Yes, and the fear that stops people is usually the wrong one.
You will not normally pay two full fees. Where a case is handled on contingency, the outgoing and incoming firms divide one fee between them based on the work each did. You are not charged twice for the same recovery. Florida caps contingency percentages by rule in any event, so the total does not expand because two firms were involved. How the fee schedule works.
What it actually costs you is time. A new firm has to obtain the file, read the medical records, and get up to speed. On a claim mid-negotiation that is weeks, not days.
Reasons that are worth acting on
- Nobody returns your calls, or you cannot get a straight answer about where things stand
- You have never spoken to the lawyer, only to staff
- You are being pushed to accept an offer you do not understand
- Your treatment is not complete and settlement is being urged anyway
- The firm has not identified who else might be liable, or which policies exist
Reasons that usually are not
- It is taking a long time. Most delay is medical, not legal — a claim should not be valued before it is clear how the injury heals. What actually sets the pace.
- The first offer was low. First offers usually are. That is negotiation, not neglect.
How to do it sensibly
Get a second opinion before you move. Most firms will look at a file at no charge, and a second view may simply confirm the case is being handled properly.
Ask about the deadline first. Florida’s filing deadline does not pause because you are changing representation. If you are close to it, say so in the first sentence — that changes what a new firm can realistically take on.
Do not sign a settlement release while you are deciding. That ends the claim permanently, whoever is acting.
Ask for the file. You are entitled to your own file, and a reputable firm will transfer it without argument.