Litigating an auto accident case requires more resources than settling the same case outside the courtroom. Below are some of the factors that determine how much you can spend to litigate such a case.
Lawyer Fee
Auto accident cases are usually litigated on a contingency basis, which means the lawyer gets a percentage of your settlement or award after the case is concluded. Thus, the lawyer gets nothing if you lose your case. The contingency fee typically ranges from 25% to 40%, with litigated cases tending towards the higher limit. Your negotiating power, the experience of the lawyer, and the complexity of the case also determine the eventual percentage you pay.
Filing Fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee when filing something at the court. For example, there is a fee for serving the defendant, filing your case, filing motions, and serving summons, among others. The fees are usually minimal, but they can add up to substantial amounts over the course of a trial. The longer your case progresses the more court filing costs you are likely to incur.
Expert Witness Fees
Expert witnesses are professionals with relevant education, skills, and experiences in specific subject matters. You may need an expert witness to explain the technical aspects of your case to the court. These expert witnesses usually charge by the hour. The more experienced an expert witness is, the more they are likely to charge for a case. Expert witness fees are not mandatory, but you may need one if your case is complicated.
Administrative Fees
Some administrative fees may also crop up during the course of your litigation. These cover things like messenger fees, delivery costs (say, for bulk documents or evidence), transcription fees, and photocopying costs, among others. The cost of the administrative fees depends on the nature of your case. For example, you may use a lot of money if you have to produce voluminous documents.
Miscellaneous Expenses
There may be some miscellaneous expenses that can be quiet hard to predict at the beginning of the case. For example, you may incur transport costs to meet with your lawyer. Your lawyer may need transport and accommodation costs for meeting with out-of-town witnesses, and the witnesses may need accommodation, food, and transport money to come to court. The more people are involved in the case, the more miscellaneous expenses you will rack up.
Talk to your lawyer about other costs other than the ones described above. A car accident attorney will hold your hand throughout the process to ensure you minimize the costs of litigation.
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