How Much Does a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

November 25, 2022 | Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers | Personal Injury

People often wonder if they need a Tampa personal injury lawyer to represent them after an accident or personal injury. In most cases, it is in a person’s best interest to have legal counsel.

The insurance company has a team of lawyers, claims adjusters, investigators, and other professionals protecting it from liability. Likewise, accident victims deserve to have a team of lawyers and legal staff fighting to ensure they receive fair compensation for their injuries and damages.

The good news is that you can find out if you need a personal injury lawyer at no cost during a free consultation. Keep reading to find out more.

It Does Not Cost Anything To Meet With a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer for an Initial Consultation

Most accident attorneys offer free consultations. Therefore, it does not cost you anything to meet with a lawyer to discuss your case.

During a free consultation, you can expect to:

Describe what happened to you and provide details of your injuries
Get answers to your questions about personal injury claims and your specific case
Learn about your legal rights and the laws governing your injury claim
Discuss the options for recovering compensation for your damages
Learn how much your personal injury claim is worth
Discuss how much it costs to hire a Tampa personal injury lawyer for your case

Initial consultations are confidential. You have no obligation to hire a lawyer after the meeting. If the attorney believes they can help you with your case, they’ll explain their legal fees.

How Do Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers Charge for Their Services?

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers states that attorneys must charge reasonable amounts for attorneys’ fees. Whether an attorney’s fee is reasonable depends on the facts and circumstances of the case.

Factors that impact the reasonableness for a lawyer’s fee include:

The complexity and type of personal injury case
The attorney’s experience, skills, education, and certifications
A lawyer’s reputation and track record
The average legal fees charged by lawyers in the area for similar cases
The results obtained for the claim, including the amount recovered
Whether the case settles through negotiations or at trial

Different lawyers use different methods for charging clients for legal services. Methods of charging for attorneys’ fees include:

Flat Fee

Some lawyers charge a flat fee to handle a legal matter. Flat fees are often used in real estate, estate planning, and uncontested divorces. Flat fees are usually associated with cases in which the lawyer knows how much time they expect to spend working on the case.

Hourly Fees

Other lawyers charge for their services based on an hourly fee. They often require the client to pay a retainer when they hire the law firm.

The attorney bills their time in increments of an hour against the retainer amount. When the retainer is depleted, the client may need to pay an additional lump sum, or the lawyer might send monthly bills to the client.

Hourly fees are typically used in litigation and other legal matters in which the lawyer might not know how much time they will spend resolving the matter.

Contingency Fees

Most personal injury lawyers in Florida use contingency fees. The attorney’s fee is based on the amount the lawyer recovers for the personal injury claim.

For example, suppose the attorney and client agreed to a 33% contingency fee for a car accident case. The lawyer recovers $750,000 for the client through a settlement agreement. The attorney’s fee would equal 33% of $750,000, totaling $247,500.

The attorney deducts the contingency fee from the settlement proceeds before the client receives their money. If the lawyer does not recover any money in the client’s case, the client does not owe the lawyer any money for their legal services.

Why Do Tampa Personal Injury Attorneys Use Contingency Fees?

Accident victims are often out of work while they recover from their injuries. Many people do not have the money to hire a lawyer while trying to make ends meet. Therefore, injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis to offer affordable legal services to injured victims and their families.

With a contingency fee, you know your lawyer is invested in recovering the maximum amount available for your case. The lawyer’s fees are directly impacted by the amount recovered in your case. Therefore, your personal injury attorney is incentivized to do everything possible to maximize recovery.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer in Tampa Cost?

Your cost for a personal injury lawyer in Tampa depends on your case. Florida has strict rules about contingency fees. The agreement must be in writing and specify the percentages charged for each stage of the case. The contingency fee can be negotiated with the lawyer, but the state sets maximum limits on contingency fees in most personal injury cases.

Before you sign a retainer agreement or contingency fee agreement, read the entire agreement. Ask questions about any terms or conditions that you do not understand. Specifically, pay close attention to who is responsible for paying for the costs of the case.

In addition to the attorneys’ fees, you might be responsible for paying certain expenses, such as:

Postage and copy fees
Deposition fees
Mileage and transportation costs
Fees to obtain medical records, crash reports, and other documentation
Expert witness fees
Trial preparation costs

Generally, the law firm pays the costs as they are incurred during the case. However, you are responsible for reimbursing the law firm for these costs from the settlement funds. If the lawyer does not win your case, ensure you know whether you are expected to reimburse the lawyer out of your pocket.

Don’t Let the Cost of a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Prevent You from Seeking Legal Advice

Insurance companies prefer you not to meet with or hire a personal injury lawyer. An insurance adjuster might tell you that you are wasting your money by hiring a lawyer to do something you can do for yourself. The insurance company only wants to take advantage of your lack of legal knowledge about claims to pay you less than your injury claim is worth.

Most people do not realize that their personal injury claim is worth more money than the insurance company offers to settle. Therefore, failing to consult a personal injury attorney about your case could cause you to receive much less than you would have recovered with the help of an accident attorney.

Contact the Tampa Personal Injury Law Firm of Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, please contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Tampa today. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Lakeland.

We proudly serve Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, and its surrounding areas:

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 223-6200

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D, Clearwater, FL 33764
(727) 493-4418

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Office
111 2nd Ave NE Suite 350, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 314-5988

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
5006 Trouble Creek Rd Unit #200, Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 910-5060

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Lakeland Office
1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd Suite 18, Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 251-6196

Karla Rogers

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Best lawyer ever! I had an accident gave them a call and like three months later, case Settled and full payout... Excellent service!

Lenette Montalvo

1695641293

Christopher from Winter and Yonker was amazing. Very nice person to talk to, listen to what I had to say, and even gave his opinion when needed. From start to finish I felt very important and I was impressed by this law firm every one i spoke to made me feel safe and comfortableto. My accident has done a lot of damage to me, and knowing I had an attorney from Winters and Yonker on my side made me feel great. My compensation for my accident is amazing and it will help me in my life. Thank you very much I will definitely recommend this law firm.

coleman vera

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I went to Winter & Yonker Law Firm for my Tampa car accident case I was involved in. My case manager throughout the process and she took care of me from start to finish. The process was very seamless, I received the medical treatment that I needed immediately and at the very end, concluded with a very rewarding settlement. I've worked with a few law firms from prior accidents and none can compare to the service OR expertise I received from Mr. Yonker.👉 If you're seeking help for an injury related case, I would definitely recommend working with him and their amazing legal staff at Winter & Yonker Firm in Tampa. I will always use this firm for all my Personal Injury Claims! If you are l@@king for an Attorney to give you Top Notch legal help and the MOST money for your Pain & Suffering then take it from me I'm a paralegal and this firm continues to OUTSHINE them all!

Meredith Wilson

1694489029

This was my first personal injury experience. I wanted to choose a law office I could trust. A friend of mine recommended the law offices of Winters & Yonker, Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa. Through the entire process Attorney Marc Yonkers was helpful and communication was stellar. I never felt out the loop. I felt confident throughout entire process. Which this month (Sept. 2023) they were able to settle my accident case successfully and to my 100% satisfaction. I cannot recommend Winters & Yonker and or Marc any higher. In short they are firm, fair, aggressive, responsive, super smart and know the numerous ins and outs of Personal Injury cases (which can be quite complicated). Upon hiring them you get a law firm that will leave you confident that your case will be handled expertly and with your interests front and center.

Geneva Ramirez

1694089126

Winters and Yonkers has been a legend of the Tampa Bay personal injury Attorney community for a long time. I was in a car accident recently with my husband, we suffered back and neck pains after two days and thought to get someone’s help. I found Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers through a google search and called them right up. The same day Mr. Winters contacted both of us, listened, and was compassionate to our situation. He helped us through the entire process including getting me seen by a Doctor so we could heal our injuries correctly, and we got our medical bills reduced! Bill Winters, my case manager, and the entire staff were very knowledgeable and exceptional at their work. We would like to express my sincere gratitude to them and recommend them without any hesitation to anybody who needs help, don't try and fight the at fault's insurance on your own. If you're injured and need someone to protect your rights you won't find a better Attorney than Bill Winters at Winters & Yonkers!-Geneva, Tampa FL#personalinjurylawyer #caraccidentlawyer #tampainjuryattorney

Shelley Torres

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Bum Boi

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My wife and I are work in Mediation and Arbitration but know nothing about personal injury cases. When a young delivery Truck driver who was distracted by his phone hit us at full speed and rear-ended us as we were stopped in traffic on Wesley chapel. We knew we needed to hire the best lawyers with PI experience and expertise in the Tampa legal community that we could.From our first phone call with Bill Winters and then all the way through Trial preparation then Trial, we never felt any bad about our case because we knew Bill and the entire staff at Winters and Yonker would take care of us.Their dedication, innovation, motivation, reliability, unparalleled intellect, and exceptional skill as trial lawyers make them extraordinary individuals. My experience working with them was nothing short of exceptional. Experiencing a car accident is an ordeal that encompasses fear, trauma, and frustration. It's a life-changing event in anyone's life. There was no amount of money that could ever make me alright, because I would give any amount of cash to not have to go through the nightmare that the car accident was and continues to be.It took almost 2 years from the time of the car crash to go to trial, but ultimately the jury verdict that Bill Winters got for my family was worth fighting for. There were so many times over the course of the three years that we actively realized how amazing it was that we felt no anxiety or concerns or worries about our case, because Bill is truly outstanding!If you or anyone you know gets hurt in a car accident, call Winters and Yonkers RIGHT AWAY! And then rest assured that you, your family, or friends are being cared for by the ABSOLUTE BEST legal team in Tampa Bay. Thank you, Winters & Yonker!

Glenda Litimco

1693536170

Winters & Yonker law firm did excellent work with my injury case. Luckily, I was referred to Winters & Yonker from a good friend after I was injured in a car accident. I did some initial research about injury lawyers near me, but the reviews for this office really stood out to me in Tampa. I decided to call and after a single phone conversation, the choice was easy to make! Not only was everyone extremely professional, they made the entire process smooth and clear. I was at ease with each step of the way because they were always there to answer my questions and keep me informed of what was happening. All expectations were met and my settlement was exceeded. I got much more than I thought was even possible from the insurance company. I highly recommend the Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, and their team in Tampa to anyone in need of help after a car, truck, or motorcycle accident. You'll be in good hands!

Dandrea Ikner

1693513818

This is the best lawyer in town

Nicky Warner

1692997375

Max was amazing! He kept me updated throughout the whole process and was extremely easy to talk with. He also explained everything so I can completely understand it. It was an amazing experience. Thank you, Max!

Erika Smith

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I had a great experience with them! They truly care about you!! Thank you so much🤗

Jonathan Clem

1692661489

I was injured in a car crash here in town. Since it was essentially a "he said she said" accident case the opposing insurance claimed it was a 50/50 fault. Even though it clearly could not have been my fault. However, Bill worked diligently to get me everything I was needed to get my life back. He worked to get me access to all the doctors I needed and medical treamtment for my neck and back. Plus, a large settlement amount. Bill even took the time to calm me down when I saw the initial amount and cost for seeing my medical bills piling up! He even managed to get them to reduce their bills significantly! Plus, I received as much as possible. Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa provided a great legal service. They were strait forward and honest about the approach, and communicated every aspect of the process. The firm took care of everything. I would 100% without a doubt recommend him if I knew someone that need a personal injury attorney. Given the circumstances of our introduction I hope I never have to, BUT Bill Winters will definitely be my first call if I'm ever injured again!

marie silvers

1692107771

They are the Best! They care about you as a person!

jorden reagan

1692106640

Everyone on their staff is amazing! Chris and Sara won my case and helped me out with an accident that occurred a few months back. They made the entire process so easy! They called with case updates but not too often where it was constant phone calls. It was just enough to know what was going on the whole time without being bombarded. Thankful for Tayler on their staff who helped inform me on why Winters and Yonker was the best choice to go with!

Kimberly Rushton

1691849813

Yes, I would highly recommend winners in Yonkers. I worked with Trevor and Trevor was the best. I recommend anyone that ever needs a lawyer to go to them. They are the best.

Pat Pawelkop

1691761083

Highly recommend. Bill Winters and his staff took time to answer my questions, and handled my case in a timely and professional manner. I almost didn't contact a lawyer over my "small" injury case because I feared it would be so difficult and stressful. But he got me the settlement that my insurance company owed me, and I would never have been able to do that on my own. And with less stress that I anticipated. I'm glad I called them.

Amysway Barton

1691599586

Always available

Certified Soul

1691535470

Winters and Yonker is who you want to go to when you get in a car accident because they will take care of you and won’t let you get low balled on your settlement. I got in a car accident where my back and shoulder was injured and I was referred to a attorney named Trevor. I appreciate Trevor for handling my case and keeping me informed with all the information I needed.

Sean S

1687270653

One of the best law firms in Tampa. My family was involved in a serious car accident. We went to that other personal injury firm with the two M's they were trying to make us settle the case quickly and they we're not listening to us with the arrogant attitude that they were the experts and we were just ignorant. We promptly fired them and then hired Winters & yonker. Our settlement was 5 times higher than what the MM wanted to settle for.I would like to thank Winters and Yonkers entire staff for a wonderful experience. They were all very knowledgeable and walked us through the whole process. We really felt like they cared, unlike the other firm.

Linda Robinson

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I’m giving Winters & Yonker a shout out. My mother fell in Winn Dixie afew months ago. Her first choice wasMorgan & Morgan; however, after theinterview with them they decided not to take the case. My perception was that it was not a big enough case for them. I knew that she deserved to be compensated for her injuries, and I had mad faith in Winters & Yonker from using them in the past. They not only took the case but settled it in record time. Thanks Winters and Yonker, and I like to send a special thank you to Christopher Smith, who was never to busy when I needed answers. I would recommend your law firm to anyone. I found you to be ethical, professional, and respectful to my family, but most of all you will fight for the little guy. Much love and respect. God bless you all and your families👏👏👏👏

Reuben Rodriques

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Other said it couldn't be done called your law firm and immediately you got on it impressive shocking furthermore you showed integrity did what you had to do though you didn't have to do it and I was shockingly pleased thank you you surprised me had I to choose any other law firm I would not hesitate to call you or share my experience with my friends thank you once again from me and my family amen

Hameed Owens

1684355539

PATRICK IS THE GOAT 🐐 I WAS INJURED ON A PROPERTY THAT CLAIM THEY DIDN'T COVER MY INJURY PATRICK SAID BE PATIENT & LET HIM WORK!:& HE DEFINITELY DID JUST THAT!!!: HE CHANGED MY LIFE 🐐💯

Enrique

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Myrtle Graham

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I was searching for a local car accident lawyer near me after I was rear-ended by someone earlier this month. I was being pushed around by the at-fault driver's insurance company and needed some legal help.I found Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers through Google Maps and decided to get a free consult. I called the Tampa office of this firm and talked to them about my options. I briefly told them of my situation and was connected to Bill shortly after. He was extremely informative and was very professional. By the end of the same day he had me meet with a private investigator and referred me to a chiropractor nearby. Great customer service, and I look forward to how well my settlement will turn out. I know I am in good hands!