Will I Take Home More if I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to Represent Me?

Even if you have clear grounds to file a personal injury claim, there is no guarantee that you will receive the financial compensation you deserve. With that said, hiring a personal injury lawyer can significantly increase your chances of recovering just compensation, and reputable Florida personal injury lawyers will only take your case if they believe they can help you recover more than you could recover on your own.

From auto accidents to slips, trips and falls, all types of accidents can leave victims facing long—and expensive—roads to recovery. Fortunately, Florida law allows accident victims to seek just compensation when someone else is to blame for their injuries.

Unfortunately, seeking just compensation after an accident is not as easy as it should be.

This is one reason—among many—why it is important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. Florida personal injury lawyers play an important role in helping victims protect their legal rights. While you will need to pay contingency fees if your case is successful, generally speaking, hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer is still a critical step for maximizing your take-home recovery.

How Do Legal Fees Work in Florida Personal Injury Cases?

Most Florida personal injury lawyers—including ours—represent accident victims on a contingency-fee basis. This is standard practice in personal injury cases, and it serves two equally important purposes:

• It ensures that accident victims can take legal action regardless of their financial circumstances; and,
• It ensures that personal injury lawyers have a vested interest in helping their clients recover just compensation.

With contingency-fee representation, you only pay if you win. Your obligation to pay legal fees is “contingent” upon the success of your case. Among other things, this means:

• You do not have to pay a retainer or any other up-front fees or costs;
• You will not be charged an hourly rate or receive monthly legal bills; and,
• Your legal fees (if any) will be deducted from your settlement or verdict.

If you receive a settlement or verdict, your legal fees will be calculated as a percentage of the amount your lawyer recovers on your behalf. This means that you will never owe more than you receive; and, the larger your settlement or verdict, the more you and your lawyer will collect at the end of the process.

What Types of Damages Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me Recover?

While you have the right to file a personal injury claim on your own, there are several reasons to hire a lawyer to represent you. One reason is that your lawyer will be able to help you seek damages that you are unlikely to be able to seek effectively without legal representation. Generally speaking, the types of damages that are available in personal injury cases include:

Economic Damages

Your lawyer can help you seek compensation for your past, present and future out-of-pocket costs. These are your “economic damages.” Common economic damages include:

• Medical bills
• Prescriptions and medical supplies
• Other necessary purchases
• Loss of income and benefits
• Loss of future earning capacity

Non-Economic Damages

If you have a personal injury claim, you are also entitled to just compensation for the other ways the accident negatively impacts your life. These are your “non-economic damages.” Your lawyer can determine what constitutes “just” compensation for your:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of companionship and consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Punitive Damages

Depending on the circumstances of your case, your lawyer may be able to seek punitive damages on your behalf as well. While punitive damages are not available in all cases, if you have grounds to pursue a punitive damages claim, this could significantly increase the amount of your financial recovery.

Is It Worth Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer to Represent Me?

With all of this in mind, is it worth hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you? As we said above, there are no guarantees. However, from identifying the liable party (or parties) to documenting all of the damages you are entitled to recover, there are several ways an experienced personal injury lawyer can help maximize your chances of recovering maximum compensation.

FAQs: Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida

Should I hire a personal injury lawyer if I was injured in an accident in Florida?

Yes, if you were injured in an accident in Florida, we strongly recommend hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. This is one of the most important steps you can take to maximize your chances of recovering the full financial compensation you deserve.

How much do Florida personal injury lawyers charge?

While nearly all personal injury lawyers represent their clients “on contingency,” different lawyers charge different rates (though limitations apply). We are more than happy to discuss our rates with you during your free initial consultation.

Is it true that I don’t have to pay anything if my case is unsuccessful?

Yes, this is 100% true. If you hire a personal injury lawyer at Searcy Denney to represent you and your case is unsuccessful for any reason, you do not have to pay anything for your legal representation.

How Our Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Serious Accident

At Searcy Denney, we are committed to helping accident victims seek maximum compensation for their accident-related losses. If you have grounds to file a personal injury claim, our lawyers can do what it takes to seek the full compensation you deserve. With that said, it is important that we are able to get to work on your case as soon as possible—and, as a result, we strongly encourage you to contact us for a free consultation today.

Contact the Florida Personal Injury Lawyers at Searcy Denney

Do you have questions about hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you? If so, contact us to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation at Searcy Denney. Call 800-780-8607 or contact us confidentially online to speak with an experienced lawyer in confidence today.