After any type of accident, it’s wise to consult with a local personal injury attorney. You may be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, lost time at work, property damage, and pain and suffering. During your initial consultation, you will probably hear the phrase “contingency fee” when discussing the price of retaining the attorney’s services. The contingent fee is the most common form of payment arrangement for plaintiffs seeking representation in personal injury cases. Clay Massey & Associates, like most plaintiff personal injury firms, handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.

How Do Contingency Fees Work in a Personal Injury Case?

In a contingent fee arrangement, the lawyer agrees to accept a fixed percentage of the recovery, which is the amount finally paid to the client once the case is settled. If you win the case, the lawyer’s fee comes out of the money awarded to you. If you lose the case, neither you nor the lawyer will get any money, and you will not be required to pay your attorney for the work done on the case.

• Contingency fee arrangements provide a means for people who cannot afford a lawyer to access the civil justice system and pursue fair compensation for injuries and damages.
• Contingency fees help to weed out cases that lack substantial merit. Experienced lawyers will not waste their time on a lawsuit that does not have enough merit to justify an investment of their time.
• The contingent-fee agreement spreads the risk of litigation. The attorney shares that risk and is only paid a fee if he wins the case or obtains a settlement.
• The arrangement ensures that the attorney believes in the client’s case and will do the work necessary to obtain a positive result.

Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim?

Personal injury actions require, by their very nature, that someone be injured. Your injury must be the result of an action or omission of another and must not have been caused by your own actions or negligence. If you feel you have suffered an injury at the hands of another, you may have a personal injury claim. It is important to discuss your possible claim with a personal injury attorney in your area.

Some common types of personal injury claims we see in Mobile, Alabama include:

• Car Accidents
• Truck & 18-Wheeler Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Maritime Injuries
• Wrongful Death
• Slip & Fall Accidents

When Should I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

As soon as possible! Different types of claims must be filed within a certain amount of time, or you cannot file your claim. This is called the statute of limitations; different jurisdictions and types of claims will have specific limitations that an attorney will have knowledge of and be able to communicate to you. Our decades of work in personal injury law and handling car wreck claims allow us to effectively investigate and prepare cases for trial, always working toward a fair result for our clients. Our results in verdicts & settlements speak for themselves.

How Do I Choose A Personal Injury Attorney?

If you have decided to pursue your personal injury claim, you will want to start researching attorneys to assist you with your claim. There are a number of factors you should consider when choosing the right attorney for your situation. You will want to hire an attorney who has experience with claims similar to yours. Look for an attorney who practices personal injury law, this will help ensure they are knowledgeable in this area of law, keep up to date on any new developments in the law, have a record of past successes and verdicts in personal injury law and may have relationship and reputation with other legal professionals in the personal injury law forum, which could be beneficial if you are seeking settlement or litigation. Clay, Massey & Associates has practiced personal injury law exclusively for more than 40 years.

Furthermore, you should try to find an attorney that you can afford and who you feel comfortable working with. Ask your potential lawyer about their billing and fee structure. We operate strictly on a contingency fee basis, so our fees will be paid out of any recovery or settlement. It is important to have an initial consultation, prior to hiring an attorney. This is an interview for both you and the attorney to make sure the attorney would accept your case and that you are comfortable with them as your attorney. Our firm provides free initial consultations.