Miami Personal Injury Lawyer — No Win, No Fee

The Law Offices of Albert Goodwin handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. That means there is no fee to retain us, no upfront payment of any kind, and no fee at all unless we recover money for you. We advance every cost of investigation, expert witnesses, court filings, depositions, and trial preparation. If we don't recover, you owe us nothing — not for fees, and not for the costs we advanced.

How Contingency Fees Work in Florida

Florida Bar Rule 4-1.5(f) governs contingency-fee agreements in personal injury cases. The rule sets out a presumptive maximum fee structure that scales based on whether the case settles before suit, in litigation, or after appeal. The standard pre-suit contingency fee is 33⅓% of the recovery up to $1 million, with adjustments for amounts above that. If the case is filed in court and proceeds into litigation, the percentage typically increases to 40% — reflecting the substantially greater work required.

Every contingency-fee agreement in Florida must be in writing, must be signed by the client, and must contain a "Statement of Client's Rights for Contingency Fees" that explains the client's rights and the lawyer's obligations. We provide that document, walk through it with you, and answer every question before you sign.

What Costs Are Covered

Florida personal injury cases involve substantial out-of-pocket costs that our firm advances on your behalf:

• Filing and service-of-process fees
• Court reporters and deposition transcripts
• Medical record and billing record charges
• Expert witness fees — often the largest single cost in a serious case
• Accident reconstruction
• Investigation and surveillance
• Mediation fees
• Trial exhibit preparation
• Subpoenas and witness fees

In a typical Florida slip-and-fall or car accident case, total advanced costs may run from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands. In a serious medical-malpractice or product-liability case, advanced costs can exceed $100,000. We pay these costs out of pocket as the case progresses, and they are reimbursed only from the eventual recovery — never from you personally.

Your Settlement Distribution

When the case resolves, your settlement is distributed according to a written settlement disbursement statement that you sign. The math is straightforward and transparent:

• Gross settlement
• Less attorney's fee (the agreed contingency percentage)
• Less case costs we advanced
• Less any liens (health insurance subrogation, Medicare/Medicaid, hospital, workers' comp, etc.)
• Equals your net recovery

One of the most valuable services a personal injury lawyer provides is negotiating liens — getting health insurers, Medicare, hospitals, and other lienholders to accept reduced amounts. A skilled lawyer can often increase your net recovery substantially through lien negotiation alone.

Why Contingency Fees Make Sense

The contingency fee system aligns the lawyer's incentives with yours. We are paid only if you are paid, and the size of our fee is tied directly to the size of your recovery. That gives us every reason to maximize your recovery rather than to settle quickly for the carrier's first offer. It also gives clients access to legal representation they could not otherwise afford — most personal injury clients cannot pay a lawyer $400 to $700 an hour to handle a case that may not resolve for two years.

The Free Consultation

Before you sign anything, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation. You tell us about your case, we tell you whether we think you have a viable claim and what we believe the case is worth. If we agree to take the case, we provide the written contingency-fee agreement and explain every line of it. If we decline, we tell you so directly — and where appropriate, we refer you to other Florida personal injury lawyers who handle the type of case you have.

If you have been hurt in an accident in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Monroe County, contact the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin. Call 786-522-1411 or email [email protected] for your free consultation. No win, no fee — that is our promise.