Cause of Car Accidents in Texas
A car accident is the least you expect when you go to and from work, school, or the supermarket. A negligent driver or recklessness commonly causes a car accident, but there are also instances when a car accident happens despite exercising ordinary diligence in driving. For example, suppose the weather is horrible. In that case, accidents may be more likely to occur in hazardous areas such as a winding or steep road where one driver experiences difficulty navigating the steering wheel. Heavy snow, drizzle, or rain may affect a driver’s vision. When the driver is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs while driving, it is evident that the driver is negligent in his affairs. In the same way, when a driver is reckless because he is rushing and driving beyond the speed limit, this may also lead to a car accident.
The expectation is that the driver must exercise utmost diligence to deliver passengers safely to their desired destination and that he will not cause any damage to anybody’s property or injury to any person. Before anything else, the driver must ensure that the engine is fully functional, the tires are in their best condition, and the brake does not have any trouble. If the driver exerts the extra effort to guarantee the vehicle’s roadworthiness, considering the safety of himself and the passengers as the primordial consideration, the driver will determine these things.
Consequences of a Car Accident in Texas
A car accident may cause either or both scenarios: injury to another person or damage to the vehicle. The trouble becomes worse when both things happen. Is it the best time to panic when you encounter this problem? The answer is no. Panicking will only lead to unnecessary stress that will add to your burdens. It is certainly not the end of the world, so you do not have to worry. There are feasible solutions to your problem. The first thing you may think of when you encounter a car accident is how you will spend on the damage you sustained. The question goes like this: Will you be the one to shoulder the expenses? What is the role of your insurance company? Do you know the type of assistance that you can demand from the erring driver or vehicle owner? What shall you do as a first step? The answers to these questions may be beyond your knowledge as these will necessarily require legal expertise.
Seek Assistance from a Car Accident Lawyer in Houston, Texas
Since going through a car accident is already a horrendous experience, it is best to leave the process of seeking compensation from whoever is liable to the legal experts. A car accident lawyer in Houston, Texas, becomes necessary in this situation. A car accident lawyer has all the legal knowledge and guidance to assist you in filing your claim or demanding compensation from the appropriate person. The next question is: How much will you spend hiring a car accident lawyer?
Cost of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Houston
The cost of hiring a lawyer for accident cases depends on the type of arrangement that you will have with the lawyer. We are talking about claims here that allow you to seek compensation for the loss that you experienced. The loss may be from a medical treatment you must go through for a sustained physical injury, repair or replacement of your damaged vehicle, or even the emotional trauma and mental anguish you experienced. Since you will receive compensation later on, it is worth investing in an excellent lawyer to help you go through the process correctly. Schedule an appointment with a lawyer soon as possible to discuss the legal fees during the initial consultation. An initial consultation will allow you to present all facts to your lawyer and submit all the necessary evidence in your possession. The lawyer will study your case according to the points you narrated and the weight of evidence you have in your favor. As the lawyer will already know your subject through their assessment, they will suggest specific arrangements for you to pay for the legal expenses involved in filing your claim.
You can discuss different arrangements with your lawyer on how you will pay them for the legal services rendered.
Types of Payment Schemes in Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Houston, Texas
At present, there are different types of arrangements that you can negotiate with your lawyer as to how you will pay for your legal needs. The types of payment schemes are as follows:
a. Flat fee agreement
b. Hourly fee arrangement
c. Contingency fee agreement
Flat Fee Agreement
As the term suggests, a flat fee or a fixed fee is a type of payment wherein the client will only have to pay the lawyer a flat fee or fixed fee on a one-time basis. This one-time payment will cover the entire cost of settlement or litigation, if appropriate. If you want to set aside fixed funds for your legal expenses and ensure that later on, you will no longer be burdened with additional legal fees, then this arrangement is ideal for you. As this is a one-time payment basis, expect you to pay a higher price. A benefit of this arrangement is that you will have peace of mind knowing that you only have to pay a fixed fee for all the legal services you need.
Hourly Fee Arrangement
An hourly fee arrangement is where the lawyer you hire will bill you hourly for the legal services offered. As a result, every time you consult with your lawyer, the lawyer will ask you to pay for the entire time spent on consultation. When your lawyer needs to spend time gathering evidence, processing documentary requirements, and appearing in any court, agency, administrative body, or institution, these services will also have to be paid hourly. How do you know how much time the lawyer spent rendering legal services? Usually, the lawyer will send you a statement of account weekly or monthly, indicating the type of legal services rendered, duration, and cost for each of those services. You will have to pay the total amount on or before the due date through the payment methods provided.
Contingency Fee Arrangement
A contingency fee arrangement is a type wherein you will not pay the lawyer anything when they accept your case and begin. What happens here is that you will negotiate with the lawyer that they will receive a certain percentage of the damages or claim you will receive if you ever win the case or obtain a successful settlement. You will have to communicate with your lawyer how much you are willing to give them when they are successful with your case. The amount will usually depend on the nature and complexity of the case and the level of risks involved. Since the lawyer will not receive anything from you during the start of their engagement, a contingency fee arrangement consists of some level of risk to the handling lawyer. Your lawyer may or may not get paid, depending on the case’s outcome.
Thus, in this arrangement, you also have to accept that you will not be able to enjoy the total amount of the claim you request because a certain percentage will automatically be set aside for your legal expenses. This arrangement will be ideal if you lack the funds to hire a lawyer immediately.
This arrangement depends on your priority. Do you want to spend now and enjoy the benefits of successful litigation later on, or do you want to save up for other expenses at present and pay your lawyer from the fruits of your settlement or litigation? When you know what you want, you can talk to your lawyer about it. It is now the lawyer’s discretion if they are amenable to your conditions and if the rate you provided is acceptable. Some lawyers want this arrangement because they will receive better compensation. There are lawyers, however, who are unwilling to take cases on a contingent basis because of the risk of non-payment.
Reasonable Legal Fees for Lawyers at O’Hara Law Firm
One critical consideration in choosing a lawyer is that the lawyer shall be able to bill you reasonable fees for their engagement with you. The fees for necessary research, payment of expert witnesses, and litigation costs shall be enough to cover the actual time and effort spent by the lawyer. Lawyers at O’Hara Law Firm will demand reasonable fees that are appropriate for the nature and complexity of your case. This law firm values your trust and confidence, so you can expect your payment to be in good hands. The law profession is not a money-making venture, so you can trust that lawyers at O’Hara Law Firm have the goal of prioritizing your welfare above all. They aim to give you the best settlement for your claims or be successful in litigation.