How Expensive Is It to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Jacksonville?
After a car wreck, your expenses can start to pile up. You may have medical bills that need to be paid and a repair bill due. If you suffer injuries that keep you from working, this can only add to your financial worries. The last thing you want to do at this time is to take on additional expenses.
These fears and concerns may keep you from reaching out to a Jacksonville car accident attorney after your crash. While some personal injury lawyers may charge a substantial sum of money to handle your car crash lawsuit, not all do. Some lawyers’ fee arrangements make obtaining quality representation financially affordable.
Traditional Fee Structures vs. Contingency Fees
Attorneys get paid by charging fees to clients under one of several different fee structures. Traditionally, attorneys charged an hourly fee for their services. Under this structure, the attorney will bill you for every activity they perform on your case, whether that is making telephone calls, composing emails, or drafting documents.
With a traditional fee structure, you typically must pay a down deposit, called a “retainer,” before the attorney will commence work on your case. Most attorneys using this fee structure also require you to make regular payments toward your case. You are also responsible for paying the attorney’s fees whether you win your case or not.
Some attorneys may require a retainer of several thousand dollars and charge an hourly rate of $200 per hour or more. The attorney’s rate may depend on their experience or length of time in practice.
Other attorneys use a contingency fee structure as opposed to a traditional hourly fee structure. If your attorney uses a contingency fee structure, you will not owe any attorney fees in the event your car crash lawsuit is not successful. Your responsibility for the attorney’s fees is contingent upon the outcome of your case.
With a contingency fee structure, you will not need to pay a retainer before your attorney commences work. Rather than a fixed hourly rate, the total amount of fees that you owe would depend on the amount of the damages your attorney recovers for you. The larger the award, the greater the amount of fees the attorney will receive.
Contingency Fee Limitations in Florida
If your attorney charges fees based on a contingency fee structure, the details of that fee structure must be provided to you upfront and in writing. The attorney must disclose how much of your damages will be taken for attorney fees and what additional expenses beyond attorney fees you may be responsible for.
Florida rules place limits on how much of your recovery the attorney may take for fees and expenses. This amount depends on the size of your recovery and how your case resolves.
In general, the Rules of Professional Conduct say an attorney may take around one-third of your total recovery for their fees, depending on the type of case. They may also take an additional percentage for expenses.
How Much Does a Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Most car accident attorneys charge under a contingency fee structure. It is, therefore, difficult to provide any reliable estimate of how expensive an attorney’s assistance could be in your case.
However, if your attorney does use a contingency fee structure, you can rest easy knowing that you will not have to pay anything upfront.
It is important to review and understand your attorney’s fee structure and be clear about what costs you would be responsible for.
Contact the Jacksonville Car Accident Law Firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra car accident law firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Duval County, St, Johns County, and its surrounding areas:
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 396-1100
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W Forsyth St Suite 1000
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167