Choosing help
Choosing a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer
Every billboard promises the same thing. Here's how to actually tell one Florida injury lawyer from another — and what to ask before you sign anything.
Last reviewed: January 2026
How contingency fees work in Florida
Florida injury lawyers work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they recover money. The Florida Bar caps standard contingency fees under Rule 4-1.5(f)(4)(B):
- Pre-suit / pre-answer: 33⅓% of the first $1,000,000;
- After defendant's answer or demand for arbitration: 40% of the first $1,000,000;
- Reduced percentages on amounts above $1M and $2M;
- An additional 5% may be added if the case is appealed.
Costs — filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records — are separate from the fee. Confirm in writing whether costs are advanced by the firm and whether you owe them if the case loses.
Board certification & credentials
Only a small percentage of Florida lawyers are board-certified in civil trial law by The Florida Bar. Certification requires demonstrated trial experience, peer review, and a written exam. It's not the only marker of quality, but it's one of the most reliable.
Check any lawyer's disciplinary history for free on floridabar.org.
Real trial experience
Insurance companies keep detailed data on which firms actually try cases and which always settle. If the defense knows a firm will not take a case to a jury, offers stay low. Ask directly: "How many jury trials have you taken to verdict in the last three years?"
Questions to ask at the first consultation
- Who will actually handle my case day-to-day? (Sometimes the lawyer on the billboard isn't yours.)
- How many active cases do you or my assigned attorney currently carry?
- What's your assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
- Will you send me copies of every letter and pleading?
- How are costs handled if we lose?
- Can you show me representative results in cases like mine?
Red flags
- Guaranteeing a specific dollar outcome. No ethical lawyer can.
- Pressure to sign immediately, especially in a hospital room.
- Vague or verbal fee terms.
- Refusal to identify who at the firm will handle your file.
- Solicitation before 30 days have passed since the accident — the Florida Bar prohibits direct solicitation during that window.