At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, we’re here to answer questions for car accident victims in Louisville. One common concern is how to afford a lawyer when you’re already facing financial losses. Our Louisville car accident lawyers understand the challenges you’re facing, and can help you get the financial support you need to get back on your feet. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Does It Cost Anything to Hire a Lawyer After a Louisville Car Accident?
When you’re in a car accident, you have a lot of different things to worry about. The most pressing issue is your health, but this brings with it a lot of other financial hardships, from medical bills, losing income from missed work, and car repairs. So, no matter how badly you want to explore your legal options, actually hiring a lawyer might seem out of reach for you in this situation.
Thankfully, most car accident lawyers–including ours at Kaufman & Stigger–don’t charge you anything upfront when you decide to work with us. Rather, when we sign on to represent you, we work on a “contingency-fee” basis where we take our fee from whatever result we get for you.
This effectively means that it doesn’t cost you anything to hire a lawyer, but there’s a few ways this type of agreement works well during a car accident claim:
- No upfront costs – With a contingency fee agreement, you don’t pay any legal fees unless you win your case. This is especially helpful if you’re facing financial challenges after a car accident.
- Incentive – Since our fee depends on getting the best possible settlement for you, we’re highly motivated to work hard. The better we do, the more you can earn in your settlement.
- Low risk – Car accident claims don’t always have a guaranteed outcome and can change quickly. If your claim isn’t as strong as you expect, you won’t owe any legal fees with a contingency fee agreement. This helps lower your financial risk.
- Working together – Both you and our lawyers want the same thing: the highest possible settlement. So, because we’re both working toward the same goal, it motivates everyone to work together to make that happen.
Not all car accident lawyers work on a contingency basis, but we do because we want to make sure you get what you need out of the legal process. While it’s true that we want your claim to be successful, we also want to make things easier for you as you try to get better.
What Can You Get in a Car Accident Claim?
You obviously never want to be in a car accident, let alone injured in one. But in Louisville, this is among the most common types of accidents we see. Moreover, each accident is different which can impact not only how your claim is handled but also what you may receive in a settlement.
Generally though, once you file an injury claim, you can recover the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Property damage (repair/replacement costs for your car)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death expenses in fatal accidents.
Being injured in a car accident can cause both financial and physical problems. That’s why you can file an injury claim–to help recover some of the costs and losses you’ve gone through. However, you have to file within Kentucky’s statute of limitations of one year from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, you can’t recover damages at all, no matter how strong your claim is.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Louisville?
Deciding whether to hire a lawyer after a car accident can be tough. Legally, a lawyer isn’t required, especially in minor accidents where injuries and damage are limited. However, if your accident results in serious injuries or significant damage, hiring a lawyer can be very beneficial. Here’s how we can help you:
- Explaining your options – After a car accident, it can be confusing to know what to do next. A lawyer will make things clear by explaining your options, including what you can claim and how to go about it. Our team will help you understand your rights and give you a realistic idea of what to expect.
- Helping with gathering evidence and key information – To make your case strong, you need the right evidence. Our team will help you collect important information like accident reports, medical records, and photos. This evidence shows the full impact of your accident.
- Guiding you through the insurance claims process – Dealing with insurance companies can be tricky. They often try to pay you as little as possible. Our lawyers will handle the negotiations for you, making sure you get a fair settlement. They know how to deal with insurance companies so you don’t have to.
- Filing a lawsuit after the insurance process – If the insurance company won’t give you a fair offer, we’ll file a lawsuit on your behalf. We’ll take care of the paperwork and represent you in court, fighting for the settlement you need.
At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, we always put our clients’ best interests first after a car accident. When you decide you want to explore your legal options, our team will be there to support you. To get the process started, contact us today for a free consultation.
