If have been involved in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, or other personal injury such as nursing home, slip and fall, or dog bite due to the negligence of another, you may be wondering how you can afford a lawyer to work on your case and get you the compensation you deserve.

At Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers, you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for you. This means that the only fees we collect come from the settlement or verdict we obtain for you, not out of your pocket. This is what is called a “contingency fee.”

How does a contingency fee work?

A contingency fee is a common form of payment to a personal injury lawyer for the legal services they perform for you. In a contingency fee arrangement, your lawyer will receive a percentage of the money that you receive when they win or settle your case. Contingency fees generally range from 25% to 45% with the typical amount being 33.3% in addition to clients reimbursing costs (such as investigation costs, court filing fees, and travel) from the settlement or verdict amount that is collected. These costs can be very minimal if a lawsuit is not filed and the case is settled out of court but can increase in the event the case is litigated.

We believe that personal injury attorneys should not get paid unless they collect money for their injured clients. This arrangement allows all people who are injured regardless of income or means to have access to quality, competent legal representation. No person should be denied the right to be represented in a personal injury case simply because they cannot afford to pay.

This is why Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We also take care to keep our costs low when we do not litigate your case or take it to court.

How your medical bills and liens are paid from your settlement or jury award.

A lien is a legal right that allows a third party to get what they are owed. There are several kinds of liens that can be placed on (or “attached to”) your settlement or verdict funds. Liens can arise from state or federal law, or from a contract, such as with medical provider, your health insurance company, or Medicare/Medicaid. If there is a valid lien on your case, the lien holder is entitled to be paid first from your settlement or judgment.

Physician/Medical Liens: In Kentucky, physicians and medical facilities can attach a lien to make sure they get paid for services they are advancing to you. This is not always a bad thing. In fact, liens are often the best way to ensure you get the immediate care you need after you are injured if you cannot afford to pay for it out of pocket, as the medical provider is agreeing to delay payment until a settlement or verdict is reached.

Medicare/Medicaid Liens: If Medicare or Medicaid pays for medical expenses related to your accident, the government can attach a lien to recover what they’ve paid for your treatment. Fortunately, Medicare and Medicaid typically never pay the entire amount that is owed, so you will only be on the hook for what was paid.

Health Insurance Liens: If you have private health insurance, your insurance company may also have the right to attach a lien to recover what they have paid. Health insurance companies rarely pay the full amount of a medical provider’s bill, albeit usually more than what Medicare or Medicaid will pay. Instead, providers agree to accept lower rates in exchange for the guarantee that they will receive at least some payment from the insurance company.

Other Liens: You should be aware that other liens may attach to to your settlement or award, as well. For example, if you owe child support, alimony, or unpaid taxes, you may have a lien for the owed amount placed on the funds you recover.

Often, insurance companies, and sometimes even physicians, are willing to negotiate to lower the amount of the lien. Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers put their skills and reputation to work to reduce your liens as much as possible so you will get more money in your pocket at the end of your case. We also work to make sure that your outstanding liens are taken care of prior to disbursement of your funds so you can avoid having to pay additional expenses after you case is over.

Having a written contract will protect you.

When hiring a lawyer on a contingency fee basis, you should make sure that your agreement is in writing and signed by you and your lawyer. The written agreement should outline the the terms of your attorney-client relationship, and the method by which the fee will be determined; for example, many lawyers increase the percentage of their fee should the case go to court. The agreement should also clearly explain to you the costs for which you will be liable.

Having a written agreement will also allow your lawyer to make sure your liens and medical bills are paid to date from the compensation that is recovered for you. This will save you time and worry about whether you will be responsible for outstanding medical expenses.

At Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers our representation agreements are always in writing, giving you the ultimate control over your case. You will have the final say over how the case proceeds, and we will never settle your case without your consent.

How We Can Help Get You the Compensation You are Entitled to with No Upfront Costs

Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers takes care of the upfront costs associated with your claim and we do not get paid unless you do.

You can rest assured that our team will promptly and thoroughly investigate your case, take care of requesting and reviewing your medical records and bills, prepare an extensive and detailed settlement demand packet, and undertake difficult negotiations with insurance companies for you. We will also work to reduce your medical liens to the extent possible and make sure your medical bills are paid. Because our firm will refer you to excellent and credible physicians, you will have the opportunity to receive the treatment and the compensation you deserve.

Call us today at (888) 782-9090 or contact us online for a free consultation. Our lines are open 24/7.