Cost of Hiring a Hurricane Damage Claim Lawyer

Property owners filing insurance claims often worry about the cost of hiring a hurricane damage claim lawyer. Fortunately, some Louisiana hurricane damage lawyers, including those at Laborde Earles, work on contingency. This means they do not charge upfront fees or hourly rates. Instead, they take a percentage of your potential compensation. 

This affordable arrangement allows anyone to have strong legal advocacy fighting for their rights, regardless of their current financial situation after a devastating hurricane. There is no risk, as the lawyer only gets paid if they win your case and increase your payout from the insurance company.

Understanding Contingency Fees

One payment model that many personal injury and hurricane damage lawyers utilize is called a contingency fee arrangement. With a contingency fee, you do not pay any upfront costs or hourly fees to have the lawyer represent your case. Instead, the lawyer’s fee is contingent upon them recovering compensation for you through a settlement or court award.

If a Louisiana insurance claims lawyer is successful in obtaining a payout on your behalf from the insurance company or other liable parties, they will take a percentage of the total amount as their fee. However, if for some reason they are not able to recover any money for you, you owe them absolutely nothing. This is why contingency fees are often referred to as “no win, no fee” agreements.

The biggest advantage of a contingency fee structure is that it provides access to top legal representation regardless of your current financial situation after suffering damages. You avoid the financial hardship of paying costly hourly rates or retainers while your case is ongoing.

You Agree to a Percentage Before Retaining Legal Services

When entering into a contingency fee arrangement, the specific percentage the lawyer will receive is established upfront when you initially hire them. The lawyer is obligated to disclose and agree upon this percentage with you from the very start, so you know exactly what portion of your settlement or award will go towards legal fees.

Typical contingency fee percentages can range from 25% to 40% depending on the complexity of the case and if it settles out of court or goes to trial. More difficult and protracted litigation often results in a higher percentage fee to account for the increased time and resources required by the lawyer.

However, the percentage is always agreed to upfront, so there are no surprise fees at the end. You can make an informed decision about whether the fee is reasonable based on the specific details of your case.

Advantages of Working With a Lawyer on Contingency

With a skilled lawyer operating on a contingency, you avoid financial risk and get the benefit of outstanding legal representation focused on maximizing your recovery. The lawyer stays highly motivated to secure the largest possible settlement or award since their fee is directly tied to the amount they obtain for you.

A contingency fee also allows you a risk-free chance to pursue compensation through legal action while focusing on putting your life back together. You have much to do after suffering hurricane damage, such as securing safe alternative housing, picking up the pieces of your personal belongings, and emotionally digesting the natural disaster. 

When you work with a lawyer who operates on contingency, you can focus your efforts on your personal life and your family while they take care of the legal process. 

Additional Potential Costs When Hiring a Hurricane Damage Claim Attorney on Contingency

While the contingency fee covers the lawyer’s professional services, there may be some additional out-of-pocket costs in pursuing a hurricane damage case. This section could explain potential expenses like:

• Court filing fees
• Fees for expert witnesses (e.g., construction experts, meteorologists)
• Costs of obtaining records/documentation
• Travel expenses if extensive fieldwork is required
  The section can clarify if these get factored into the contingency fee percentage or if the client may need to pay a portion of them as the case progresses.

What If Your Case Goes to Trial?

Many hurricane damage claims are settled out of court, but some may require litigation if the insurer continues to deny a valid claim. This section can discuss:

• The likelihood of higher legal fees if a case goes to trial vs. settles
• How trial costs/expenses get handled (e.g., higher contingency percentage, paid out of final judgment, etc.)
• Benefits of having an experienced litigator if going to court becomes necessary

Comparing Fee Structures: Contingency Fees vs. Hourly Rates

To truly appreciate the affordability and reduced financial risk of a contingency fee arrangement, it’s helpful to look at an example comparing the potential costs to hourly rates charged by many law firms.

Hourly rates for insurance claim litigation can vary significantly based on the firm’s location, size, and experience of the attorneys involved. Generally, an hourly rate of $300 per hour for an experienced insurance lawyer is not uncommon. From this example, you can see how advantageous it is to hire a hurricane damage attorney on contingency.

You Can Afford to Hire a Hurricane Damage Claim Lawyers From Laborde Earles

Hurricane costs can skyrocket, but with a hurricane damage claim lawyer from Laborde Earles on your side, you can level the playing field against big insurance companies and their legal teams. Our lawyers will exhaustively investigate, build strong evidence of your covered damages, and negotiate to maximize your hurricane damage settlement or take your case to court if needed.

You shouldn’t have to pay outrageous upfront costs to get the Hurricane insurance claims payout you are entitled to and need to rebuild. Call Laborde Earles today to learn more about how our contingency fee model makes our legal services affordable while eliminating your financial risk.