How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost in Chicago?

Saturday, July 29, 2023

How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost in Chicago?

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

If you have been the victim of a truck accident, you may be wondering how much a lawyer will cost you. You may even consider not hiring an attorney and instead representing yourself. The truth is that, on average, accident victims who hire a lawyer receive 3.5 times higher settlements than plaintiffs who represent themselves.

Malman Law would like to review the associated costs of hiring a truck accident lawyer and how we can assist you in your truck accident case.

Evaluating The Strength of Your Case

As truck accident lawyers, we know that you have been through a horrific event.

At your free consultation, we will review your case and evaluate the strength of your claim. If we feel that you do not have a strong basis to prevail in your case, we will be upfront.

Nobody should be given the run around after an accident, and we take no exception to that. If we feel that you can pursue a claim on your own, we will advise you accordingly.

Contingency Fee Basis

Based on the type of law that you practice, different fee structures will apply. A personal injury lawyer normally operates on a contingency fee. This means that you will not pay a fee unless you win your case.

With a contingency fee, you can rest assured that your attorney is doing everything in their power to win your case. There are no upfront costs, or retainer fees, that you will have to pay to secure our representation.

A contingency fee can be anywhere from 33%-40% of your total recovery. So, if you request $30,000 in damages from the truck driver’s insurance company and they accept your offer, your attorney will receive $10,000 if you agree to a 33% or 1/3 contingency fee arrangement.

Additional Costs

While a lawyer may operate on a contingency fee basis, additional costs will be associated with your case.

These costs can include:

• Court filing fees
• Cost to obtain medical records
• Cost to obtain a police report
• Cost to depose a witness
• Investigator fees

These costs can add up quickly but are necessary for getting the evidence we need to prove the truck driver’s negligence.

Why Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?

A truck accident lawyer will know what evidence to gather in order to build your case. At Malman Law, we know how to proceed when the unexpected arises.

In a request for documentation, the opposing party may use the tactic of sending too much information in order to fluster us. This simply will not work. We know federal trucking laws and will make our rebuttal until we are given the information we requested in an acceptable format.

We will take all measures to get the information that we need. Commercial trucks have electronic control modules (ECMs) which provide information about the vehicle’s driving speeds and when the engine is on.

This information can be crucial in determining if a driver drove past their mandated hours, proving liability. The trucking company will take great lengths to avoid releasing this information, but that will not prevent us from getting what we need.

A Reliable Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer

At Malman Law, we do not believe in excessive legal fees. Quality representation should not cost you an arm and a leg. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.