Many of my potential clients do not understand when and how much I get paid, as an Orlando car accident lawyer.
Just like many other Florida attorneys, I use a standard form fee contract, published by the Florida Bar. I have made a few minor, permissible changes to that document. But I did not change the car accident attorney fees.
Every Orlando car accident attorney I know charges what is called a “contingent” fee. That means that you never pay one dime, unless and until we recover money for you.
Car Accident Attorney Fees Usually Range From 33 1/3 % To 40%
Most car accident attorney fees (including mine) range from 33 1/3% to 40%. These percentages vary, depending on how much we recover for you, and when.
For most car accident cases, the basic auto accident attorney fee is 33 1/3% if we settle without a lawsuit. The fee climbs to 40% if we have to file a lawsuit for you (unless the defendant admits liability, which is unusual, in which case my fee goes back down to 33 1/3%) The car accident attorney fees decrease when your recovery exceeds a million dollars (see contract section below).
Car Accident Attorney Fee Structure Based On Widely Used Florida Bar Form
Here is the fee section from my contract (taken directly from the Florida Bar form with no edits):
(a) Before the filing of an answer or the demand for appointment of arbitrators or, if no answer is filed or no demand for appointment of arbitrators is made, the expiration of the time period provided for such action:
- 33 1/3% of any recovery up to $1 million; plus
- 30% of any portion of the recovery between $1 million and $2 million; plus
- 20% of any portion of the recovery exceeding $2 million.
(b) After the filing of an answer or the demand for appointment of arbitrators or, if no answer is filed or no demand for appointment of arbitrators is made, the expiration of the time period provided for such action, through the entry of judgment:
- 40% of any recovery up to $1 million; plus
- 30% of any portion of the recovery between $1 million and $2 million; plus
- 20% of any portion of the recovery exceeding $2 million.
(c) If all defendants admit liability at the time of filing their answers and request a trial only on damages:
- 33 1/3% of any recovery up to $1 million; plus
- 20% of any portion of the recovery between $1 million and $2 million plus
- 15% of any portion of the recovery exceeding $2 million.
(d) An additional 5% of any recovery after notice of appeal is filed or post‑
judgment relief or action is required for recovery on the judgment.
Some People Get Confused About Car Accident Attorney Fees
I have read reviews of other law firms where clients were complaining that lawyers took a percentage of the clients’ recovery. These people believed that they should have recovered 100%, and the lawyer should have found another way to recover their fees. I want to clarify that this would not be legally possible or permissible. Unfortunately, under Florida law, the only way for car accident attorneys to get paid is to charge a percentage from our client’s recovery.
Doctors Get Paid, Too
Additionally, before we give you any money, we are often legally required to reimburse health care providers, or health insurance companies, if they paid for your care, or gave you care on credit. However, one part of our job, which we take very seriously, is trying to negotiate with your medical providers about the amount of their bills. We work hard on this goal, so that you get more money in your pocket. I have no monetary or other connection to any doctors. But part of an auto accident attorney’s job is to recover your medical bills. If a doctor or health insurance company has already paid them, then they become legally entitled to that portion of your recovery.
There Are Costs Unrelated To Car Accident Attorney Fees
Car accident attorneys also must charge “costs.” Costs put no money in our pocket, meaning we do not profit from them. Instead, they include things like doctor depositions (sometimes required), court reporters, trial exhibit prep, filing fees, medical record copying fees, radiographic films, accident reports, investigator fees, copy charges, and phone charges. Also, if we have to file a lawsuit, then have to pay a filing fee, deposition fees, and process server fees. We might also have to pay additional investigator fees, expert witness fees, trial exhibit fees, video services fees, and various other related fees.
Unfortunately, spending money on these expenses is sometimes required to best present your case. However, we sincerely do everything possible, at all stages of your case, to help you get the most money possible. The good news is that you owe nothing toward these costs, if for any reason your lawsuit is unsuccessful. Also, we are often able to settle cases before we must pay the biggest ticket items, such as doctor depositions, and trial exhibit preparation. We do everything possible to make that happen, again to reduce necessary costs that must be subtracted from your recovery. So, in a high percentage of cases, these costs are minimal. However, when cases cannot be easily settled, and get closer to trial, they may involve higher costs, like doctor depositions, or trial exhibit prep. We only spend that extra money if we really believe, in our best professional judgment, that you would net more in your pocket, making the expense worth the cost.
Billboard Verdicts Can Be Very Misleading
Many of the billboards advertising huge verdicts are extremely misleading. They do not explain that all of these fees, medical bills, and costs must be subtracted from your recovery. (They also do not explain that all large settlements and verdicts are based on catastrophic injuries or fatalities.) I can’t speak for other law firms. But we do everything possible to keep all of your costs and expenses to the bare minimum. Our highest priority goal is to have you walk away with the most money possible.
If you want to know how to get the highest possible car accident settlement or verdict, read this post.
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About Me
Tina Willis, Orlando Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyer
Hello! I'm Tina Willis, a serious injury, accident & wrongful death lawyer based in Orlando, Florida. I graduated second in my law school class (1997) and taught federal civil procedure & legal writing at Barry University in Orlando. Before representing injury victims, I worked for a major defense firm representing excess insurers, including Lloyd's of London, where we oversaw the work of regular insurance defense lawyers on large verdict cases. So I know their defense tactics, and what it takes to maximize car and big truck accident cases.
I work with a small group of highly experienced lawyers focused on moderate to catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases: car accidents, commercial & semi-truck crashes, medical malpractice, and slip and fall accidents. We are trial attorneys who stay accessible to our clients, and we've recovered multi-millions for clients throughout Florida.
Voted a top-three winner for Best Personal Injury Firm and Best Law Firm in Orlando Weekly's 2026 Best of Orlando readers' poll.