While attorneys in other practice areas may charge hefty hourly rates, car accident lawyers are different. For personal injury cases, your attorney’s fees are dependent on how much you are awarded for your case. This arrangement, which doesn’t require an upfront payment to your personal injury lawyer, makes it far easier for injured car accident victims to obtain representation.
Contingent Fee Arrangements for Personal Injury Attorneys in Tampa
What does a lawyer mean when they say they work on a contingency fee basis? A contingent fee arrangement means that the car accident attorney will only be paid if his or her client is awarded a monetary settlement. A percentage is taken out of the client’s settlement and is given to the lawyer. You and your lawyer will need to agree on the percentage in your contract before working together.
To ensure every client that needs Steinger, Greene, & Feiner’s help receives affordable legal services, you will receive a free consultation regarding your case and are under no obligation to pay out-of-pocket legal fees unless you are rewarded compensation by the courts or the insurance company.
Your Rights Under Florida Law
The Florida Bar Association released Rule 4-1.5 Fees and Costs for Legal Services to protect clients from unethical fees or charges billed for work related to their legal representation.
How Will I Know How Much I Owe My Lawyer?
When a car accident attorney in Tampa or another city in Florida offers you services based on a contingency fee agreement, your lawyer must follow Rule 4-1.5 and apply it to your agreement.
These rules include:
- The agreement must be in writing.
- The calculation method of the fee must be included, such as how the percentage is calculated. The calculation must include fees based on settlement, pre-litigation settlement, trial, appeal, or any litigation related to the case.
- What costs will be deducted from the award amount and if costs are calculated before or after the contingent fee is calculated
- Once the matter is settled, the car accident attorney must provide a written statement of the outcome of the case, the award, and the calculations that were computed.
What’s the Limit for My Lawyer’s Fees?
Florida law also prohibits excessive percentages applied to contingency cases. If a case is still in the settlement period then a Tampa car accident attorney cannot receive more than:
- 33 1/3% of any award up to $1 million dollars; then
- 30% of any award between $1 million and $2 million; then
- 20% of any award in excess of $2 million
These percentages also apply if an answer is filed in the case and the defendants (usually the insurance company in this case) admit liability and only proceed to trial for the court to determine the specific amount of damages.
However, if a Tampa car accident attorney has already filed an answer and an entry of judgment is given, then a car accident attorney may receive:
- 40% of any award up to $1 million dollars; plus
- 30% of any award between $1 million and $2 million; plus
- 20% of any award in excess of $2 million
At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, you will learn more about the fee structure based on your case, any costs associated with your case, and a thorough understanding of how contingency fee structures work and how they are calculated.
Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
We cannot underscore the importance of proper legal representation enough, especially in personal injury cases. When you have been injured in a car accident, the last thing you need to worry about is negotiating with the insurance company.
Our Tampa car accident attorneys are skilled at evidence collection, negotiating with insurance companies, navigating legal procedures, and ensuring our clients do not suffer from long term consequences.
Request a Consultation with a Tampa Car Accident Attorney
While most civil attorneys require large retainers and charge by the hour, your Tampa car accident attorney is happy to work for you without any up-front costs.
The car accident attorneys at Steiner, Greene & Feiner offer you a free consultation in order to walk you through all the steps of your case and what to expect. If you don’t recover compensation, you don’t have to worry about out-of-pocket legal fees.
Contact us today at (813) 553-5352 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.