Attorney fees can be hourly and/or contingent. L&I and personal injury lawyers almost always use a contingent fee agreement. 

Contingent attorney fees are usually a percentage of the money recovered. The contingency is usually the winning of the case or the successful recovery of money for you. Contingency fee agreements must be in writing. No recovery means no attorney fees.

Case costs are different than attorney fees. Case costs are expenses incurred in the handling of your case. For example, an injury case needs medical records. Ordering and reviewing the medical records is the law firm's job and should be included in the attorney fee at no extra cost. The money the doctor charges for a copy of the medical records is a case cost. You are responsible to pay this case cost, win or lose. Some lawyers want costs in advance, some will carry cost until the end of the case.

If you hire a lawyer, the fee agreement presented to you will provide the specifics. Read it with care. Ask questions. Know your rights.

Referrals. We make referrals to other attorneys. For some referrals we remain involved and are paid a referral fee by the attorney to whom we send you. This fee is paid by the attorney from his share of the money recovered and not by you. This referral will not increase your attorney fees. Your acceptance of this referral allows us to do this for you.