There is no fixed amount that lawyers charge for truck accident claims. The amount a Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer can charge you depends on how much you receive in your accident claim.
Injury attorneys typically enter a contingency-fee agreement instead of a fixed hourly rate. A portion of your recoverable compensation will go to them in this arrangement. This percentage depends on what you and the attorney have agreed upon, though it is usually around one-third of your total damages.
Besides your recoverable damages, a lawyer must consider other factors when charging fees for their services. These include the labor to form your claim, required skill level, and time constraints. They cannot charge you high fees without a valid reason.
Limits To The Fee Percentage
Florida’s Rules of Professional Conduct limit the percentage that a lawyer can charge you in your truck accident claim. If you can settle before the liable driver formally responds to the case, the lawyer can only charge up to 33.3% for amounts of up to $1 million. If, for instance, you settled for $875,000 in your truck accident claim, your attorney would get around $290,000 if you agreed to pay them the percentage mentioned earlier.
For damages between $1 million and $2 million, attorneys are allowed to charge up to 30% for that portion of your recovery. If the total compensation exceeds $2 million, they can only charge you 20% at most for that portion of your recovery.
If the other motorist has responded or the case has gone to trial, the lawyer’s share could increase. They may charge up to 40% for damages under $1 million. However, they can still only charge 30% for amounts between $1-2 million and 20% for those above $2 million.
Attorney Fees
Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Florida typically do not include attorney fees in compensatory damages in truck accident claims or lawsuits. Instead, they use the “American Rule,” which states, per the Department of Justice (DOJ), that each side must pay for its lawyer’s fees. The only exceptions are if a statute includes these fees in specific situations or a contract stipulates that the liable party must pay them for you.
To make it easier for you to afford these fees, many Miami truck accident lawyers will work for what is called a contingency fee. This means:
- You immediately pay no attorney’s fees—your lawyer gets to work without charging upfront fees.
- You only have to pay attorney’s fees after your case is over, at which point the lawyer takes an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement.
- If your lawyer cannot secure compensation for you for any reason, they waive the attorney’s fee.
Other Truck Accident Claim Costs
In addition to attorney’s fees, you may have to pay various legal fees associated with filing and fighting your case, including:
- Filing costs
- Travel expenses
- The cost of procuring evidence like documentation or expert testimony
Sometimes, the lawyer will initially pay these costs and expect you to reimburse them when the case ends. In other cases, you may have to pay these expenses before your lawyer moves ahead.
It is a good idea to read the attorney-client contract carefully to ensure you understand what is expected of you. If you are unclear on any point, ask the law firm about it before signing anything.
Services A Truck Accident Lawyer Provides
It is reasonable to wonder if hiring a truck accident attorney is worth the cost. For your money, you can expect to receive the following services:
- A thorough investigation into your accident and resulting injuries
- An explanation of what your legal options are and how the firm can help you pursue your case
- An accurate calculation of how much you can expect to recover for your losses
- A negotiator who can meet with the relevant insurance companies and fight for the amount you have agreed is fair
While the above are standard services that most Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers provide, each firm is different and may offer additional assistance. For example, some firms can help you make appointments with a doctor or a mechanic, and some will give you your attorney’s phone number, so you have around-the-clock access to their advice.
Do not hesitate to speak to your lawyer if you ever feel like you are not getting your money’s worth. They work for you, and it is their job to make sure you are satisfied with your experience. You have the right to switch law firms if you are not happy with how your lawyer works.
Will My Attorney Go To Court For Me?
Some truck accident lawyers go to court, and others do not. If going to trial is the best or only way to secure your compensation, your lawyer will tell you this and explain how filing and arguing a court case works.
Before you hire a law firm, ask about their courtroom experience. While you will likely not have to go to trial, it is a good idea to know ahead of time if your lawyer would be able to represent you in court or if you would need to find a new lawyer to manage a trial.
We Are Here To Provide Legal Assistance
There is no strict value on how much lawyers charge for truck accident claims in Fort Lauderdale, as it will depend on several factors in your situation. If you want to work with a legal team that will only get paid when you do, you can contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today. Our lawyers operate on a contingency-fee-basis, so you can hire us without paying anything upfront.
Our law firm has handled injury claims in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Florida for many years. Besides truck collisions, we can also work with you in other personal injury cases, including boating accidents, dog bites, and defective product cases. For inquiries about our services, contact our office today. We are available 24/7 to accommodate your concerns.
