Almost every personal injury lawyer in Glendale works on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront, and the firm is paid a percentage of what it recovers for you. If there is no recovery, there is no attorney fee.
What the percentage usually looks like
In California the customary range is around one third of the recovery when a case settles before a lawsuit is filed, rising once litigation begins and again if the matter goes to trial. The figures are set out in the written fee agreement California requires, read that agreement before signing, and ask what triggers each step up.
Case costs are separate from the fee
Costs are the money spent moving the case forward. They are not the attorney fee, and in most agreements they are advanced by the firm and repaid from the recovery.
- Court filing and service fees
- Obtaining medical records and police reports
- Deposition transcripts and court reporters
- Expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction or treating physicians
- Mediation fees
Medical liens
If you were treated on a lien, those providers are paid from the settlement too. A good firm negotiates those balances down, which often makes a larger difference to what you actually keep than a small difference in the fee percentage.
The question worth asking
Do not compare firms on the fee number alone. Ask what your net recovery is projected to be after fee, costs and liens, and ask who will actually handle your file. A slightly lower percentage on a poorly worked case is worth far less than a well-built one.
Talk to us
Baghramyan Law Group PC offers a free consultation for injury matters in Glendale and across Los Angeles County. We will tell you honestly whether a claim is worth bringing.