When shopping around for a personal injury, it’s natural to look for the quickest and most affordable way to resolve your case. Medical bills, lost wages, and the emotional toll of recovery can make the idea of saving on attorney costs tempting.  

Most reputable personal injury attorneys charge the industry standard fees, which are typically between 33% to 40% of your final settlement or verdict. While hiring a cheaper personal injury attorney may seem like a smart financial decision at first glance, it may ultimately lead to you receiving far less compensation than your case deserves.  

Attorneys with a lower contingency fee often have fewer resources to build your case. Without a fully developed case, it’s unlikely you will receive full value for your injury. Here’s how hiring a cheaper personal injury attorney may cost you far more in the long run. 

1. Limited Access to Experts 

Building a strong personal injury case often requires access to expert witnesses, investigators, and medical professionals who can provide evidence to support your claim. Services like these are not free, and third-party experts rather than in-house professionals can be significantly more expensive. 

Unfortunately, cheaper attorneys may not have the financial resources or relationships with these professionals to bring them onto your case. This means that you may not have the support from a medical professional to explain the extent of your injuries or an investigator to collect street camera video footage of the crash. Without these experts, evidence that could enhance the value of your claim may never come to light. 

2. Reduced Time and Attention 

With a smaller or cheaper firm, they may not have the time to properly build out your case. Typically, firms that offer a rate lower than the industry standard are signing on a large number of clients to make up for the fees they have lost. Because of the abundance of cases, they may not have the capacity to dedicate the time and attention your case deserves. 

Experienced, reputable attorneys comb through every detail of your case. If an attorney has too many cases on their plate due to offering cut-rate fees, they may miss significant evidence that could impact the outcome of your claim. Not to mention, with that many clients, your attorney likely won’t have the time to regularly check in on you and your recovery.  

3. Limited Staff and Technology 

Behind every successful firm is a team of experienced and educated attorneys, paralegals, assistants, and administrative staff who ensure the case runs smoothly. Additionally, advanced legal technology can streamline case management, review evidence efficiently, and provide insights needed for success. 

Cheaper attorneys may not have the means to invest in a diverse team of attorneys and staff or cutting-edge technology, which can slow progress or cause your case to miss critical deadlines. With personal injury cases, time is often of the essence, and delays can jeopardize your chances of securing full value for your injury. 

4. Poor Negotiation Tactics 

Insurance companies are in the business of minimizing payouts and will drag out your case as long as possible to do so. Experienced personal injury attorneys with equal resources have the ability to go head-to-head with these companies. Cheaper attorneys, however, may not have the financial ability or the reputation to push back effectively. 

If your attorney is not financially stable enough to stick it out or present the intimidation needed to go against these insurance companies, they may force you to settle for less than your case is worth. Having an attorney with a strong presence on your side is crucial when negotiating with the insurance company. 

5. Unwillingness to go to Trial 

Most personal injury cases are settled out of court. However, when insurance companies refuse to offer fair value, fighting for the compensation you deserve requires going to trial. Experienced attorneys are willing to take that step when necessary. However, this isn’t always the case with a cheaper personal injury attorney, who may lack the resources, time, or courtroom experience to represent you effectively in front of a judge and jury. 

Insurance companies learn the reputation and practices of firms they encounter, so they know when an attorney means business. This gives you leverage during negotiations because insurance companies want to avoid trial. An attorney with a reputation for settling for less before filing a lawsuit loses that leverage, making it far more likely you’ll end up with a settlement that’s less than full value. 

Hiring an attorney to represent you could be one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Settling for less-than-stellar representation means risking your future health and financial security. It’s worth considering not just the price of an attorney, but the value they bring to your case. 

If you or a loved one has been injured, contact a qualified personal injury attorney. Do your research and focus less on cost and more on the firm’s resources, proven track record, and experience. The better their resources, the greater your chances of receiving a higher settlement.