Can I Afford an Attorney After an Accident, and Do I Need One?

 Posted on December 21, 2025 in Car Accidents

If a car accident left you with serious injuries, you may be watching your medical bills pile up as you wonder what your options really are. The thought of hiring an attorney to deal with the insurance companies and potentially guide you through a personal injury claim may have crossed your mind. However, many people dismiss the idea of having an attorney because they assume it’s something they could never afford.

What you may not realize is that an Irving, TX personal injury attorney may help you reach your goals of getting the money you need for your claim without any upfront cost to you at all. 

Can I Afford A Personal Injury Attorney After An Accident?

Hospitalization, doctor visits, pain medications, and other expenses after a car crash add up quickly. This is especially true if you are unable to work while you heal or care for an injured family member.

Fortunately, you can hire a personal injury lawyer today without pulling out your wallet. In fact, you only pay attorney fees if you win your case. This allows you to hire a lawyer right away when you need legal help.

Additionally, your lawyer can pay many or all of your upfront costs in order to get your claim started. And our personal injury attorney offers free consultations, which means you can meet with a lawyer to discuss your case without any financial commitment.

What Is A Contingency Fee Agreement for a Personal Injury Claim?

A contingency fee agreement means that your attorney's payment depends on you winning your case. For his or her legal services, a contingency fee will be charged, which is an amount that depends on the successful outcome of your case.

The key benefit of this arrangement is simple. If you have a personal injury claim, you pay no lawyer fees unless you win and your lawyer is incentivized to get you the most money possible. This removes the financial barrier that prevents many people from seeking legal representation after an accident.

Do I Need An Attorney After A Car Accident?

You are not required to have a lawyer to deal with an insurance claim or to file a lawsuit after an accident. But there are complicated technical parts of lawsuits and insurance policies that can be very difficult for the average person to manage.

For example, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. But what if you were underage when you were injured? What if someone died? What if you temporarily moved out of state? And is it two years from the date of the crash, or two years from your release from the hospital? 

These are tough questions that have different answers for every case, and that is just one example. A good attorney will help you answer all of them and more.

How Can A Lawyer Help With My Car Accident Claim?

Lawyers get all the bad jokes written about them and sometimes have a tough reputation, but the truth is, they are helpful when you need them. Indeed, the Insurance Research Council found that on average, personal injury victims with a lawyer had settlements 3.5 times larger than those without one.

Here are some other ways that personal injury attorneys can help with your claim.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Soon after your accident, an insurance adjuster will likely contact you, and he or she will want to resolve the matter quickly. In fact, the adjuster may have a check already printed out, supposedly to cover all your damages and losses. You may think it is a generous offer. However, the first offer you receive from an insurance company is rarely the best you can do.

If you settle too quickly, it is impossible to know what you will need or what your case is worth. There may be hidden injuries that will require surgery or therapy, or you may need to make adjustments to your home, such as a ramp on your porch or safety bars in your bathroom.

Your attorney will talk to the insurance company, negotiate on your behalf, and help you understand whether a settlement is actually fair.

Dealing with Legal Questions and Medical Evidence

A skilled attorney will give you advice on many questions, including:

• Whether your case is worth taking to court

• How to fight the tricks of the insurance companies

• Understanding whether you will need long-term medical care and how much it will cost

• Knowing when the other side is offering a fair settlement and how to negotiate for a better amount

• Dealing with legal procedures and paperwork

• Making a strong case with expert witnesses and medical documents

Call a Carrollton, TX Personal Injury Attorney Today

Dealing with the aftermath of an accident is not something you want to do on your own. Beginning with an evaluation of your case, our firm can give you answers to your questions and a clearer path to follow.

Our Irving personal injury lawyers at Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. understand the tough decisions you must make after a serious accident. We offer free consultations to discuss your case and explain your options. You do not pay any attorney fees unless we win your case. Call us at 214-221-5800 today to get started. Se habla español.