Thursday, April 9, 2009

Types of medical attorney's fees

The type of fee arrangement that you make with your medical lawyer will have a significant impact on how much you will pay for the services.

Several factors affect legal fees. They include the amount of time your medical lawyer spent on your problem; your medical attorney's ability, experience and reputation; the novelty and difficulty of the doctor malpractice case; the results obtained; and the costs involved.

Other factors that may effect the medical attorney's fee charged should also be considered such as your medical lawyer's overhead expenses, e.g., rent, utilities, office equipment, computers, etc.

In doctor malpractice cases, there is usually no fee or cost to you to have your case evaluated by qualified medical attorneys. However, you should still check whether you will be charged for this initial meeting.

Most medical lawyers charge on a contingency basis. A contingency fee is based on a percentage of the amount awarded in the case. If you lose the case, the lawyer does not get a fee, but you will still have to pay expenses. Contingency fee percentages vary . A one-third fee is common. Some lawyers offer a sliding scale based on how far along the case has progressed before it is settled.

Courts may set a limit on the amount of a contingency fee a medical attorney can receive. This type of fee arrangement may be charged not only in doctor malpractice and personal injury cases, but also in property damage cases, or other cases involving a large sum of money.

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