How Much Do Injury Attorneys Charge in Melbourne Florida?

Personal injury and accident attorneys work on something called “contingency fees”. This means that they only get paid if you win your case. Most other types of attorneys charge an hourly fee. Because personal injury cases can be very expensive to prosecute, the contingency fees are high and there is no cap. However, the higher the award, the less % your attorney will receive.

In Florida, the standard contingency fee for a personal injury attorney is 33%-40% starting off. This depends on whether the case is settled or litigated. If the case is settled pre-suit, the fee is 33%. Once the case is filed, that fee becomes 40% (up to $1M).

If the award is between $1M or $2M the contingency fee then drops back down to 30%. If the award is more than $2M, the fee is dropped to 20%. This is pretty standard in the State of Florida.

Expenses & Case Costs

Melbourne, Florida personal injury attorneys usually charge for case-related expenditures and charges in addition to the contingency fee. These expenditures may consist of filing fees, court charges, mailing costs, expert witness costs, and other case preparation and presentation-related expenses.

If the case is successful, your personal injury business will pay these costs up front and subtract them from the settlement or verdict amount. In most cases, the client will not be required to reimburse the attorney for any costs incurred if the action is unsuccessful.

Hourly Rate Personal Injury Attorneys

There are some attorneys who offer their services on an hourly basis. Sometimes, clients prefer to be billed this way. These fees usually range from $250 to 500 per hour. On the positive side of this fee structure is that the attorney does not receive a % of the award or settlement. If the settlement is large then the client gets to keep all of it and simply pay the fees. On the negative side of this equation is the fact that if the litigant loses the case, they are still on the hook for all of the attorney’s fees.

An Attorney Greatly Increases Your Chances of Success

Attorneys know how to get the ball rolling on legal cases. They know the exact processes to sue for a settlement or get the case to litigation. Attorneys will keep you from wasting our time or from making a mistake which can be costly.

Insurance companies and attorneys representing the opposition will no doubt try every tactic they have to keep from paying you the money you deserve. Hiring a professional personal injury attorney in Melbourne, Florida will help you maximize your chances of winning your personal injury case.