A dog bite attorney would usually receive around a third of the settlement earned for you, but that’s only if the case is won. If your case is lost, you won’t owe the lawyer anything. There is no upfront cost to hire an MJQ lawyer and anyone can afford strong representation.
What Is a Contingency Agreement?
Personal injury lawyers, including dog bite attorneys, usually work under a “contingency agreement.” It means that bite victims don’t have to have any money to hire a lawyer to represent their case.
Under a contingency agreement, the lawyer agrees to front all investigative costs and court fees. With this payment method, lawyers only get paid if the case is successful. After winning a case, the lawyer would usually receive around 33% of the award a dog owner’s insurance provider would cover in a dog bite settlement check.
If the case is lost, the lawyer doesn’t receive any payment. The lawyer must absorb the cost of work hours and the time spent investigating and building the case. A case can fail for many reasons, some beyond a lawyer’s control.
It’s a big risk to take on a case on a contingency basis with no guarantee of any payment for their work. The risk is even bigger if the case goes to trial and a lawyer must cover court fees and the expense of preparing a lawsuit.
Here are a few more things that victims should know about a lawyer’s payment:
- After a win, lawyers receive around a third of the settlement that’s earned as a way to make up for the risk they take. But you can still benefit greatly under this deal.
- In most cases, a skilled lawyer would be able to secure much more for your recovery support than you could have on your own. This should be more than enough to pay a lawyer and leave victims with more settlement money than they were likely to get by filing a claim themselves.
You should always know what you’ll be paying your dog bite lawyer and when. If a prospective law firm won’t clearly explain what they earn, you may need to try a different law firm.
Do I Need a Lawyer After Suffering a Dog Bite?
If a dog bites you and only leaves minor scratches or cuts, you may not need a lawyer to file your accident claim. A lawyer probably can’t help you earn any more than you could yourself.
However, if your injuries are more serious, like a broken finger or a deep puncture wound, a lawyer may be a necessary protection for your case. With higher medical costs, a homeowners insurance adjuster will work even harder to avoid blame. They hope to be able to reject your claim and pay you nothing, or downplay your injuries and get away with paying you far less than you need to recover.
A San Francisco Dog Bite Attorney fully investigates your dog bite incident and the dog owner. Your attorney works with doctors to determine how long you may need medical care and physical therapy for your injury. Then your attorney makes sure the insurance company pays out enough in support to cover your healthcare expenses now and those likely to arise in the years ahead. An experienced attorney also demands support for clients for the physical pain they endure. The emotional trauma of a frightening dog attack must also earn support. A victim’s physical wounds may go away long before the emotional scars heal.
Contact a San Francisco Dog Bite Attorney
If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog, you can talk over your options with a San Francisco Dog Bite Lawyer in a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us to find out what your injury should be worth and how to make sure an insurance company accepts full responsibility.
California holds dog owners liable for dog bites in almost all situations. If you’ve been seriously hurt, you shouldn’t face the costs of recovery alone.
We are compassionate advocates for dog bite victims and we seek settlements that protect victims and their families now and in the years ahead. To get started, please reach out to us as soon as possible.
