By Matt Lalande in Car Accidents, Car Accidents on October 30, 2023
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Car accidents are so often a devastating event for all involved. Even a minor collision can lead to serious injuries and overwhelming financial burdens. In such difficult times, having an experienced Hamilton car accident lawyer by your side is crucial to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve never hired a lawyer and are wondering about the cost of a personal injury lawyer in Hamilton, you’re not alone. Many people are hesitant or nervous to contact a lawyer because they are unsure of the costs involved and are worried about getting caught up with high and prohibitive legal fees.
The fees for a personal injury lawyer can vary widely depending on several factors. These include the lawyer’s experience, the complexity of your case, and the province or territory where you seek legal services. Some lawyers may charge an hourly rate, while others work on a contingency fee basis.
Working on contingency means the lawyer will take a percentage of the settlement or award if your case is successful. This is how we operate at Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers. You pay nothing upfront; if we do not win your case, you will still owe us nothing. It’s essential to clearly understand a lawyer’s fee structure before proceeding with legal representation.
Below, we examine the cost of hiring a car accident lawyer in Hamilton and explain the fee structure to ensure victims understand. We’ll highlight the process of finding and hiring a car accident lawyer, the importance of early legal intervention, and the benefits of contingency fees.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a life-changing car accident, contact us today, no matter where you are in Ontario by calling us at 1-844-LALANDE or local throughout southern Ontario by calling us at 905-333-8888. Alternatively, you can send us a confidential email through our website or chat live with our live chat operator 7 days a week 24-hours a day.
Finding the best Hamilton car accident lawyer for your case involves careful research—especially if you’ve never hired a lawyer before. Aside from referencing television ads or researching online, it’s best to ask for firsthand experience and referrals from friends and family who have had similar experiences. Many medical professionals, such as your family doctor, also have contacts in the legal field and can offer recommendations based on their interaction with various law firms.
It’s also a good idea to check that they are local. Many law firms advertise in Hamilton but are not located in Hamilton. If you are a Hamilton resident, hiring a car accident lawyer in Hamilton is ideal for easy access, familiarity with local laws, etc. Did you know that Hamilton has some of the best trial lawyers in the country?
It’s also very important to look for a lawyer with experience in car accidents. Car accident insurance and the no-fault benefit schedule are very complex laws. The lawyer you choose should not “dabble” in this area of law but should be an expert.
Online reviews also provide insights into the level of service and results that local lawyers or law firms offer. Look for genuine positive reviews about the lawyer’s personality —preferably decent Google review ratings and positive client testimonials from their website
While searching for the right lawyer, we always suggest you meet with at least two car accident lawyers before deciding. During these meetings, you can gauge whether they are knowledgeable and compassionate and whether you feel comfortable with them handling your case. It’s also a good oppourtunity to ask lots of questions and see whose answers you like better.
We always say that your relationship with your lawyer will be a long-term one, so it’s very important that you choose the person you feel comfortable with.
We always suggest the relationship needs to be one of trust and likability. Without trust and likability, there cannot be a positive working relationship.
After suffering a severe life-changing injury or supporting a family member through one, the last thing you need is a hefty legal bill. The good news is that many lawyers will speak to you for free. At Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers, we offer everyone a free consultation. Even if we do not end up working together, we will not charge you for the consultation.
Below are some critical questions you should consider asking when interviewing potential lawyers. These questions will provide the best insight into how the lawyer will handle your case. With the answers, you can determine your comfort level with each lawyer.
These questions will help you gauge the lawyer’s expertise, experience, and potential fit for your unique situation. Remember, the goal is to find a lawyer in Hamilton with the right knowledge and experience who communicates clearly and promptly and with whom you feel comfortable entrusting your case.
Car accident lawyers in Hamilton often operate on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not have to pay any fees upfront. Instead, the lawyer’s fees are calculated at the end of the case and removed as a percentage of the compensation you are awarded.
This results in placing the financial risk on the lawyer instead of their client, which allows every victim, regardless of their financial situation, easy access to professional legal representation.
Aside from affordability, this fee structure aligns the lawyer’s interests with yours. Since they only get paid if they win your case, you can trust that they’re doing their best to secure the maximum possible compensation because their earnings are directly tied to the outcome of your case. This unique financial arrangement provides the confidence you need to know that your lawyer is dedicated to achieving optimal results because they also have a stake in the success of your claim.
Once we open a case, there are two scenarios: running the case and settling it or running the case through trial.
A typical fee in a settled case should range from 20% to 30%. For example, if the case is settled very early in the litigation, our Hamilton Car Accident Lawyers will charge you a smaller contingency fee. If the case is settled during or after preparations for discoveries, the contingency fee percentage will be close to 30%.
Our Hamilton car accident lawyers will never charge over 30%, regardless of the circumstances.
Trial costs can also be awarded when taking your case to trial. These are paid to your lawyer for the work involved.
The only other costs that should be included in your legal account are Disbursement and HST. It’s important to remember that litigation is very expensive. Your car accident lawyer will incur expenses called “disbursements” in your car accident case.
Disbursements in a case refer to the various expenses incurred by your car accident lawyer while investigating and preparing the case, separate from their legal fees. These costs can include court fees for filing documents and other related expenses, fees paid to expert witnesses who may be required to provide testimony or reports, costs associated with obtaining medical records, specialist records, pharmacy records, and rehab records, and expenses related to gathering evidence, which may include hiring investigators.
If you are successful in your case, assessable disbursements are typically paid by the insurance company of the driver who hurt you or your loved one.
When dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, it’s comforting to know that professional and affordable help is available thanks to our accessible contingency fee basis. It is, however, vital to ensure that you hire a highly experienced Hamilton car accident lawyer who can effectively handle your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We understand that after a serious car accident, you might not know where to turn or who to call – but rest assured, our Hamilton Lawyers have assisted many car accident victims since 2003 in Hamilton and throughout Ontario. Our consultations are 100% free – and if you decide to work with our Hamilton accident lawyers, the fee is free. We do not charge our clients anything unless we win their case. We are happy to provide you with the legal advice you need for you to make an informed decision about your own particular situation.
Call us no matter where you are in Ontario at 1-844-LALANDE or local in the Southern Ontario region at 905-333-8888. Alternatively, you can send us a confidential email through our website – and we would be happy to explain your legal options to you, at no cost.
We Can Help. Contact us 24/7
start your case905-333-8888VOTED BEST LAWYERS IN CANADA 2018, 2019 & 2020
I was a dental hygienist that suffers from really bad scoliosis. My insurance company ignored my doc & cut my benefits off & told me I could do “something”. Matt got me CPP Disability and and LTD settlement – I don’t know what I would have done without him.
My daughter was killed by a drunk driver and it forever changed all of our lives. It seemed that for two years time stopped. This was no an easy journey. Matt let me sit in on the discovery of the driver and boy, he never let up. In the end, our grand-daughter was taken care of and we were compensated for our loss – which we then donated to a cause we believed in.
I call Matt my knight in shining armour. After I was struck by a car while cycling and permanently crippled, he fielded all communications with my especially difficult and downright nasty insurance adjuster. Every step of my care was a battle and I did not have the strength to fight alone.
I lost my leg in a terrible motorcycle accident and Matt help me recover compensation I need because I could not work and the cost of prosthetics and rehab are out of this world. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
My brother ended up paralyzed after a car accident and Lalande did SO MUCH to help get things straight from him getting out of the hospital to all his care for life. We are so grateful for Matt & Heather. I don’t know how my family could have done this without them.
