Robert M. Hammers | February 17, 2025 | Personal Injury
If you are an Atlanta resident who has been recently injured because of someone else’s reckless or negligent conduct, you’re likely hearing the same advice from friends and family alike: “Get a lawyer!”
The thing is, between piling medical bills, your inability to work, and other expenses, you might be worried about the cost it will take to hire legal counsel, understandably so. On that note, below is a closer look at how much it takes to hire a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta.
Contingency Fees: How Many Personal Injury Lawyers Charge For Services
Personal injury attorneys know that when you’re dealing with life-altering medical issues, you likely don’t have much, if any, spare cash. It’s why the vast majority of them work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if you do.
If your attorney is able to recover compensation for you, you agree to pay them a percentage of that compensation. If they cannot, you pay nothing. You also owe nothing when you first bring them in to handle your case.
With this kind of arrangement, the attorney assumes all the risk that comes with pursuing your case. However, it also means that they cannot reasonably accept every case they encounter.
When you schedule a consultation, your attorney will discuss your case with you. If they think you have a good chance of recovering compensation and they have room in their schedule to take on another case, they will likely offer to represent you.
Personal injury lawyers generally look for the same qualities in cases, but different attorneys may have varying opinions on your situation. Therefore, even if one personal injury lawyer turns you down, it’s worth consulting with a few others to get their thoughts on the matter as well.
What Are Other Payment Structures Besides the Contingency Fee Arrangement?
Though most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, that doesn’t mean all of them do. A few other payment arrangements attorneys sometimes use are as follows:
Flat Fee
Some lawyers will charge a flat fee for their services, but that is uncommon in personal injury law. Most of the time, lawyers only charge flat fees when they’re performing a specific service (like drafting a will) or representing a client in a relatively straightforward legal matter.
In other words, flat fees are often charged when a lawyer is reasonably certain of how long a specific task will take. With a personal injury case, though, there’s no way of determining how long the case will take before it begins. Contingency fees make it more likely that lawyers will receive pay that is in line with the amount of work done.
Hourly Fee
Other attorneys, such as business lawyers or those who do ongoing work for clients, bill by the hour. Often, clients who pay hourly make an advance payment called a “retainer.” The retainer is usually held in escrow (that is, by a third party), and the lawyer can then bill against it.
How Much Is A Contingency Fee?
Some states set specific caps on contingency fees for personal injury lawyers. Georgia, in particular, does not, but its state law requires that contingency fees be “reasonable.” The exact fee percentage depends on the specific law firm, but contingency fees can generally be anywhere from 20% to 50% of a client’s total compensation.
Several different factors may determine your exact contingency fee percentage, such as:
Whether The Case Goes To Trial
Putting together a personal injury case involves hours of work, and if the case goes to court, your attorney will need to prepare even more extensively. Many personal injury lawyers will, therefore, charge higher contingency fees if a case goes to trial.
The Complexity Of The Case
In a similar vein, some injury cases take far more time, energy, and money to prepare than others. An attorney may charge a higher contingency fee if your case is particularly complex.
The Attorney’s Experience
Personal injury lawyers who are relatively early in their careers tend to charge lower fees than those with more extensive experience, who face a greater demand for their services.
How Much Compensation You Receive
Some law offices may adjust their fee percentages based on the total amount they recover. Here’s an example of how that might work:
- Collecting 40% of the first $25,000
- Collecting 30% of the next $50,000
- Collecting 20% of the next $100,000
Always make sure you thoroughly understand how a given lawyer’s fee structure works before signing a contract. If a lawyer agrees to take your case, they should discuss their fee arrangements with you in detail.
Is The Initial Consultation Free?
Most of the time, personal injury lawyers offer free consultations. They understand that their potential clients — many of whom are experiencing financial issues after an accident — don’t want to spend money only to be turned away because they don’t have a strong case.
Lawyers who offer free consultations will usually say so on their websites. If you don’t see consultations advertised as free, you shouldn’t assume that they are, and it’d be best to ask before scheduling one.
Can You Save Money Representing Yourself?
There is no law requiring you to have a lawyer in order to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if you suffer major injuries in a car accident or similar catastrophe, you will almost always be able to recover more compensation with an attorney than you would on your own, even after subtracting attorney fees.
Don’t Let Financial Concerns Stop You From Finding The Right Lawyer
Far too many injury victims miss out on the compensation they deserve because they believe hiring a lawyer is too expensive. However, in the majority of cases, the costliest option in the long run is to forgo legal representation. With the right attorney by your side, you’re far more likely to recover the funds you need to move forward with your life.
Contact the Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers at Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Today
For more information, contact the Atlanta personal injury law firm of Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation. We have convenient locations in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Lawrenceville, Mableton, Smyrna, and Roswell.
We serve Fulton County and its surrounding areas:
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Atlanta
201 Joseph E Lowery Blvd NW Suite 312,
Atlanta, GA 30314
Open 24/7
(770) 900-9000
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Sandy Springs
5555 Glenridge Con, Suite 975,
Sandy Springs, GA 30342
Open 24/7
(678) 605-9838
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Lawrenceville
265 Culver St S. Suite A.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Open 24/7
(678) 916-8584
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Mableton
5701 Mableton Pkwy SW Suite 108,
Mableton, GA 30126
Open 24/7
(706) 480-5487
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Smyrna
2400 Herodian Way Ste#220,
Smyrna, GA 30080
Open 24/7
(678) 922-4497
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Roswell
110 Mansell Cir #111,
Roswell, GA 30075
Open 24/7
(678) 582-8466
About Robert M. Hammers Jr.
Robert M. Hammers, Jr. is the managing partner at Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers in Atlanta. Committed to justice, he represents individuals harmed by negligence, focusing on personal injury litigation, toxic torts, and mass torts involving defective drugs and medical devices.
With over 50 jury trials and $100 million in verdicts and settlements, Rob is known for his strategic thinking and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for his clients. He serves on the Executive Committee for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice Board of Governors, and the Plaintiff Leadership Committee in complex multi-district and toxic tort litigations, where he advocates for injured individuals and shapes legal strategies.
Robert is also recognized on Justia for his excellence in personal injury law, further highlighting his reputation and commitment to client advocacy.
