Understanding Morgan & Morgan Law Firm
What Morgan & Morgan Law Firm Is and How It Operates
Morgan & Morgan is a personal injury law firm founded in 1988 by John Morgan in Orlando, Florida. The firm has grown to become one of the largest personal injury practices in the United States, with offices across multiple states including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, California, and others. As of recent reports, the firm employs over 800 attorneys and operates from more than 40 office locations nationwide.
The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means clients typically do not pay attorney fees upfront. Instead, Morgan & Morgan collects payment only if they win a settlement or verdict in a case. This fee structure allows people without immediate financial resources to pursue legal claims. The firm handles cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and product liability, among other personal injury matters.
Morgan & Morgan has become well-known for its advertising campaigns, particularly through television commercials featuring founder John Morgan. The firm's marketing approach has made it recognizable to many Americans, especially in states where it maintains an active presence. The company also maintains an online presence with a website where potential clients can find information about different types of cases and request consultations.
Understanding how Morgan & Morgan structures its practice helps individuals learn about what happens when they seek representation from a personal injury firm. The firm's size and multi-state operation means it handles thousands of cases annually. This volume allows the firm to have established processes and experienced attorneys in various practice areas.
Practical Takeaway: Morgan & Morgan is a large personal injury law firm operating across multiple states. If you're considering working with any law firm, understanding how it operates, where it has offices, and how it charges fees provides important context for making an informed decision about legal representation.
Understanding Contingency Fee Arrangements
A contingency fee arrangement is a payment structure where an attorney or law firm only receives payment if they win the case or reach a settlement. Morgan & Morgan uses this model for most of its personal injury cases. In practical terms, this means a person injured in an accident does not need to pay the law firm money upfront to have a lawyer represent them.
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Here's how the process typically works: A person contacts the firm about a potential case. An attorney or legal staff member reviews the claim to determine whether the firm might take the case. If they decide to represent the person, they sign a contract outlining the terms. The contract specifies what percentage of any settlement or judgment the firm will receive. Morgan & Morgan's contingency fee percentage varies depending on the case type and circumstances, but commonly ranges from 25% to 40% of the recovery amount.
If the case is settled before trial, the percentage may be lower. If the case goes to trial and the firm wins a judgment, the percentage may be higher. The firm also typically recovers costs associated with the case, such as filing fees, expert witness fees, medical record retrieval costs, and other expenses. These costs are usually deducted from the settlement or judgment before the client receives their portion of the money.
For example, if a person receives a $100,000 settlement and the firm's contingency fee is 33%, the firm would receive $33,000. If case costs totaled $5,000, those would also be deducted. The client would receive approximately $62,000 of the original $100,000 settlement.
This fee structure means clients do not face financial risk if they lose their case—they owe nothing. However, they must understand that any settlement or judgment will be reduced by the firm's fees and costs before they receive their portion.
Practical Takeaway: Contingency fees allow people to pursue legal claims without upfront costs. Before entering into any agreement with a law firm, read the fee contract carefully. Understanding what percentage the firm takes, what costs may be deducted, and how the calculation works is essential to knowing what amount you might receive from a settlement or judgment.
Types of Cases Morgan & Morgan Handles
Morgan & Morgan focuses primarily on personal injury cases, which are legal claims for compensation when someone is injured due to another party's negligence or wrongdoing. The firm handles a broad range of injury types across its multiple locations. Understanding the categories of cases the firm takes helps illustrate the scope of personal injury law.
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Car and truck accidents represent a significant portion of the firm's caseload. These cases involve injuries resulting from vehicle collisions, hit-and-run accidents, and accidents caused by negligent driving. Truck accident cases may involve commercial trucks, and these often require specialized knowledge about trucking regulations and safety standards.
Slip-and-fall cases involve injuries sustained when a person falls on someone else's property due to unsafe conditions. These might include accidents caused by wet floors, broken stairs, poor lighting, or inadequate maintenance. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain reasonably safe premises, and injuries from preventable hazards can form the basis for a claim.
Wrongful death cases occur when someone dies due to another party's negligence or intentional conduct. Family members or the estate may pursue these cases to recover compensation for medical expenses before death, funeral costs, lost income the deceased would have earned, and damages for the loss of companionship and emotional suffering.
Medical malpractice cases involve injuries caused by healthcare providers who fail to meet the standard of care. This might include surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication errors, or failure to diagnose a serious condition. These cases are complex and typically require expert testimony from medical professionals.
Product liability cases involve injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. This might include automobile defects, pharmaceutical side effects, dangerous toys, or faulty equipment. These cases may become class actions involving multiple injured parties from the same product defect.
Practical Takeaway: Morgan & Morgan handles many types of personal injury cases. If you've been injured and believe someone else's negligence caused your injury, learning about the type of case your situation might involve helps you understand whether and how a personal injury law firm might assist.
The Process of Consulting With and Hiring Morgan & Morgan
The first step in working with Morgan & Morgan is an initial consultation. Most personal injury law firms, including Morgan & Morgan, offer free initial consultations. During this consultation, a person explains what happened—details about the accident or injury, how it occurred, and what injuries resulted.
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Consultations may occur in person at one of the firm's office locations, or increasingly, through phone or video calls. For people in areas where Morgan & Morgan has no office, remote consultation options provide a way to speak with someone at the firm without traveling. The person should bring relevant documents to the consultation, such as accident reports, medical records, photographs of injuries or accident scenes, insurance information, and any correspondence with insurance companies.
During the consultation, the attorney or legal staff member will ask detailed questions about the incident. They want to understand exactly what happened, when it happened, where it happened, and what injuries resulted. They'll also ask about medical treatment received, current symptoms or limitations, time missed from work, and other impacts the injury has had. This information helps the firm assess the strength of a potential case.
The firm also investigates whether the statute of limitations allows them to take the case. The statute of limitations is a legal deadline by which a lawsuit must be filed. These deadlines vary by state and by the type of case. In Florida, for example, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is typically four years from the date of injury, but wrongful death cases have a two-year limit. Missing the deadline means losing the right to pursue the case through courts.
After the consultation, the firm decides whether to take the case. They consider factors like the strength of liability (whether fault is clear), the extent of damages (whether injuries are significant), insurance coverage (whether money is available to pay a judgment), and whether they have the resources to handle the case. If the firm decides to take the case, they send a contract to sign that outlines the terms of representation, including the fee arrangement.
Practical Takeaway: Initial consultations with personal injury firms are typically free. Before meeting with any firm, gather documents related to your injury—accident reports, medical records, photos, and insurance information. Be prepared to explain exactly what happened and what injuries you sustained. Having organized information helps the firm evaluate your case quickly.
What Happens After Hiring: The Case Process
Once Morgan & Morgan takes a case, the legal process begins. Understanding the general steps in a personal
This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.