Search Posted in Contingency Fee, Personal Injury, Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Tampa, the first question is usually the same: can I afford a lawyer? The short answer is yes. At Jeff Murphy Law, you pay nothing unless we win your case. This isn’t a special offer. It’s how personal injury law works. The fee structure is called a contingency fee, and it exists so that anyone injured by someone else’s negligence can get experienced legal help. No upfront costs. No hourly bills. No payment if there’s no recovery.
JEFF MURPHY LAW WorkS on Contingency: There’s No Upfront Cost
The fee arrangement used in personal injury cases is called a contingency fee. Your attorney takes no payment at the start of the case. No retainer, no hourly billing, no out-of-pocket costs to hire representation. The attorney’s fee comes only from the money recovered at the end, whether through a settlement or a court judgment. If the case doesn’t result in a recovery, you pay no attorney’s fee at all.
This structure exists for a specific reason: to give anyone injured by someone else’s negligence access to experienced legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. At Jeff Murphy Law, that means the same level of representation for a teacher from Brandon as for an executive from South Tampa.
What is a “contingency fee”?
With a contingency fee, the attorney’s payment comes out of your settlement or court award at the end of the case. If there’s no recovery, there’s no fee. This means Jeff Murphy Law carries the financial risk of your case alongside you. When you win, we get paid. When you don’t, we don’t. That alignment matters. It means your personal injury attorney is working to get you as much as possible, not billing hours regardless of outcome.
What Is the Contingency Fee Percentage in Florida?
The Florida Supreme Court regulates contingency fees in personal injury cases. The standard range is 33% to 40%, depending on when and how the case resolves. Cases that go to trial require significantly more attorney time and resources, which is why the percentage is higher. Most personal injury cases settle before trial. For example, if your case settles for $90,000 with a 33% contingency fee, your attorney receives $29,700 and you take home $60,300. That’s still far more than the average unrepresented claimant receives. A 2023 study found the average settlement for people who handled their own claim was $17,600, compared to $77,600 for those with an attorney.
Does Hiring a Lawyer Actually Pay Off?
The data is consistent on this. The Insurance Research Council studied tens of thousands of auto injury claims and found that people with an attorney received settlements nearly 3.5 times higher than those without one. Even after paying legal fees, represented claimants walked away with roughly 2.3 times more. Insurance companies know what experienced trial lawyers in Tampa are worth. Jeff Murphy, for instance, has 35 years of litigation experience and has handled cases across Florida and the country, including catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims. That track record changes how insurance companies respond.
The Insurance Research Council also found that 85% of all insurance payouts for bodily injury claims go to people with attorneys. If you don’t have representation, the odds are already against you.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Fee Agreement
A fee agreement is a contract. Read it carefully and make sure you understand the answers to these before signing.
- Does the percentage change if the case goes to trial?
- Are expenses deducted before or after the fee is calculated?
- Who covers expenses if the case is lost?
- Is there a sliding scale based on when the case resolves?
At Jeff Murphy Law, we walk every client through the fee agreement before asking for a signature. If something isn’t clear, ask. Transparency is part of the process here.
Talk to Jeff Murphy Law. No Cost, No Obligation.
A free consultation at Jeff Murphy Law costs you nothing and obligates you to nothing. You’ll leave knowing whether you have a claim worth pursuing, what the process looks like, and what Jeff would do with your case. If you decide not to hire us, you’ve lost 30 minutes and gained real information.
Jeff reviews every case personally and has handled injury and wrongful death claims throughout Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and across Florida. He’s been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell with an AV rating (the highest distinction awarded for both legal skill and ethical standards) and by Super Lawyers and U.S. News Best Law Firms. Contact us for a free consultation.
