How much does a hit and run lawyer cost?
A hit and run is a crime you will be charged with if you left the scene of an accident without sharing your contact information, rendering help to the injured, reporting the crash, and sharing your insurance information.
Statistics have shown that of the 7+ million car accidents that occur in the USA yearly, more than 700,000 cases are hit-and-run accidents.
Recommended reading: A car accident attorney guide to how to prove innocence in hit and run?
Both the driver and the hit-and-run victims need the help of a hit and run lawyer and in this article, I will explain the reasons why you need to hire a hit-and-run lawyer, and the probable costs of hiring one.
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The importance of hiring a hit and run lawyer?
If you are the driver that left the scene of an accident, then you need to think about seeking the services of a hit and run lawyer right away.
The punishments of a hit and run crime you will face as the offender includes:
1. Criminal charges. The penalties include jail time/prison time, fines, and suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.
2. Civil claims. “No one should be harmed by another”, that’s a common law, right?
If you caused the accident, you will be asked to pay damages as compensation to the victim that suffered losses or injuries due to your negligence. You will either pay from your own pockets or through your insurance coverage.
3. Traffic tickets. You could have fled the scene of an accident and probably had a traffic violation too. In such instances, be ready to be issued a traffic ticket.
As you can see guys, the driver that committed a hit and run faces a couple of penalties and punishments a reason he/she needs to hire an experienced hit and run lawyer, preferably a lawyer that knows the ins and outs of car accident cases.
Additionally, hit and run victims need the services of a hit-and-run lawyer. As I said, you as a victim need compensation for the damages you suffered from.
Further reading: how much does a lawyer get from a car accident settlement?
You will need compensation for the damages like emotional distress, mental anguish, medical expenses, lost wages, potential to earn, and pain and suffering.
Because you as a victim know nothing about the car accident laws in your area of jurisdiction, you will be served better by hiring a car accident attorney or hit and run lawyer to negotiate on your behalf.
Factors that impact the cost of a hit and run lawyer?
Of course, different lawyers charge different fees. Factors that impact the cost of a hit and run lawyer include:
1. Location of the law firm. legal fees are known to be the highest in certain states, for instance in New York, California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
2. Severity of the charge. Expect to pay high legal fees if you leave the scene of an accident involving injuries/deaths compared to when it was a minor hit and run case.
Most likely the lawyer will charge less for a hit and run ticket only, or if there were property damages only, compared to let’s say a hit and run felony.
3. Experience of the attorney. Lawyers that are more experienced and popular charge higher fees compared to let’s say fresh legal officers who are still trying to build a customer base.
4. Complexity of the case. Past-time offenders are more likely to go against the law in the future. According to Johnson, “a personal injury lawyer, people with past criminal history usually receive harsh verdicts”.
If your hit-and-run is complex, for instance, if you have a bad past criminal history plus serious impacts of the hit-and-run accident, expect to pay higher legal fees.
Typical fee structures for hit and run lawyers
Cases arising from car accidents and other personal injury cases are very much affordable as far as finding legal representation is concerned.
This is because most lawyers charge contingency-based fees. In this system, the lawyer earns nothing unless he/she wins you a settlement/verdict.
The contingency fee-based system is the same as a no-win no-pay system. The lawyer will work hard because he/she may end up earning nothing unless the verdict goes on his side.
Further reading: Hit & Run Accidents- hit and run lawsuit AND Compensation
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run, your lawyer will basically charge you a contingency fee. You will not pay anything out of your pocket and your lawyer will take somewhere between 30-40% of your verdict.
For instance, in the contingency fee system, your attorney will walk away with between $30,000- $40,000 if your civil claim settlement is $100,000.
If you are the driver that left the scene of an accident (hit and run offender), your is a different case. Your lawyer will be referred to as a criminal defense lawyer.
Hiring a criminal defense lawyer is cost a lot of money unlike if you are hiring plaintiff lawyers. You may still pay less if you take your time to find the best but cheaper lawyers.
If you are a hit-and-run victim, the average cost of hiring a hit-and-run lawyer is somewhere between $2,500-$10,000.
If you hired a lawyer that charges an hourly rate, the average cost of hiring a car accident attorney and other personal injury lawyers is $250 per hour. Hit and run lawyers will also charge the same $250 to represent you.
On the hand, the average cost for a misdemeanor hit and run defense is $2500 to $8000, while the average cost for a felony hit and run defense is $10,000 to $20,000.
So as you can see guys, hiring a hit and run lawyer is cheaper if you are the victim and more costly for hit and run driver(s) or for criminals.
How to find a hit and run lawyer?
Just like it’s hard to find a good mechanic for your car, finding a good, reputable, and experienced lawyer is not easy. The following are things you can do to find a hit and run lawyer.
1. Referrals from other lawyers. A good physician doctor will likely know a good gynecologist out there. In the same vein, good lawyers know the best fellow lawyers.
2. Referal from family and friends. You can also find the best hit and run lawyer by asking friends and family to recommend you one.
3. Online search. Just type “best hit and run near me” in the Google search bar and enjoy a list of the possible results Google will regurgitate. You can also take your time reading client reviews and online ratings.
4. Consultations. Most personal injury lawyers and others offer free consultations and case evaluations. Go talk to a lawyer and use your gut feeling on whether to hire them or not.
What to expect from the legal process?
If you hired a hit and run lawyer, expect to go through lots of stuff, whether you are a victim or offender. In short, expect the following from a hit and run legal process.
1. Attending court hearings. Be ready to attend all court hearings if you hired a hit and run lawyer. This will familiarize you with what you are required to pursue your case.
2. Working with a lawyer. You will spend lots of time working with your lawyer to prepare your defense or build the case if you are the complainant.
3. Negotiations. There will be various attempts to settle the dispute out of court. You and your lawyer will likely be engaged in negotiations with the other party.
4. Settlement. If you are a victim, your claim could be settled by the other party through his/her insurance company. For the offenders, you will wait for your final verdict unless the charges are suspended or dropped.
Conclusion.
Hiring a hit and run lawyer may be costly, but it can save money in the long run. Factors affecting costs include the severity of charges and the lawyer’s experience.
If you are a hit and run victim or the driver, the average cost of hiring a hit and run lawyer is around $250 per hour.
On average the cost of hiring a defense hit and run lawyer is more expensive than hiring an attorney if you are the plaintiff (complainant).
Source:
1. Criminal charges definition, website: https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/criminal-charge
2. Types of legal fees, website: https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/legal-fees.html#:~:text=A%20legal%20fee%20is%20a,fee%2C%20or%20a%20contingency%20fee.
3. What is a hit and run: website: https://www.lemonade.com/car/explained/hit-and-run-accident/
5. Conteigency fee, website: https://www.oge.gov/Web/278eGuide.nsf/Content/Definitions~Contingency+Fee#:~:text=Home%20%7C%20Contingency%20Fee-,Contingency%20Fee,successful%20outcome%20of%20the%20case.
