Most personal injury attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that they are paid a percentage of the amount of money received in a settlement or jury verdict. Personal injury attorneys do not get paid unless their client wins the case.
Sean Cleary, personal injury attorney in Miami, Florida, works on contingency fee arrangements. What this means is that the payment for the attorney's services is not upfront but depends on the outcome of your case and the fees are variable and negotiable.
One important aspect is that our law firm does not charge any fees unless a case is settled or taken to trial and won. According to a contingency fee agreement, when a personal injury case is settled or won, your attorney will take an agreed-upon percentage of the recovery.
For example, law firms can charge gradual fees that vary according to the amount of money you are entitled to receive or recover.
For example, a law firm can charge 40% for the first $1M dollars recovered, 30% of the second million that is recovered, and then 20% after $2M dollars. However, because each case is unique, a law firm's expenses to work on your case vary and are paid upfront. Common expenses are related to the investigation and expert witness fees, such as:
Other common expenses include:
Remember that these costs, unlike the contingency fee, have to be paid by your attorney even if you lose your case. Investigating a personal injury case requires a thorough job, and we want to make sure we have all the information needed to increase the chances of winning.
In Florida, the Rules of Professional Conduct offer details on fees and costs for legal services. In car accident cases, you and your lawyer will enter a written contingency fee agreement stating what percent of the recovery the attorney will receive.
The percent typically varies between 25% and 50% of the settlement or award. If the matter is tried again or appealed to a higher court, the percentage can increase.
When the case ends, you will receive a written statement stating the outcome of the matter and, if there is a recovery, the amount payable to you and the method of its determination.
The costs of working with a car accident attorney vary depending on:
Although more experienced lawyers have higher fees, you should not compromise on quality when hiring a car accident lawyer. You will be less likely to get a favorable result if you work with a lawyer that is not experienced in car accident cases.
With the support of an experienced personal injury attorney, you could recover compensation for different types of damages including:
Besides compensatory damages, you could also be awarded punitive damages. These are assessed to punish defendants for outrageous conduct and prevent them or others from engaging in the future in similar conduct.
If you, or a loved one, suffered an injury due to the negligence of another party, it is important to get the skilled representation you need. We can look out for your interests and obtain the compensation you deserve. Let us begin by answering your questions in a free case evaluation.