trial verdict. This percentage is agreed upon by both you and the lawyer before completing any work on the case. The contingency percentage can vary but is usually around one-third of a client’s recovery.
Personal injury lawyers use contingency fees instead of hourly or flat fee billing because it allows clients access to the court system when they normally would not be able to afford it. Everyone should be able to hire an attorney for their injuries, and this fee agreement allows that.
The following types of damages may be recoverable in a personal injury lawsuit if you win:
Texas does not have a cap on damages involving a personal injury claim unless it is punitive damages or is a case against the government or for medical malpractice. Punitive damages are only available when an accident was a result of particularly reckless or intentional behavior. They are awarded with the intent to punish the at-fault party and deter others from similar conduct. These damages are capped at $200,000 or twice the amount of economic damages, but no greater than $750,000.
If you were injured by someone else’s negligent or reckless actions, reach out to Ramsey Law Group. We handle cases in Houston on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to let the possible cost of legal representation prevent you from pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Our team of personal injury lawyers will fight to maximize damages and ensure the responsible party is held liable for your suffering. Call (713) 489-7577 to take advantage of a completely free initial consultation.