Q: If I hire a personal injury lawyer to represent me on a car accident, will the attorney take a piece of the property damage settlement?
A: No, if we represent you on a personal injury claim, we charge nothing for assisting you on the settlement of your property damage claim.
Your Rights After A Car Accident
If you get into a car accident that was someone else’s fault, you have two potential claims: your property damage claim and your injury claim. The fee our law firm charges (33 1/3% if we can settle the claim before a lawsuit is filed, or 40% if it settles after a lawsuit is filed) only applies to your personal injury claim. Your personal injury claim includes your claim for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You can read a full explanation of how we charge here.
Your Property Damage Claim
Your property damage claim is separate. Your property damage claim includes payment for:
- Your totaled or repairable vehicle
- A rental car while you are awaiting payment for your totaled car, or for the repair of your vehicle
- If you didn’t get a rental car, you are entitled to reimbursement of Uber or Lyft bills
- If your vehicle is repaired, and sustained significant damage, you have the right to make a diminished value claim against the other driver
We assist you in settling your property damage claim, but we don’t charge anything to do that. Our goal is to help you wrap up your property damage claim as quickly as possible so that you have transportation.
If you have been injured in a car accident, call McGee, Lerer & Associates. Our car accident lawyers are available 24/7 for a free consultation.