Are There Personal Injury Lawyers In Florida That Work For Free?

If you’ve been injured in an accident, and are concerned about the cost of hiring an attorney to represent you, you’ve likely looked for free personal injury lawyers in Florida to take on your case. With the unexpected medical bills and lost wages adding up, it’s common for budgets to shrink swiftly, leaving little to no room for additional legal fees. While not all personal injury lawyers work for free, some do operate on a contingency fee basis, which means that they only get paid if they win your case. To find out if an attorney will work with you on a contingency basis, the first step is to schedule a free initial consultation. This will give you invaluable insight into the firm’s approach, communication style, and fee structure.

What Does Contingency Basis Mean For Your Case?

A “contingency basis” is a type of fee arrangement between a personal injury lawyer and the client (you). It means that the lawyer only gets paid if the client wins the case or obtains a settlement. When searching for a free injury lawyer, this is the route you would go if you’re worried about paying upfront costs.

How Does It Work?

When working with a lawyer through a contingency fee, this allows you to pursue a resolution to your accident without worrying about the cost. If the case is successful, the lawyer will take a percentage of the settlement as payment. This standard percentage ranges between 33 1/3-40%of the total compensation received, depending on the type of case and whether a lawsuit is filed. During an initial consultation, your lawyer will provide you with their legal contract that outlines their fee percentage, provided services, details of payment, and if there are certain items that you will need to pay for separately.

Why Is This Beneficial For You?

A contingency-fee agreement is particularly helpful for individuals who do not have the financial resources to hire a lawyer on an hourly basis, or have money set aside for a retainer (we’ll cover more on those below). If the personal injury lawyer does not win the case, you will not have to pay any of the contingency fees, ensuring that there’s no hidden costs or surprises involved.

This can be a huge relief for accident victims who are already dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to their accident, as it lowers the risk involved with hiring a lawyer on your behalf. Additionally, contingency fee agreements often motivate lawyers to work harder on your case, as they only get paid if they successfully recover compensation for you.

Free Injury Lawyers on Contingency ≠ Free Incidental Fees

Incidental fees are costs that are incurred while conducting a legal case, and may include fees for depositions, court costs (filing fees, postage fees, document preparation), hiring expert witnesses, and conducting independent investigations. These fees are different from the lawyer’s fee, which is a percentage of the recovery. Incidental fees may vary depending on the complexity and duration of the case, are reimbursed out of a settlement or recovery.

Contingency fee lawyers typically advance these incidental fees for their clients and recover them later from the settlement or judgment. However, this is not always the case, and some lawyers may require their clients to pay these fees as they arise. Therefore, it is important for clients to understand the terms of their agreement with their lawyer and ask about any potential incidental fees before hiring them. Incidental fees may not be a large amount compared to the recovery, but they can still affect the client’s net compensation.

Other Possible Fee Structures: Hourly & Retainer

When looking for a free personal injury lawyer, you may come across attorneys who work on other fee structures like hourly & retainer fees. Here is how these types of structures work:

• An hourly fee is when the lawyer charges a fixed rate for every hour they work on the case. The lawyer will keep track of how much time they spend on each task and bill the client accordingly. The hourly rate may vary depending on the lawyer’s experience, reputation, and location. The client may also have to pay for other expenses, such as court fees, travel costs, and expert witnesses. Hourly fees are common in business, family, and criminal law cases.
• A retainer fee is when the client pays a lump sum to the lawyer upfront, which is then used to cover the lawyer’s fees and expenses as they work on the case. The retainer fee is usually based on an estimate of how much work the case will require, and it may be refundable or non-refundable. The lawyer will deduct their hourly fees and expenses from the retainer until it is exhausted, and then they may ask for another retainer or bill the client separately. Retainer fees are common in complex or long-term cases that require ongoing legal advice or representation.

When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, medical malpractice, and class action lawsuits, the contingency-fee agreement is common practice.

Are You Looking For a Free Personal Injury Lawyer to Take On Your Case?

At Personal Injury of Florida, we are a results-driven personal injury law firm that prioritizes the needs of our clients. This is why we are proud to offer free initial consultations to all potential clients, and are available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’ll speak directly with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys at no cost to you. During this consultation, we will evaluate the details of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your legal options. We understand that being involved in an accident can be a traumatic and stressful experience, which is why we are committed to providing compassionate and personalized legal representation to all of our clients. Our team of attorneys has years of experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases, including car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and wrongful death claims. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.