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Trial Pro P.A. is proud to advocate for accident victims all over the state of Florida, including from our Central Florida office in Orlando. Our dedicated experienced personal injury attorneys handle a range of legal matters, from employment disputes to auto accidents claims. We can use our knowledge and legal skills to help you not only achieve a favorable outcome but relieve the legal burden on your shoulders as well. Our entire team understands how challenging and confusing litigation can be, which is why we are here for you through every step of the process.

The Trial Pro, P.A. attorneys, carry more than a century of collective legal experience and decades of working together as a team. We have represented hundreds if not thousands of people who have been injured due to car accidents, slip-and-fall, worker's compensation cases, and more. One thing that is clear to us is the essence of partnership. Without it, Trial Pro, P.A. could not be as effective in attaining success for our clients.

What is a Contingent Fee?

Frequently Asked Questions - What is a Contingent Fee?
What is a Contingent Fee?

A contingent fee is a way of paying an attorney for his services based on the outcome of the case.   Typically, a contingent fee is based on a percentage of the amount recovered by the attorney.  Because a contingent fee is based on a percentage of the recovery, it is suitable for use only in cases in which the relief sought is a money judgment.  Contingent fees are most commonly used in personal injury cases and are prohibited for use in domestic relations cases and criminal cases.

It is not uncommon for the contingent fee percentage to vary based on the amount recovered or the stage of the proceeding at which the recovery is obtained.  For example, the contingent fee might be set at one-third of any recovery up to $1,000,000 with lesser percentages applicable to recoveries between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 and over $2,000,000 if the recovery is obtained before an answer or a demand for arbitration is filed.  Where the recovery is obtained after an answer or a demand for arbitration has been filed, the percentages might increase to 40% of the first $1,000,000, 30% of amounts between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000, and 20% of amounts in excess of $2,000,000.  To illustrate how a contingent fee works, if the contingent fee is one-third and the lawyer eventually recovers $150,000 for his client, his contingent fee is $50,000.  The lawyer receives his fee only after he has recovered money for his client and the client has received his share of the recovery.  If the lawyer fails to recover anything for the client, the lawyer does not receive anything and the client does not owe any fee to the lawyer.

The advantage to the client of a contingent fee arrangement is that it does not cost the client any money out of the client’s pocket.  This can be especially important if the client has been injured and is unable to work.  In such a situation, the client can ill afford to use his or her limited resources to pay for legal services, where it may take months or even a year or more to secure a recovery.  More importantly, the client is not risking any of his or her remaining funds on the chance that there may be little or no recovery, as could be the case if the other party’s insurance is inadequate or if there are disputed facts as to which person is at fault in the accident.

In the absence of a contingent fee arrangement, a lawyer is often paid based on the time spent by the attorney and an hourly rate that is based on the lawyer’s experience and the area of law involved.  However, hourly rates are usually billed monthly and the client is expected to pay the bill within 15 days of receipt.  In litigation matters, it is extremely difficult to predict how much time will be required to see a case through to completion, because the amount of time actually required is heavily influenced by how the other side chooses to defend the lawsuit.  If the other side chooses to vigorously defend the lawsuit, then the time required to prepare and try the case could be substantial and could easily exceed an amount that the client could realistically afford to pay.  Of course, in a contingent fee arrangement, the lawyer is required to provide the services regardless of the amount of time required to complete the case.  Thus, the risk of loss (i.e., that the time required to complete the case is disproportionately large in relation to the recovery) is borne by the lawyer and not by the client.

The Florida  bar rules governing lawyers’ conduct require that all contingent fees be clearly set forth in writing and must “state the method by which the fee is to be determined, including the percentage or percentages that shall accrue to the lawyer in the event of settlement, trial or appeal, litigation, and other expenses to be deducted from the recovery, and whether such expenses are to be deducted before or after the contingent fee is calculated.”  The written agreement must be signed by the client and by a lawyer on behalf of the law firm.  The client must receive a copy of the signed contract for his or her records.  The Florida bar rules also require that a contingent fee agreement include certain required language, including language permitting the client to cancel the contract within three (3) business days of its being signed.

