How Much Do Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Charge?

Florida personal injury lawyers generally set their own rates, and different lawyers may charge different rates based on their experience, overhead, and other factors. With that said, personal injury lawyers’ contingency fees are capped under the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct. Before you hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you, you should be able to obtain a clear breakdown of the fees and costs you will have to pay if your case is successful.

If you have a personal injury claim, you can hire a lawyer to represent you on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you will not have to pay any fees or costs unless your case is successful. Most Florida personal injury lawyers provide contingency-fee representation, and hiring a lawyer “on contingency” allows you to seek the financial compensation you deserve regardless of your present financial circumstances.

Do Different Personal Injury Lawyers Charge Different Rates?

While there are some fairly common contingency fee arrangements, different personal injury lawyers can (and do) charge different rates. As a result, when hiring a lawyer to handle your personal injury claim, it is important to know how much you will have to pay if your case is successful.

Are Personal Injury Lawyers’ Fees Capped in Florida?

Yes, personal injury lawyers’ fees are capped in Florida. While personal injury lawyers can charge fees above Florida’s caps in some cases, they must obtain court approval on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, in all cases, personal injury lawyers must clearly disclose their contingency fees to their clients at the outset of their legal representation.

Florida’s caps on contingency fees in personal injury cases include:

• Up to 33 1/3 percent of any recovery up to $1 million if you receive a settlement before the filing of an answer or arbitration demand.
• Up to 40 percent of any recovery up to $1 million if you receive a settlement or verdict after the filing of an answer or arbitration demand.
• Up to 30 percent of any additional recovery between $1 million and $2 million you receive through a settlement or verdict.
• Up to 20 percent of any additional recovery above $2 million you receive through a settlement or verdict.
• Up to an additional five percent of your recovery if you need to file an appeal, petition for post-judgment relief, or collection action.

If the at-fault party (or its insurance company) admits liability but disputes the amount of damages you are entitled to receive, different caps apply. In this scenario, the caps are as follows: (i) up to 33 1/3 percent of any recovery up to $1 million; (ii) up to 20 percent of any recovery between $1 and $2 million; and (iii) up to 15 percent of any recovery over $2 million. Your personal injury lawyer can charge an additional five percent if you need to file an appeal, petition for post-judgment relief, or collection action in this scenario as well.

Special rules apply in medical malpractice cases. In these cases, unless you agree to waive your rights, you are entitled to pay no more than the legal fees specified in the Florida Constitution.

Do Personal Injury Plaintiffs Have to Pay Additional Costs?

In addition to paying legal fees on a contingency-fee basis, personal injury plaintiffs must generally cover the costs of pursuing their claim on contingency as well. This commonly includes costs such as:

• Investigative costs
• Medical record retrieval and copying costs
• Accident reconstruction costs
• Expert witness fees
• Court or arbitration filing fees

Here too, the costs you may be required to pay should be clearly disclosed before you commit to moving forward. If you have questions, you should not hesitate to ask, and you should be able to obtain clear answers that are confirmed in writing.

FAQs: Hiring a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer to Represent You

Is my initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer really free?

Yes, your initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer is really free. This is your opportunity to gather the information you need to feel confident in your next steps. Regardless of whether you decide to file a personal injury claim, you should not have to pay anything for the advice you received.

How do I know what contingency fees I will have to pay if my case is successful?

The contingency fees you will have to pay if your case is successful should be clearly stated in your engagement agreement. Your engagement agreement should also clearly identify the costs you will have to reimburse if you receive a settlement or verdict.

What if my personal injury lawyer tries to charge more than I agreed?

Simply put, this should not happen. If it does happen, you should consult with a different lawyer about your legal rights promptly. At Searcy Denney, we are fully transparent about our clients’ legal fees, and we will never try to charge you more than the fees stated in your engagement agreement.

What You Can Expect from the Florida Personal Injury Lawyers at Searcy Denney

Let’s say you have a personal injury claim, and let’s say you choose our law firm to represent you. What can you expect from the Florida personal injury lawyers at Searcy Denney?

• We will provide a clear and straightforward assessment of your legal rights during your free initial consultation.
• We will also clearly explain our contingency fees during your free initial consultation.
• If you decide to take action, we will provide you with an engagement agreement that confirms the fees and costs you will be required to pay if your case is successful.
• Once you sign the engagement agreement, we will get to work on your case immediately.
• We will use our experience to fight for just compensation on your behalf; and, if a settlement offer is on the table, we will explain how much you will take home if you accept the offer.

Get Started with a Free, No-Obligation Consultation Today

To find out if you have a personal injury claim, contact us today. Call 800-780-8607 or tell us about your case online to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation.