Understanding Your Rights When You Hire an Injury Attorney

Did you or a loved one got injured because of someone else’s negligence? You have all the legal right to hire a Florida personal injury attorney to help you seek justice and recover proper compensation for your accident-connected losses. But before hiring a personal injury lawyer, you should be aware of your rights as a client.

• There’s no law that requires attorneys to charge clients a set percentage or fee recovered in a personal injury case. You have the right to discuss fees with the attorney and talk to other attorneys if you fail to agree on a fair fee with one attorney.

• You’re free to cancel a contingency fee contract within three days of signing the agreement. However, if you discharge your attorney without proper cause following the three-day grace period, you’ll have to pay the attorney for work they have already done in connection with your case.

• Your attorney should tell you everything about their education, experience, and training and give you a written copy of this information if you need it.

• Before you sign the contingency fee agreement, your attorney should inform you whether they will handle your case on their own or whether other attorneys will also be working on your case.

• Your attorney should tell you in advance how you’d pay all the legal fees and expenses at the conclusion of your case. You must likewise receive a reasonable estimate of all future necessary costs.

• Your attorney must inform you of the possible negative consequences of losing your case. These could include money that you might need to pay your attorney for legal costs as well as liability for the other party’s attorney fees and expenses related to the case.

• You should receive a closing statement of the case costs at the conclusion of your case and approve it before you pay anything. This statement should include a list of the entire case’s financial details, including all expenses, the attorney’s fees, and the recovered compensation amount. Keep in mind that your attorney will not be able to pay anyone any money, including you, unless you approve the financial statement or without a court order.

• You have the right to ask about what’s happening with your case at reasonable intervals and have your queries answered in a way that you fully understand how your case is progressing.

• You, and you alone, can make the final decision about the settlement of your case. Your attorney should immediately inform you of any offers the other party makes during the trial, and you must consult with your attorney whether or not to accept a settlement offer.

• If you believe that your attorney has charged you an illegal or excessive fee, you can report the attorney to the Florida Bar.

Get In Touch with The Skilled Florida Personal Injury Attorneys of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos

To learn more about your rights as a client and how the experienced Florida personal injury attorneys of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos can help, contact us online or call (727) 441-9030 to arrange your free case review.