If you find yourself in a situation where you need to file a wrongful death lawsuit, you probably have a lot on your mind. Your legal questions are only the beginning when in an intense situation like that. For a lot of people, the first question they have is not about how the legal process will work or what can be recovered, but rather, how much it will cost to hire their attorney. Lawyers have developed a reputation for being expensive, so it is important to understand the financial burden. This guide will go over everything you need to know.

Cost to Hire an Attorney

The cost to hire an attorney is going to vary greatly. Generally, it will fall somewhere in between a few hundred dollars and several thousand. It is very unlikely to find an attorney willing to take your case for less than that. All of these factors affect the cost greatly:

• Complexity of your case
• The area you are in
• The amount of damages
• Whether it is wrongful death or survival action

Many people are surprised to hear that their location affects the cost of legal representation. It is typical for attorneys located in big cities to cost more than in smaller communities. However, in larger cities, there are also more attorneys to pick from, which means you can more easily find one that suits your budget.

Hiring a Plaintiff Attorney

Anyone who is the plaintiff in their case has a special advantage when it comes to hiring an attorney. If you are filing a wrongful death case, then this applies to you. It is very common for the attorney representing the plaintiff to accept no payment upfront. The common practice is for the attorney to collect payment when the case is won. This may mean that you will owe your attorney nothing if you lose, which means you are assuming very little risk.

Keep in mind, however, that if you enter into this kind of agreement with your attorney, they will usually claim a percentage of the winnings, rather than a flat fee. The percentage taken by the attorney is usually quite high. After all, your attorney is taking on the most amount of risk and may even have to pay court costs out of his or her own pocket. It is common for this fee to be 30 percent or higher. If you are worried about paying for a lawyer, this can be a great option. Contact a wrongful death attorney, like a wrongful death attorney in Lakeland, FL, for help with your case. 

Thanks to David & Philpot, PL for their insight into what the cost of hiring an attorney in a wrongful death case is.