Why do attorneys usually charge more for medical malpractice cases?
Medical malpractice cases require a large amount of time, expertise, and attorney expenses. There are several reasons for this. (1) Expenses are very high for expert witnesses. (2) A large amount of time as well as extra expertise is required. (3) Because of the large expenses, attorneys must often advance monies out of their own reserves. (4) Risks to the attorney are high. Juries favor doctors 70% of the time, which means that when we go to trial and lose we also lose a large amount of money. Therefore, contingency fees are generally 40% or higher, depending on the complexity of the case. Automobile accident attorneys often charge 33-1/3%.
