You’re hurt in a personal injury accident. You may benefit from hiring a Florida personal injury lawyer – but how much will it cost?
Cost of Hiring a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer
The typical cost of hiring a Florida personal injury lawyer is 15-40% of the recovery, after expenses. Usually, the lawyer’s rate depends on the complexity of the case and the total amount of compensation.
Many personal injury lawyers use contingency fees. That’s what we use at Scarfone Auto Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys.
We want you to have clear, upfront information about how much it costs to hire Scarfone Auto Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys. To talk about your case specifically, contact our offices. As part of your consultation, we thoroughly explain how our fees work and provide a written agreement for your representation.
How is it determined what it costs to hire a Florida personal injury lawyer?
The lawyer and client can agree on how much the lawyer will be paid for services and how the amount will be calculated. Usually, a personal injury lawyer charges a fee that is contingent on the client receiving compensation for the case. The amount is typically calculated after expenses are deducted for pursuing the litigation, like conducting discovery, preparing exhibits, and paying witness fees.
Fee Rules for Florida Lawyers
Legal fees in personal injury cases are regulated by the Florida Bar.
The Florida Bar Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 4-1.5(a) says that a lawyer may not charge an excessive fee. When determining whether a fee is reasonable, the following considerations may be relevant:
- Time demands of the case
- The complexity of the case
- Nature of the professional relationship
- Skill, experience, and reputation of the lawyer or legal team
- Arrangement, whether it is fixed, hourly, or contingent on the case outcome
Time spent on the case is not the only factor to consider. Whether a fee is reasonable depends on all the factors relevant to a particular case. Contingency fees are allowed for personal injury claims but are not allowed in all types of cases.
Contingency Fees for Personal Injury Legal Representation
A contingency fee is where the lawyer’s payment for representation of their client depends on the outcome of the case. In other words, the client pays only if they receive compensation or if they “win” their case.
Many personal injury lawyers use contingency fees. To be valid, a contingency fee must:
- Be in writing
- Have the consent of the client in writing
- State how the fee will be calculated
- Identify the percentage that the lawyer receives as payment for services in the event of a settlement, trial, or appeal
- Say whether costs are deducted and whether they are deducted before or after the fee is calculated
- Itemize costs and payments to third parties if paid from the recovery
- Contain specified language stated in the Rules of Professional Conduct that the client has been advised of and understands their rights
The lawyer must give the client a signed copy of the agreement.
What percent is a reasonable contingency fee?
The Florida Rules of Professional Conduct have limits that, if exceeded, are presumed to be excessive. They are:
Before the filing of an answer or demand for arbitrators
- 1/3 of the recovery up to $1 million
- 30% exceeding $1 million
- 20% exceeding $2 million
After filing of an answer or demand for arbitrators
- 40% of the recovery up to $1 million
- 30% exceeding $1 million
- 20% exceeding $2 million
If a defendant admits liability at the time of their answer and requests a trial only on damages
- 1/3 of the recovery up to $1 million
- 20% of the recovery exceeding $1 million
- 15% of the recovery exceeding $2 million
An extra 5% may be agreed upon if an appeal or post-judgment action is necessary to recover the judgment.
If the case involves medical malpractice, different limitations apply.
You can read the complete requirements in the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 4-1.5.
Should I use a contingency fee agreement in a personal injury case?
Contingency fees are common in personal injury cases. They are a great way for a personal injury victim to get the legal help they need without paying out of pocket. After all, no one plans to be a personal injury victim and have legal expenses. A contingency fee makes legal representation available to you immediately without worrying about paying for a lawyer.
Using a contingency fee also removes hourly expenses from the equation. You don’t have to worry about paying for each phone call with your legal team or how long the litigation is taking. Both you and the lawyer have the incentive to maximize your compensation and work efficiently. Your lawyer gets paid for results – after all, that’s what you’re hiring them for.
We invite you to contact us to see if a contingency fee arrangement is right for you. We’ll explain why we use contingency fees in personal injury cases and how we make our legal services affordable for personal injury victims.
Is it worth hiring a Florida personal injury lawyer?
A Florida personal injury lawyer knows how to bring your case, maximize your compensation, avoid missteps in the process and pursue your case efficiently. They are a professional who works to maximize your results.
At your consultation, our lawyers can talk with you about how having a lawyer can help you pursue your legal interests. You may find that you can’t afford not to have a personal injury lawyer.
Hourly Fees
Another way to hire a Florida personal injury lawyer is with an hourly fee. The attorney sets an hourly fee, and then they track how much time they spend working on the case. The client pays the lawyer for their time rather than based on the case outcome.
Personal Injury Lawyers with Contingency Fees
At Scarfone Auto Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys, we are dedicated to ensuring our clients have capable legal representation at an affordable cost. We take our obligation seriously, complying with all ethical obligations and thoroughly explaining how our fees work. We will answer all your questions and put everything in writing.
We will talk about our fees at your personal injury consultation. There is no cost for a consultation. Contact us to talk about your case and begin today.