How much it costs to hire a dog bite injury lawyer depends on the law firm that you hire. Lawyers that offer a contingency fee, which includes our firm, do not require you to pay anything out of your pocket. Instead, they receive payment only if you win, and only from the financial recovery that they secure for you.
How Contingency Fees Work
Contingency fees are only paid if a lawyer wins a case. As the American Bar Association (ABA) explains, the contingency fee:
- Comes out of the financial recovery, not from the client’s existing finances
- Is paid after the completion of the case
- Is not paid to our firm unless we win for you
These sorts of fees are generally part of personal injury and wrongful death cases. Our team can provide more details about our contingency fee during a free consultation.
Why Contingency Fees Can Benefit You
Contingency fees can serve the client in several ways. Benefits of contingency fees include the following:
- Per Harvard Law, contingency fees encourage a lawyer to assess the strength of your case accurately.
- Contingency fees cannot negatively affect your current financial standing.
- Per the ABA, you will receive the majority of your financial recovery.
- You do not have to pay your lawyer unless they secure payment for you.
A lawyer will not work for a contingency fee unless they believe they can win your case. Their firm will not receive compensation should they lose. This means that we will not only evaluate your case honestly, but we will work hard for a positive outcome.
What You Can Expect in Exchange for Our Contingency Fee
Lawyers collect contingency fees in exchange for their legal services. Our clients can expect us to handle all their legal needs in exchange for our fee. Our team will:
Make a Record of Your Losses
Your dog bite may have already produced several types of losses. As time passes, you may suffer even more losses. We will create and maintain a record of every loss that you experience.
Some of the losses that we may recover compensation for are:
- The cost of care for bite wounds
- The cost of care for other injuries from a dog bite
- The cost of any surgery that you require
- The cost of care for any infection that you suffered
- Loss of income while you recover
- Counseling for psychological and emotional trauma
- The cost of cosmetic surgery for scars and other disfigurements
- The cost of medication
- Pain and suffering
In addition to keeping a record, our team will determine the precise monetary value of your losses.
Determine Who is Responsible for Those Losses
We determine who is legally responsible for the losses that you suffer. Different parties may have liability for certain losses. In dog bite cases, possible liable parties can include:
- The dog’s owner
- A non-owner responsible for caring for the dog
- Other parties who meet legal criteria for liability
We may generally hold a dog owner liable when a bite occurs. The standard for their liability may be negligence. When this standard applies, a lawyer from our firm:
- Argues that the liable party had a duty of care to protect you from the dog
- Explains how the liable party failed to honor their duty of care
- Shows how the liable party’s negligence caused the dog bite
- Establishes the losses you suffered because of the liable party’s negligence
We understand other legal standards that may apply to your case. We will apply these standards for liability as appropriate.
Seek to Maximize Your Financial Recovery
Once we recognize your losses and determine who is liable for them, we seek financial recovery. Some types of negotiations may generally be necessary.
During negotiations, we present documentation of your losses. We provide evidence that shows your attack was preventable, and that negligence is the cause of your losses. We will also:
- Decline any settlement offers that are not fair
- Decline any settlement offers that do not cover your current and future losses
- Stand our ground to fight for the compensation that you deserve
You generally have a single opportunity to recover compensation for a dog bite. We will aim to secure a fair settlement or be prepared to take your case to trial.
Call the Attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to Take the Next Steps
We do not require any upfront compensation for our representation. We will see your case through and will put our hard work, experience, and knowledge to use for you or your loved one. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free case evaluation.
