One of the most common questions people have before calling a personal injury attorney is: "How much is this going to cost me?"

The good news is that most Florida personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing upfront, and the attorney only gets paid if you win.

Here is how it works.

A contingency fee means the attorney's fee is contingent on winning. If the case results in a settlement or verdict in your favor, the attorney takes a percentage of the recovery. If the case does not result in a recovery, you owe no attorney's fee.

This arrangement makes legal representation accessible to everyone — not just people who can afford to pay $300–$500 per hour.

Florida Bar rules regulate attorney fees in personal injury cases. Standard contingency fees are:

These are guidelines, not fixed rules. The actual fee is negotiated and set out in a written fee agreement signed before representation begins.

Florida has a sliding scale fee limitation for medical malpractice cases:

• 30% of the first $250,000 recovered
• 10% of any amount over $250,000

Attorney fees and case costs are separate. Case costs are the expenses of investigating and litigating the case. In most contingency arrangements, the attorney advances these costs and is reimbursed from the settlement.

Common case costs include:

• Medical record retrieval
• Expert witness fees
• Court filing fees
• Deposition costs
• Investigator fees
• Accident reconstruction fees
• Mediation fees

Case costs in a straightforward car accident case might be $2,000–$10,000. In a complex medical malpractice or catastrophic injury case, costs can reach $50,000–$100,000 or more.

The fee agreement should specify whether costs are deducted before or after the attorney fee is calculated. This affects your net recovery.

Example — costs deducted after fee:

• Settlement: $100,000
• Attorney fee (33.3%): $33,300
• Costs: $5,000
• Your recovery: $61,700

Example — costs deducted before fee:

• Settlement: $100,000
• Costs: $5,000
• Net: $95,000
• Attorney fee (33.3% of $95,000): $31,650
• Your recovery: $63,350

The difference may seem small, but it matters in larger cases.

Before signing, make sure you understand:

1. The fee percentage at each stage of the case
2. How costs are handled — advanced by the attorney or paid as incurred
3. Whether costs are deducted before or after the fee
4. What happens if the case is lost — typically no fee, but costs may still be owed
5. Whether the fee is negotiable — in high-value cases, fees may be negotiated

The contingency fee system aligns the attorney's interests with yours. The more you recover, the more the attorney earns. This creates a strong incentive to maximize your recovery.

It also means you do not need to choose between pursuing justice and paying your bills. A person who just lost their income to an injury cannot typically afford hourly legal fees. The contingency system removes that barrier.

Yes. Studies consistently show that represented claimants receive significantly higher settlements than unrepresented claimants — even after attorney fees. An experienced attorney knows how to build the file, counter lowball offers, identify all available coverage, and prepare for trial.

• What is your contingency fee percentage?
• How are case costs handled?
• Are costs deducted before or after the fee?
• What is your experience with cases like mine?
• What is your assessment of my case?
• What is the realistic range of recovery?

Juan Cordero Lawyers handles personal injury cases throughout Florida on a contingency fee basis — no fee unless we recover for you. We handle Car Accident Lawyer Florida, Slip and Fall Lawyer Florida, Medical Negligence Lawyer Florida, and Wrongful Death Lawyer Florida claims. Call 305.525.8957 for a free consultation — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.