Hidden attorney fees can make it harder to compare personal injury lawyers. Before hiring a California injury attorney, ask about the entire fee arrangement, including the contingency percentage, administrative charges, and any extra attorney fee for help with your vehicle’s property-damage claim.
In the video above, attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez explains three questions to ask before signing a retainer agreement. A percentage in an advertisement does not tell you every detail of what you may pay.
Look beyond the contingency percentage
A contingency fee generally means the lawyer’s attorney fee depends on recovering compensation. Read the written agreement to understand the percentage, when it applies, and how expenses affect your recovery. Ask whether the percentage changes if a lawsuit is filed or the case goes to trial.
Some firms may also charge administrative fees or an additional fee for assistance with property damage. Ask for an explanation of every charge before you sign. A clearly disclosed charge is different from an unexpected deduction you first learn about at settlement.
Three questions to ask about hidden attorney fees
- What contingency percentage are you charging? Ask which recovery the percentage applies to and whether it changes at different stages of the case.
- Are there separate administrative fees? Ask whether there are additional charges for handling the file and how any such charges are calculated.
- Will you charge me extra to help with vehicle property damage? Clarify whether assistance with repair, total-loss, or related vehicle claims is included in the representation.
Request clear answers in the written fee agreement. Take time to read it and ask about any term you do not understand.
Our firm’s approach to property damage and administrative fees
At The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates, we do not charge our personal injury clients an additional attorney fee to help with their vehicle property-damage claims. We also do not tack on separate administrative fees for handling their cases.
This policy concerns clients we represent in personal injury matters. The scope of representation and the applicable fee terms are set out in the written retainer agreement.
Case costs and expenses are a separate issue
Attorney fees and case costs are different. Depending on the case, expenses may include obtaining records, court filing fees, service of process, depositions, or expert work. Ask which expenses may apply, who advances them, how reimbursement works, and what happens if there is no recovery.
Also ask whether costs are deducted before or after the attorney fee is calculated. The State Bar of California’s guidance on fees and billing encourages clients to understand the percentage and how costs are handled in a contingency arrangement.
Know what you are signing
Compare the whole agreement and the services offered, rather than choosing solely by a headline percentage. Understanding fees at the beginning can help you avoid confusion when the case ends.
To discuss a California personal injury matter with our firm, request a free consultation or call 800-816-1529.
Get Help Now
The Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates has almost 3 decades of experience handling personal injury cases all over the state of California. We have handled thousands of cases and obtained millions of dollars in settlements and judgments for our clients. Call now for a no pressure free consultation with an actual attorney. Call 800-816-1529 extension 1, click the chat button, or click here to submit your case.
Related resources
- Why hire our California personal injury law firm?
- Answers to common personal injury questions
- More California personal injury videos
By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq. This article and video provide general information, not legal advice for a particular matter. Representation requires a signed retainer agreement. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
About Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez
