Typical Attorney Fees in a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
When patients go to a doctor for care, they are putting their health, and oftentimes their lives, in the hands of that healthcare professional. While most medical care, especially surgeries and other invasive procedures, carry some amount of risk, a patient has a right to expect a certain level of professional care. If an accident or injury occurs because a doctor was careless or negligent in their care and a patient receives care that is inadequate to that which would be expected from another healthcare professional, a medical malpractice suit, to seek compensation for damages suffered, may be in order. Unfortunately, these cases can be costly. At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, we are happy to discuss medical malpractice attorney fees with our Salt Lake City clients, and how those who lack sufficient funds may cover these costs.
How Much Does a Medical Malpractice Suit Cost?
Although many people want to know how much it will cost to pay for a medical malpractice lawsuit, there is no accurate way to come up with the cost for these cases. There are far too many variables that will affect the ultimate cost of a malpractice suit. Each case varies as far as how many man hours are required to investigate the case, file appropriate paperwork, etc. Similarly, while most cases will reach a settlement before going to trial, others will require a court date. While the costs of a medical malpractice suit differ for each client, the unfortunate truth is that these are costly proceedings that most clients cannot afford on an upfront basis. Fortunately, clients often have the option to hire our attorneys on a contingent fee basis, an agreement that can be beneficial to both parties.
What Is a Contingent Fee?
A contingent fee is a payment plan that is often agreed upon in the case of medical malpractice. Because the costs of a medical malpractice lawsuit can be so substantial, we understand that many clients do not have sufficient money to cover attorney fees and hourly wages. However, compensation in medical malpractice suits is also often substantial, so, if a solid case is presented, it can be beneficial to both our attorneys and clients to work on a contingent fee basis.
A contingent fee basis means that our attorneys agree to wave our hourly fees and will not charge any fee whatsoever unless a settlement is reached. If a settlement is recovered, than a percentage of the compensation that is collected will be paid to the attorneys in exchange for the work that was put into the case. Although the exact percentage fee of a medical malpractice case may vary, the average contingent fee is around 33.3 percent of the case settlement. This allows our clients to collect ample compensation for damages suffered without incurring any upfront, out-of-pocket expenses.
Contact Us
If you have been injured or suffered as the result of medical malpractice, contact us at your earliest convenience to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC. We will be happy to examine the details of your case and advise you of your best course of legal action. We look forward to hearing from you.
