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Personal
Injury Questions & Answers
Q.
What is the difference between fees and costs?
A. Fees are what the attorney charges a client for work performed on the
case. Costs are charges from other people, such as doctors, expert witnesses,
the courthouse, investigators, etc. While clients may not have to pay
fees, they are responsible for the payment of costs.
Q. If I hire an attorney on a contingency fee basis, and I lose the case,
what do I owe the attorney?
A. You don't owe him any money for fees. If he has paid any costs for
you, you may owe him for costs.
Q. When a lawyer charges a contingency fee, why does he want a larger
percentage of my compensation award if we go to court?
A. Attorneys often charge a smaller percentage if a matter can be resolved
without going into court. However, once an attorney goes to court, there
is much more work involved in preparing for trial. The larger percentage
required by the attorney is intended to pay him for the additional effort
required in a court proceeding.
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