28 Oct, 2022

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bloomington Slip and Fall Lawyer?

Author Todd A. Strong

Concerned about the cost of an injury attorney, many are reluctant to hire a Bloomington slip and fall lawyer after an accident. Some lawyers bill by the hour, while others take cases on a contingency basis. In contingency fee arrangements, the attorney will retain a portion of your overall compensation to cover their costs. They only get paid if you win your case. If you receive no compensation, neither will your attorney.

Any fees you owe your attorney will be spelled out in a contract when you employ him or her. Before your lawyer starts working on your case, know whether you will have to pay anything upfront.

Accidents involving slipping and falling can occur everywhere, including at workplaces, on public property, and on private property owned by others. These accidents can sometimes result in minor injuries like a few bruises, while other times can result in serious and permanent injuries.

You may be entitled to compensation for your medical costs and other losses if you slip and fall without any fault of your own. If the property owner could have prevented your slip and fall, you should speak with a lawyer to learn about your options for recovering any costs you may have incurred.

Black female lawyer in courthouse
Black female lawyer in courthouse

Do You Need to Hire a Bloomington Slip and Fall Lawyer?

A slip-and-fall accident generally occurs when you slip and get hurt while on someone else's property owing to dangerous conditions.

Businesses and property owners have an obligation to provide a secure environment for guests. People may fall and sustain injuries when owners neglect to properly manage their property.

The following are a few reasons why slip and fall accidents commonly happen:

  • Slick or wet floors
  • Uneven surfaces
  • Holes or cracks in the floor
  • Shredded or torn carpeting
  • Uneven walkways and pavement
  • Damaged stairs or steps

Numerous injuries can be sustained as a result of slipping and falling. Many slip and fall injuries require ongoing medical treatment, cause permanent disabilities, or even result in death.

You might need to speak with a lawyer to go over your options, depending on the seriousness of your injuries. When determining whether to seek the advice of a slip-and-fall attorney, there are some considerations to make.

The Seriousness of Your Injury

It is essential to speak with a lawyer to discuss your legal options if your fall resulted in serious injuries. Most of the time, hiring a lawyer will increase your compensation if you have high medical costs or if the injury will leave you with long-term problems.

The Owner of the Property Is Not Assuming Liability

If the owner of the property and their insurance provider disagree about who is responsible, hiring legal counsel to establish negligence is essential.

Insurance companies may not look out for your interests and try to take advantage of you if you don't have legal representation. It is best to enlist the aid of a lawyer to establish negligence if the owner of the property was to blame for your trip and fall.

Even the most experienced slip-and-fall lawyers may find it difficult to establish who was to blame for the mishap. It can be quite difficult to prove it on your own when the property owner disputes your claim.

You Suffer Irreversible Harm 

If you suffer a serious injury, you might have to deal with the consequences for the rest of your life. Serious injuries can result in long-term damage, inability to work, expensive rehabilitation costs, immediate medical expenses, and lost wages.

When you slip and fall, you also experience some pain and suffering that will have an adverse effect on the rest of your life. In this case, you shouldn't try to submit a claim alone. You can obtain any damages and compensation to which you are legally entitled with the aid of a slip and fall attorney.

How Much Does a Bloomington Slip and Fall Lawyer Cost?

The price of a slip-and-fall lawyer will vary according to the gravity and complexity of your claim, the compensation you are requesting, and the fees the lawyer you select establishes for his or her clients.

The majority of slip-and-fall lawyers take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you don't pay anything until you receive a settlement offer or your personal injury case is successful.

Your attorney will negotiate with the property owner and insurance company on your behalf. If these talks fall through, your lawyer will file a lawsuit against the property owner. Most attorneys won't ask for payment while working on your case until you receive compensation.

It's important to understand how the costs and fees will be covered after you win your case when working with a lawyer on a contingency fee basis.

How much do injury lawyers usually take from settlements? Most lawyers will take, on average, 33% to 40% of your total compensation.

Typically, only the legal fees are affected by this. In most cases, any costs incurred must also be deducted from the sum you are granted. These costs, which the attorney bears as they build your case, may include court fees, documentation fees, and other costs. These costs can occasionally range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

What Are Contingency Fees?

Because victims believe they cannot afford to hire a Bloomington slip and fall lawyer to handle their case, personal injury claims frequently go unrepresented. Many slip-and-fall injury attorneys work on a contingency basis or accept payments in installments.

To ensure a smooth procedure, all costs and expenses involving a contingency agreement are discussed at the beginning of the claims process, including the court costs and attorney fees.

Most accident-related expenditures and expenses, such as medical records, police reports, depositions, and court filing fees, are typically funded by attorneys, who then deduct these costs from the victim's payout once recovered.

Contingency fee agreements allow victims to concentrate on what matters most—recovering from their injuries, instead of worrying about paying for damages upfront.

Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer Fees vs. Settlements

If you were hurt in a slip-and-fall accident, you probably want to know if the insurance company's settlement offer is reasonable. This question is especially important when the injured individual has suffered substantial injuries that restrict or prevent them from working. Unfortunately, there isn't a clear-cut solution to this problem.

Every slip and fall case is unique, and various factors might affect the settlement amount. Your lawyer will need to be aware of specific facts and circumstances, including the nature of the injury, the extent of medical care, the prognosis, the amount of insurance coverage, and whether you share any blame, to determine the potential settlement value.

Because of this, any knowledgeable slip and fall attorney will advise you that it's impossible to determine the precise settlement value of a slip and fall claim without conducting a thorough investigation and having a solid grasp of the relevant facts and legal principles.

Significant factors that may affect the amount of a slip and fall accident settlement include the severity of your wounds, whether you have soft tissue injuries or suffered more serious head or spinal trauma, the severity of your wounds, and if you sought medical help right away.

You can take all the necessary steps to enhance the value of your slip and fall claim when you hire a Bloomington slip and fall lawyer.

A lawyer who accepts your case on a contingency basis is betting big on your case. In exchange for providing the attorney a significant financial stake in your case, you gain the advantage of not having to come up with much cash upfront.

In most cases, a Bloomington personal injury lawyer will be given a third, or 33%, of any settlement or award. For instance, if you receive a $30,000 settlement from the insurance company of the at-fault party, you would receive $20,000, and your attorney would receive $10,000.

What If You Can't Afford to Hire a Bloomington Slip and Fall Lawyer?

If you hire a lawyer on a contingency fee basis, you often won't be responsible for paying legal costs if you lose your case. This makes it simpler for those without additional funds to hire a Bloomington slip and fall lawyer upfront. 

However, whether you win or lose, read and comprehend the fees your attorney may charge.

During your initial session, your lawyer can explain what is expected of you. Make sure you are entirely aware of the cost of to hire a Bloomington slip and fall attorney you select before deciding who to hire.

About The Author

author-bio-image
Personal Injury Lawyer Todd A. Strong Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer Todd A. Strong is the founder of Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Todd brings considerable legal knowledge, experience, and skill to the table to ensure injured victims throughout the state are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.
Years of Experience: More than 20 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Illinois State, 1994
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2022
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2023
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About The Author

author-bio-image
Personal Injury Lawyer Todd A. Strong Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer Todd A. Strong is the founder of Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Todd brings considerable legal knowledge, experience, and skill to the table to ensure injured victims throughout the state are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.
Years of Experience: More than 20 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Illinois State, 1994
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2022
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2023