Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers | October 8, 2026 | Truck Accidents
After a truck accident, concerns about legal expenses can add to the pressure of medical bills and missed work. A contingency fee arrangement can make representation available without hourly attorney billing, but it is important to understand both the fee and the separate expenses of pursuing a claim.
The written agreement should explain the financial terms before representation begins. Advertising phrases such as “no fee unless we recover” should not replace that discussion.
What a contingency fee covers
A contingency fee is an agreed share of a recovery paid for legal services. Under this arrangement, the attorney’s fee depends on obtaining a recovery rather than the number of hours worked.
The Florida Bar’s consumer guide to attorneys’ fees explains that the agreement must be written and signed, specify the fee percentage, and describe expenses and their deduction. Case expenses are distinct from the attorney’s fee. Depending on the agreement, expenses can remain payable even when there is no recovery.
Ask for a copy of the proposed contract and read the entire document. If a term is unclear, request an explanation before signing.
Florida’s fee limits depend on the stage and amount recovered
Rule 4-1.5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar establishes a tiered schedule for covered personal injury and wrongful death matters. Subject to exceptions and court-approved arrangements, the ordinary schedule is:
| Portion of recovery | Before the answer or arbitration-demand milestone, including its deadline | After that milestone through judgment |
| First $1 million | 33⅓% | 40% |
| Portion between $1 million and $2 million | 30% | 30% |
| Portion above $2 million | 20% | 20% |
These are maximum percentages under the ordinary schedule, not a statement of Catania & Catania’s proposed fee. Filing a lawsuit alone is not the relevant dividing point. Special provisions address admitted liability, appellate or collection work, and requests for court approval of higher fees.
Have the proposed agreement reviewed against the rule for your situation. A percentage should not be assumed simply because a case involves a commercial truck.
Case expenses are separate
Depending on the investigation and litigation, expenses may include records, court filings, depositions, transcripts, inspections, and expert work. Not every claim requires every item.
Ask which expenses the firm expects to advance and whether repayment depends on obtaining a recovery. Also ask how additional expenses will be discussed as the case develops.
“No upfront payment” describes when payment is due. It does not necessarily answer whether an expense can become payable later. Likewise, “no attorney’s fee without recovery” does not by itself resolve responsibility for case costs.
The agreement should make these distinctions understandable without requiring you to infer them from a slogan.
Why the order of deductions matters
The contract should explain whether expenses are deducted before or after the attorney’s percentage is calculated. That order can change the amount distributed to the client.
Rather than relying on an example built around a hypothetical truck settlement, request a written illustration using the proposed agreement’s terms. Ask that it show the gross recovery, fee calculation, itemized expenses, and any additional deductions separately.
Medical balances and reimbursement obligations can also affect distribution. They are not the same as litigation costs and may remain unresolved while a claim is pending.
No settlement amount or net payment can be predicted solely from the fee percentage.
What happens if there is no recovery?
Ask this directly and have the answer reflected in the contract:
- Is there any attorney’s fee if no money is recovered?
- Are advanced case expenses repayable if the claim is unsuccessful?
- Are there any other charges or obligations?
- What happens financially if representation ends before resolution?
Do not assume that every expense is waived. The answer must come from the proposed terms and applicable law rather than a general description of contingency arrangements.
Review your rights and the closing statement
For covered contingency matters, Florida’s rules require a Statement of Client’s Rights. It includes a three-business-day period to reconsider and cancel the agreement as provided by the rule. Cancellation can still leave responsibility for reasonable costs already advanced.
When there is a recovery, the rules require a signed closing statement itemizing fees and expenses. Review it and request clarification of any deduction you do not understand.
Keep copies of the fee agreement, rights statement, and final accounting together.
Questions for a consultation
A useful discussion covers more than a single percentage. Ask:
- Which stages change the fee under this agreement?
- Does the agreement include appeal or collection work?
- Which expenses may be advanced, and when would repayment be due?
- Are expenses deducted before or after the fee calculation?
- How will I receive updates about significant case expenses?
- How are outstanding medical obligations addressed?
- What happens if I decide to end representation?
You can also ask what work the firm anticipates and why particular expert services may be necessary. This helps you understand both the legal plan and its potential costs.
Discuss the proposed terms with Catania & Catania
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers offers a free consultation for people injured in truck accidents in Tampa Bay. Call (813) 328-6085 or contact the firm through its website to discuss your claim and the proposed representation terms.
Before hiring the firm, ask it to explain the fee agreement and confirm how advanced expenses would be handled in your individual matter. You should leave that discussion knowing what is contingent on recovery, what could be payable separately, and how any recovery would be accounted for.
This article provides general information, not legal advice or an offer of particular fee terms. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fees and expenses depend on the written agreement and applicable rules. No recovery or outcome is promised.
Contact Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation With a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured anywhere in the Tampa Bay area and need legal help, please contact Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers. We have five convenient locations across Florida, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, and Sarasota, serving clients throughout the greater Tampa Bay region.
We proudly serve Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Manatee County, Sarasota County, and surrounding areas across Florida:
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
Bank of America Plaza, 101 E Kennedy Blvd Suite 2400, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
Phone: (813) 222-8545
Hours: 24/7
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Office
146 2nd St N Suite 310-R, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States
Phone: (813) 536-3527
Hours: 24/7
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
600 Cleveland St Ste. 329, Clearwater, FL 33755, United States
Phone: (813) 773-8254
Hours: 24/7
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers – Bradenton Office
1215 Manatee Ave., Ste. 106, Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (813) 896-4192
Hours: 24/7
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers – Sarasota Office
2033 Main St Ste. 514, Sarasota, FL 34237, United States
Phone: (941) 401-0141
Hours: 24/7
