Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers | January 16, 2025 | Personal Injury

What If I Can’t Afford An Attorney?

Suffering harm in a personal injury accident can saddle you with unanticipated and expensive costs like medical bills, repair costs, and reductions in income. Even if you know the benefits of having legal representation, the thought of taking on additional expenses by hiring an attorney may seem daunting.

Some may feel that professional legal representation is out of reach financially. You may believe that you must either risk all of your resources to retain a lawyer or fight your case alone. However, you might be surprised to learn how affordable attorneys can be in personal injury cases.

Because personal injury lawsuits like car accident claims are civil, there is no constitutional right to legal assistance. Unlike individuals charged with crimes who can ask the court to appoint them an attorney, personal injury victims have no comparable rights. Regardless of your financial situation, Maryland courts do not appoint lawyers for personal injury victims.

Maryland Legal Aid and other similar groups typically represent low-income individuals in consumer, landlord-tenant, and family law disputes. They generally do not represent personal injury plaintiffs. Moreover, even those that do generally have strict income guidelines you must meet to qualify for their services.

If someone’s negligent actions have caused your injury, but you worry you cannot afford a lawyer, consider the following options for securing legal assistance:

Contingency Fee Arrangements

Contingency fee agreements are a popular alternative to traditional hourly fees among personal injury lawyers. 

With a contingency fee agreement, the lawyer agrees to represent you without charging you any upfront fee. Instead, the attorney receives an agreed-upon percentage of any compensation award they obtain for you. This is a common arrangement among personal injury lawyers.

Pro Bono Representation

Recognizing that legal services can be cost-prohibitive to some, lawyers are encouraged to provide some legal services free of charge every year. Representing a client “pro bono” means lawyers take a case without collecting any fee. Even if an attorney or law firm is unwilling to represent you for free, they may agree to reduce their fees in an exceptional case.

Fixed Fees

Another alternative to traditional hourly fee arrangements is fixed fees. Here, the lawyer agrees to provide a specific service in return for a set price. 

For example, a lawyer might agree to prepare your personal injury petition for $1,000. Similarly, they might agree to draft discovery requests and responses for $2,000. Some attorneys may even offer payment plans for their fixed fees.

Take Advantage Of Initial Consultations

It’s wise for injury victims to take advantage of the free initial consultations many law firms offer to prospective clients. During this consultation, you can learn how that lawyer intends to assist you and what their services will cost. 

Even if the law firm does not advertise a contingency fee or fixed fee option, you can explain your financial circumstances and ask about any accommodations it might make.

After suffering any personal injury accident or losing a loved one, your ability to move forward depends in part on receiving financial compensation for your losses. Having the help of an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer makes this process easier. Although attorneys have a reputation for being expensive, this does not mean their services are unaffordable.

You can speak with law firms about payment options, including whether they offer fixed-fee or contingency fee arrangements. By taking advantage of initial consultations and learning more about certain law firms, you can find a knowledgeable and affordable attorney to help you with your case.

Contact the Personal Injury Lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers in Maryland for Help Today

For more information, please contact Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a confidential consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Our team is available to assist clients in Lanham, Frederick, Rockville, Waldorf, Annapolis, and Lexington Park, Maryland.

We proudly serve Charles County, Prince George County its surrounding areas. Visit our law offices at:

Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers – Waldorf Office
8 Post Office Rd Waldorf, MD 20602
(301) 932-9997
Available 24/7

 

Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers – Lanham Office
4600 Forbes Blvd Ste #200 Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 936-0011
Available 24/7