You don’t. Most lawyers are ethical, but a few will cut a deal; with an insurance company, so that they get a good settlement on each case, but not the best. It is the unscrupulous ones that give lawyers a bad name.
Beau is right. Most are decent people but a small percentage give the rest a bad name. I’ve dealt with hundreds of attorneys over the years to settle their client’s injury claims and have never been approached to cut a deal. They’ve always been an advocate for their client however, some do a much better job of it than others. A contract with a personal injury attorney should be on a contingency basis where they receive a % of the settlement (25-40% depending on the atty but usally around 33%) + expenses. They have a stake in the outcome and that’s why they (most of them, anyway) work hard for you.
What you have to decide is whether or not they can get you 50% more than you could get on your own. That’s what they’d have to do to pay for themself. Sounds nuts but the numbers don’t lie. Take a $50,000 settlement and you net 2/3 or 66% after paying your atty and ignoring expenses. That leaves you with $33,333.33. 50% of that is $16,666.67 which represents the 33% you just paid them.
He wont take all your money.lol
If he gives you enough money to make your rich, even in a small way, he’s on your side.
You don’t. Most lawyers are ethical, but a few will cut a deal; with an insurance company, so that they get a good settlement on each case, but not the best. It is the unscrupulous ones that give lawyers a bad name.
Beau is right. Most are decent people but a small percentage give the rest a bad name. I’ve dealt with hundreds of attorneys over the years to settle their client’s injury claims and have never been approached to cut a deal. They’ve always been an advocate for their client however, some do a much better job of it than others. A contract with a personal injury attorney should be on a contingency basis where they receive a % of the settlement (25-40% depending on the atty but usally around 33%) + expenses. They have a stake in the outcome and that’s why they (most of them, anyway) work hard for you.
What you have to decide is whether or not they can get you 50% more than you could get on your own. That’s what they’d have to do to pay for themself. Sounds nuts but the numbers don’t lie. Take a $50,000 settlement and you net 2/3 or 66% after paying your atty and ignoring expenses. That leaves you with $33,333.33. 50% of that is $16,666.67 which represents the 33% you just paid them.
He is NOT on the insurance company’s side, I can assure you that!