After being in an accident caused by a negligent third party, you’re most likely facing new challenges and experiences you weren’t anticipating. Unless you’ve done any work in the legal system before, this is likely your first time engaging with it, and, odds are, you’re likely unsure of how the process works, what to expect, and how to navigate it.
One question you’re now facing is how much hiring an Oklahoma City personal injury attorney will cost. So, while we cannot give precise dollar amounts of how much your representation will cost you, we can explain the foundation of how most personal injury lawyers operate in Oklahoma.
If you want to learn more about how much a personal injury lawyer in Oklahoma will cost you, call our team at Warhawk Legal. By dialing toll-free at (405) 397-1717, we can start the formal case review process, discuss our fee structure, and recommend your next steps.
Types Of Fees Lawyers Can Charge
There are four main types of legal fee payment structures a client can be charged:
- Hourly: A client is charged for billable time spent on a case. Phone calls, emails, administrative work, case preparation, and meetings count as time spent on the case.
- Contingency: A contingency fee payment structure, in essence, is when a lawyer only collects a fee from a client when the case is successfully concluded. Often used in personal injury cases.
- Flat Rate: This is when a client is charged a fixed sum for a service delivered. Things such as estate preparation or real estate transactions fall within this.
- Retainer: A retainer is an agreement in which a lawyer is paid in advance for any potential legal activity that must occur within a specific time frame. This earmarks the lawyer’s time.
Understanding Contingency Fee Payment Structures
Often, a good rule of thumb is that a lawyer will be paid ⅓ of the amount the defendant owes after your claim.
In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Bar Association dictates that their members’ fees should be “reasonable” and commensurate with their experience, estimating that 20% to 50% of the resulting compensation is reasonable for a fee.
Other Fees In Oklahoma Court Proceedings
In addition to fees paid to your lawyer, you’ll likely pay the following fees.
- Medical Records Fee: According to 76 OK Stat § 19 (2023), medical providers can charge your legal team a medical records preparation fee. The base fee is $20, plus copy and postage fees.
- District Court Filing Fee: To start the suit, your legal team will need to pay a filing fee. All federal district courts (Western, Eastern, and Northern) charge $405.00 to file a new case. Note: each district site calls filing the case something different, either civil action, new complaint, or filing a new civil case – however, all these actions are the same.
- Discovery Costs: Parties exchange information during the discovery process prior to trial, which can result in expenditures such as court reporter fees, expert witness fees, document fees, and travel charges. The complexity of the case affects these fees.
Contact Warhawk Legal Today
Reach out to us by calling (405) 397-1717 or booking a free, no-obligation case review and consultation today.