As part of its standard contingent fee agreement, The Trial Professionals also advance the necessary out-of-pocket costs to see a case through to its successful conclusion.  For example, there are often costs involved in obtaining medical treatment following the accident.  If the client does not have health insurance, the law firm may advance funds to pay for the client’s medical treatment.  As the law firm investigates the case, it often incurs charges for medical records and police reports.  When a lawsuit is filed, the clerk of the court where the suit is filed charges a filing fee.  As additional pleadings are filed in the court record, additional court costs are incurred.  As the case proceeds to trial, it is common for each side to take depositions.  A deposition is a procedure whereby a party or a witness is examined under oath before a court reporter who compiles a written record of everything that is said at the deposition.  In an appropriate case, a video record may be made of the deposition.  It is not unusual for a court reporter’s fee to exceed $1,000 for a single deposition.  It may also be necessary to engage expert witnesses.  For example, a medical expert may be needed to testify as to the medical care required to deal with the client’s injuries, the fact that the client’s injuries were caused by the accident, and to the effects that the client’s injuries will have on the client’s future life experience.  An economic expert may be needed to testify as to the effect that the client’s injuries have had on the client’s past earnings (i.e., lost earnings) and as to the effect that the client’s injuries will have on the client’s future earning capacity (i.e., future earnings).  In a case involving extremely complex injuries, it may be necessary to hire experts to testify as to the client’s future medical needs and life care expenses.  The law firm advances all of these costs and then is reimbursed for these costs out of whatever sums are recovered.  These cost reimbursements are in addition to the law firm’s legal fee.  However, if nothing is recovered, the law firm is not reimbursed for the costs that it has expanded.

If you have any questions regarding a contingent fee, you are more than welcome to call any of The Trial Professionals’ trial attorneys.

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Personal Injury Attorneys
Committed to Your Personal & Financial Recovery


Our goal is to make the process as easy as possible for you. You don't even have to come into our office if you cannot travel or adjust your schedule to make it to us. We're more than happy to come to you!

In addition to traveling directly to our clients, the team at Trial Pro, P.A. also pledges to provide clear advice and regular client communication. We know how vital regular contact with our clients is - we never leave you hanging or delay our responses. 

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After experiencing an automobile accident, the last thing you desire is to have an attorney at hand that doesn’t know how to represent you adequately. You want a reputable law firm that will.
Personal Injury Attorneys
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We put our knowledge and legal abilities into action to assist you to attain a positive outcome and ease the legal stress from your shoulders simultaneously. Trial Pro, P.A., holds a reputation for achieving real success for clients. Please leave it to us to fight wisely but aggressively. 
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Experiencing a car accident can be frustrating and scary, but our promises to you are fully authentic. Trial Pro, P.A.'s injury legal attorneys, do not under-deliver. Instead, we do everything in our capabilities to go above and beyond your expectations. 
Car Accident Lawyers
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It would help if you didn't have to beg for a call back from your attorney. It would be best if you didn't have to beg for an update on your case. At Trial Pro, P.A., we don't operate in that manner. We constantly call our clients to give them updates on their claims. If we miss a call, we promise always to return it.
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Our objective is to enable our clients to relax and concentrate on healing, recognizing that the legal professionals at Trial Pro, P.A. holds the knowledge and resources to adequately tackle all the legal and financial specifics associated with their dispute.
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Based in Florida, Trial Pro, P.A. represents clients across Florida from our offices in Miami, Orlando, Ft. Myers, Naples, Delray Beach, Jacksonville, and Daytona Beach. We are dedicated to fully serving you to every degree. We vow to make the entire process of working with us as easy and as stress-free as possible. Therefore, we are more than happy to meet with you at your home, place of employment, hospital room, or other business that you find more convenient. You are always welcome to come into our office as well.

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Trial Pro P.A. is proud to advocate for accident victims all over the state of Florida. Our dedicated, experienced personal injury attorneys handle various legal matters, from employment disputes to auto accidents claims. We can use our knowledge and legal skills to help you not only achieve a favorable outcome but relieve the legal burden on your shoulders as well. Our entire team understands how challenging and confusing litigation can be, which is why we are here for you through every step of the process.

Trial Pro P.A. Orlando Office

  (407) 300-0000

 250 N Orange Ave 14th Floor
Orlando, FL 32801


Trial Pro P.A. Tampa Office

  (813) 522-5444

 1000 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 512
Tampa, FL, 33602


Trial Pro P.A. Naples Office

  (239) 300-0000

 870 111th Ave N #1
Naples, FL 34108


Trial Pro P.A. Fort Myers Office

  (239) 400-5000

 9341 Marketplace Rd
Fort Myers, FL 33912


Trial Pro P.A. Melbourne Office

  (321) 586-2088

 2551 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Suite 102
Melbourne, FL, 32935

Contact Info
250 N Orange Ave, 14th Floor
Orlando, FL 32801
help@trialpro.com
(407) 300-0000


Our law firm fights aggressively -- always determined to win your case. 

Trial Pro, P.A. Car Accident Attorneys
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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. The Information presented at this site should not be construed as formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. For medical advice and treatment, you should contact a licensed medical professional.