"No Fee Unless We Win": What It Really Means for You
If you've been seriously injured — or lost a loved one — because of someone else's negligence, you may need a lawyer but feel afraid to call one. For many people, that hesitation comes down to a single, understandable question: How much is this going to cost me?
At Plata Schott Law, the answer is simple. Your consultation is free, you pay nothing up front, and if we don't win your case, you owe us nothing.
But those phrases get used loosely in legal advertising, so let's break down exactly what they mean.
Your consultation is free
A free consultation means exactly that. You can speak with our team about your wrongful death, car accident, or personal injury case at no cost and with no obligation.
You'll have the chance to explain what happened, ask questions, and learn about your legal options — without paying anything just to get answers. Plenty of people call, get clarity, and decide they don't need to hire anyone. That's a perfectly good outcome, and it still costs nothing.
No money up front
Hiring us does not require any out-of-pocket payment. There's no retainer and no deposit. You do not write us a check to get started.
This is possible because we work on a contingency fee — a structure designed specifically so that anyone, regardless of financial situation, can access quality legal representation after an injury.
What is a contingency fee?
A contingency fee means our attorney's fee is a percentage of the money we recover for you — not an upfront bill and not an hourly rate.
Instead of charging you as we work, we're paid only if and when we secure a recovery through a settlement or verdict. If there's no recovery, there's no fee. Our compensation is tied directly to your outcome.
What about case costs? (This is the part most people don't ask about)
Here's where firms genuinely differ, and where it's worth asking hard questions of anyone you're considering hiring.
Pursuing an injury or wrongful death case involves expenses well beyond attorney time:
- Obtaining medical records and billing records
- Retaining expert witnesses — accident reconstruction specialists, physicians, economists, life-care planners
- Court filing fees
- Deposition and court reporter costs
- Investigation expenses
On a serious case, these costs can be substantial.
At Plata Schott Law, you never pay these expenses out of pocket. We advance every cost of building your case as it moves forward.
And if we don't win, we absorb those costs entirely. You will not receive a bill. You owe us nothing — no attorney's fee, and no case costs.
This is worth emphasizing because arrangements differ from firm to firm. "No fee unless we win" does not always mean "no costs unless we win" — in some fee agreements, a client who loses is still responsible for case costs. Whoever you're considering hiring, ask them directly: if we lose, do I owe anything at all? Then make sure the answer appears in the written fee agreement.
So what does "no fee unless we win" mean here?
Plainly: if we don't win your case, you owe us nothing. Not a fee. Not a cost. We absorb what we've invested in your case.
One point of full transparency, because you deserve the complete picture: in litigation, a losing party can in some circumstances be responsible for the opposing party's taxable costs under Florida Statute § 57.041, or for fees and costs following an unaccepted proposal for settlement under § 768.79. That exposure comes from the other side, not from us, and it isn't something any firm can waive on a defendant's behalf. We'll explain when and whether it could realistically apply to your situation before you decide anything.
Why we structure it this way
We believe access to justice shouldn't depend on the size of your bank account.
The people who need a strong advocate most are usually the ones least able to fund a case — they're out of work, facing mounting medical bills, and caring for someone who was badly hurt. If the ability to pay determined who could bring a claim, insurance companies could win most disputes simply by outlasting people.
Our fee structure exists so that you can focus on healing while we focus on your case.
One more reason not to wait
Cost anxiety causes people to delay, and delay genuinely damages cases. Evidence degrades. Vehicles get repaired or scrapped. Witnesses move and memories fade. Insurers secure early recorded statements from unrepresented people.
And Florida law imposes a deadline. Under Florida Statute § 95.11, most negligence claims that accrued on or after March 24, 2023 must be filed within two years of the incident; claims that accrued before that date are generally governed by the prior four-year period. Wrongful death, medical malpractice, claims against government entities, and claims involving minors each carry their own separate deadlines. Once the applicable window closes, the claim is generally gone regardless of its merit — which is why it's worth asking early rather than assuming.
Have questions? Let's talk — for free.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in Jacksonville or anywhere in Northeast Florida, we're here to help you understand your options at no cost.
📞 904-619-5244 📍 4411 Sunbeam Road #23519, Jacksonville, FL 32241
This post is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Specific fee and cost terms are governed by your written fee agreement, which you will have the opportunity to review before signing. Every case is unique and decided on its own facts.