Have you or a loved one been injured or harmed as a result of someone else’s negligence? If so, it’s likely you’ll be looking for compensation from whoever was at fault. If this happens to you, the first thing you should do after you get treated for your injuries is hire a personal injury lawyer who does not shy away from difficult cases and will look out for your best interests. However the biggest question you might be wondering is how much does a personal injury attorney cost?
Contingency Fees in a Personal Injury Case – No Fees Unless you Win
The Florida Bar allows lawyers to charge their clients through what’s known as a contingency fee. Meaning that if you win your case, they receive a percentage of any money you collect from your lawsuit as their fee. If you lose, they do not receive an attorney fee. Therefore, you are hiring them at no cost unless your case is successfully settled with your approval and you obtain a recovery, or a jury returns a favorable verdict for you.
In Florida this works out at around one-third of the sum recovered. Our firms fee rates are stated below, and it is within this structure that our firm believes a contingency fee rate is in the best interest of any client.
Contingency Fee Rates
Our firm strictly follows the Florida Bars guidelines for reasonable contingency fees. The fee rates we charge at the Law Offices of Brett Hastings P.A., are as follows:
Before the filing of an Answer to a lawsuit or the demand for appointment of arbitrators or, if no Answer is filed or no demand for appointment of arbitrators is made, the expiration of the time period provided for such action:
- 33 1/3 % of any recovery up to $1,000,000.00; plus
- 30% of any portion of the recovery between $1,000,000.00 and $2,000,000.00; plus
- 20% of any portion of the recovery exceeding $2,000,000.
After the filing of Answer to a Lawsuit or the demand for appointment or arbitrators or, if no answer is filed or no demand for appointment of arbitrators is made, the expiration of the time period provided for such action, through the entry of judgment:
- 40% of any recovery up to $1,000,000.00; plus
- 30% of any portion of the recovery between $1,000,000.00 and $2,000,000.00; plus
- 20% of any portion of the recovery exceeding $2,000,000.
Why our Firm Believes in Contingent Fees and Offers Them to Our Clients
Our firm sincerely believes in contingent fees because the greater our clients recovery the larger the fee our firm earns – this insures that we are always keeping our clients best interests at heart. Unlike law firms who bill by the hour, and may have an incentive to drag things out, our firm doesn’t earn one penny of our fee until we deliver the two most important things our client desires: 1) a recovery of the maximum value for their claim; and 2) the end of their claim or lawsuit.
We wouldn’t want it any other way because we don’t think we should get paid until we have obtained the justice our clients deserve.
Questions to Ask A Personal Injury Attorney Regarding Legal Fees
While a lawsuit can’t heal your body or take away the pain, financial compensation for your injury can alleviate the financial burdens and mitigate the stress and frustration so you can focus on getting well. That’s why it’s so important to find the right personal injury attorney for you and your case. When talking to your attorney be sure to ask about legal fees. Some questions to Ask:
- If you charge a contingency fee, what is the percentage I would owe?
- Given how much you think my case may be worth, can you show me examples of how much I could net after paying your fees if we settle? If we go to trial?
- If you charge by the hour, what is your rate? Do you ask for a retainer fee? How much is it? What happens when it runs out?
- Besides your time, what other expenses do you expect me to pay? Can you give me an estimate for them?