What if I Can’t Afford an Attorney?

April 1, 2025 | Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers | Personal Injury

After an accident caused by someone’s negligence, you could face serious injuries and financial hardships from the accident. Victims of unexpected accidents can face medical bills, lost income due to missed work, out-of-pocket costs, and other expenses. Paying for an attorney can seem financially out of reach for most people struggling to pay bills after an accident. If you can’t afford an attorney, you still have options to move forward.

What Is a Contingent Fee Agreement?

For those below certain income thresholds, there are referral services for legal help and programs for others in need. Florida’s legal aid programs exist to help connect those who can’t afford a lawyer with attorneys who can offer help at reduced rates, flat rates, or pro bono. Another common approach – especially in personal injury cases – is contingency representation.

A contingency fee agreement involves a payment arrangement in which the client does not pay any legal fees upfront or while the case is proceeding. Instead, attorney fees are paid at the end of the case when the client receives a financial settlement. The client pays nothing unless their attorney wins the case and secures a monetary judgment or settlement. If the claim does not result in payment for the client, the attorney takes nothing, and the client owes nothing.

Under Florida’s legal ethics rules, attorneys and clients must agree on the terms of representation at the start of the case. The contingent fee agreement will set out the percentage that the attorney or law firm will collect at the end of the case following a financial settlement. The attorney’s fee often ranges between 30% to 40% of the overall award, depending on the nature of the case and the costs involved.

What Are the Benefits of a Contingent Fee Agreement?

Contingent fee agreements help because they give accident victims access to the legal representation they need to enforce their legal rights. When dealing with the surprise costs and medical expenses that follow from any kind of serious accident, attorney fees might be impossible for someone to pay out of pocket.

Contingency fees in a personal injury case allow injured victims to get the help they need without worrying about legal costs upfront. After all, the accident victim should not have to bear the full financial burden of an accident caused by someone else. An experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer will cover the costs and expenses involved while the personal injury case proceeds. This approach puts accident victims on equal footing with insurance companies and deep-pocketed defendants when their financial recovery is on the line.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Case Cost?

Personal injury cases can be costly, which is why a proven law firm with knowledge and resources will offer contingency representation to their clients. In addition to attorney fees, personal injury cases can involve:

Costs to obtain evidence for use in the case;
Costs of hiring expert witnesses to testify and support your claim;
Court fees and filing costs;
Costs of miscellaneous supplies and other fees needed to advance your case.

Most injured accident victims cannot afford to pay the costs involved with a personal injury claim.

Suffering injuries from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence can be overwhelming—physically, emotionally, and financially. However, concerns about legal fees should not prevent you from seeking the compensation you deserve. Contingency fee agreements and legal aid programs exist to ensure that accident victims have access to experienced legal representation, even if they cannot afford to pay upfront costs.

Contact a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer from 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