Contingency Fees in a Personal Injury Case in Jacksonville, Florida
If you are injured in an accident, you may have to deal with substantial medical expenses, property repair costs, lost wages, and other damages and losses. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be unable to return to work. Your financial stability may be endangered after you are involved in an accident. Fortunately, if you are injured in a Jacksonville accident because of the negligence of another party, you may have a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim can allow you to recover compensation for your damages and losses.
If you have suffered an injury in a Jacksonville accident because of another party’s negligence, it is best that you retain an attorney. While you have the right to handle your case alone, a personal injury attorney can help you in many ways. Because of the damages and losses that you have suffered and continue to suffer, you may be concerned that you cannot afford a personal injury attorney. Fortunately, most, if not all, personal injury attorneys in Jacksonville work on a contingency fee basis. With this kind of payment arrangement, you don’t have to pay any fees upfront and only pay an attorney if you receive a settlement or jury award. Below, we discuss how an attorney can help you, the meaning of a contingency fee arrangement, and the benefits of such an arrangement.
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help You?
The following are some of the things a qualified Jacksonville personal injury attorney can do for you;
- Investigating your accident
- Gathering and preserving evidence
- Presenting evidence
- Filing your claim
- Negotiating with the insurance company
- Sending demand letters
Filing your lawsuit
- Preparing for trial
- Litigating your case in court
In short, your personal injury attorney will handle all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on recovering.
Understanding Contingency Fee Arrangements
Contingency fee arrangements entail personal injury attorneys representing clients without charging any fees upfront. With this arrangement, you pay the attorney if and after you receive a settlement or compensation award. Under the contingency fee system, you do not owe an attorney any money if they don’t secure compensation for you.
With a contingency fee arrangement, you agree that, after you receive compensation, your attorney will get a percentage of it. Most personal injury attorneys charge 1/3 or 33% of the compensation. But if a case demands more from the attorney, like going to trial, this can increase to 40%.
If, for example, an attorney charges a 33% contingency fee and you win $100,000 through negotiations, you will pay your attorney $33,000.
Benefits of a Contingency Fee Arrangement
The following are some of the main benefits of a contingency fee arrangement;
- You do not need to pay the attorney any upfront fees for them to start working on your case
- You only pay when the attorney recovers compensation for you
- You can use your savings and/or income to pay for your medical expenses and living expenses
Legal Help Is Available
If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident in Jacksonville because of another party’s negligence, contact our qualified Jacksonville personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm. We can help you file your claim and recover the compensation you deserve.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Ocala, Orlando, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Naples, and Melbourne areas.
Source:
law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence
