Attorney Fees & Case Costs – L&I

Written By:

l&i lawyer chris sharpe Christopher Sharpe
Home Attorney Fees & Case Costs – L&I

Attorney Fees in Washington Workers Compensation Cases

Attorney fees are an important consideration when looking for legal help. Let’s talk about attorney fees right now.

Do I Want an Attorney? Do I Need an Attorney?

These are questions you should be asking. Answer them by looking at the facts of your L&I claim. Look also at the medical and vocational opinions in your claim file. Think about how much money is at stake. Can you afford to lose it? How much experience do you have with L&I claims? Do you understand the law? Do you have the evidence needed to prove your case and make it a winner? Is your case good enough that a lawyer will take it?

Not sure? Call us for a free consultation and strategy session.  206-984-4009.

Can I Afford an Attorney? What are Lawyer Fees Going to Cost Me?

Contingent legal fees do not require upfront payment. You don’t pay any attorney fees if you don’t win your case. If you win, you pay a percentage of the recovery. With a contingent fee, you can afford good legal representation.

L&I Attorney fees at our firm and most law firms are based on a contingent fee agreement. Lawyers offer to handle claims on a contingent basis when they believe in the case and the client. We only take cases for clients we believe in. We offer contingent legal fees.

When we win your case, attorney fees are a percentage of the money the attorney recovers for you.  If you are offered a contingent fee agreement, it will be in writing; read it.  No matter how much you trust your new lawyer be sure to carefully read any fee agreement put in front of you.  Ask questions.  Know what the deal is. It’s the smart thing to do.

How do Contingent Fee Agreements Work?

A contingent fee means you only pay a legal fee if you win. And then, only out of the money that your lawyer recovers for you.

Why Would a Client Want a Contingent Fee Agreement?

  • Contingent legal fees provide access to justice. Persons who can’t afford or don’t want to pay attorney hourly fees upfront can still get first-rate legal help. The contingent legal fee opens the courthouse doors to all persons with a good legal case. If you are offered a contingent fee agreement, your lawyer believes he can win your case.
  • Injured persons have suffered a loss before they ever needed an attorney.  Paying a lawyer up front feels like losing twice.  Nobody wants to do that.  Injured persons with a strong case but limited funds need legal help. The contingent fee agreement allows that.

Why Would a Lawyer Agree to a Contingent Fee?

Dentists don’t do that. Doctors don’t do that. You’ll never find a doctor who gets paid only if the surgery is successful. Why would an attorney agree to get paid only if he wins?

  • It provides access to justice. Contingent fee agreements allow deserving clients to get a fair legal result without the risk of losing both the case and the fees.
  • Keeping track of time in a case is distracting and a waste of time for the lawyer.
  • Contingent agreements motivate the lawyer. Everybody loves a winner, and lawyers are no exception. They will be motivated to work smart and get that win.
  • Contingent fee agreements encourage the lawyer to take only the cases he believes he can win.

Contingent Fee Agreements Work

  • They work for the client if a lawyer will take their case
  • They work for the lawyer when they win
  • Contingent Legal Fees level the playing field. They allow injured workers access to good lawyers.

Limits on Attorney Fees. Average Attorney Fees in L&I Cases

There are legal limits on attorney fees in L&I cases.  Attorney fees before L&I or at the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals are limited in three ways: by statute, reasonableness, and best practices.

  • Statutory attorney fees. By statute, L&I attorney fees are limited to 30% of the increase in award secured by attorney services. RCW 51.52.120
  • Reasonableness. According to the statute and the Washington State Bar Association, attorney fees must be reasonable.
  • Best Practices. Attorneys informally set additional limits on their fees based on what they believe is fair.  For example, for time loss benefits secured by attorney services, 30% of past due time loss and 15% of ongoing time loss are considered fair by most attorneys. However, 30% of ongoing time loss is probably not fair in most cases.  Discuss legal fees with your attorney.  If your current attorney or the attorney you are considering hiring charges you too much, say something.

Case Costs

Case costs are different from attorney fees. They are expenses incurred in handling your case. For example, an injury case needs medical records. We order the medical records, review them, and use them as part of the case; we do not charge for that. The doctor, however, charges for a copy of the records; that charge is a case cost. The client is responsible for eventually paying this case cost.

Some lawyers want clients to pay costs in advance, some want costs paid as the case proceeds, and some will advance costs until the end of the case when money is awarded. Good lawyers recover money for the client in almost every case. When they advance costs for a client, they are repaid out of the money they make L&I pay you.

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

Information and Referrals

Information for free.  This information on this website is a free service that allows you to make informed choices about your L&I claim. If you contact us, we will do our best to answer your initial phone or e-mail questions about your injury claims at no charge.

Referrals. Christopher Sharpe is the “of counsel” attorney at the Walthew Law Firm, the oldest and best workers’ compensation law firm in the State. He refers clients needing active L&I legal assistance to the partners at the Walthew Law Firm.

Meet Our L&I Attorneys

The Walthew Law Firm

The Walthew Law Firm specializes in workers’ compensation. With over 90 years of combined experience, our dedicated attorneys help individuals navigate injury claims and secure the compensation they deserve quickly. We prioritize our clients over businesses and insurers, fiercely advocating for injured workers’ rights and best interests.

Read More About The Walthew Law Firm

How to Get A

Free Consultation & Case Evaluation

Consultation Form

Complete the free case evaluation form below.

Get Started

Phone Call

Available:
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Email

Send an email message through our contact form.

Send A Message

Schedule an Online Meeting

Schedule a free 30 minute consultation online.

Free Case Evaluation Form

The information you provide to us is private and confidential information. It will not be disclosed to anyone.

Name(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Where Did The Injury Occur?(Required)
Tell us about your injuries, your job, and how you were hurt. Tell us about what is on your mind. What can we do for you??
After submitting this form, we will reply to you today or by the next business day.

The Smart Way to Find Out If You Have a Good L&I Case.

Get a free consultation from a lawyer: Tell us about your concerns, and let us show you smart choices you can make for your claim. At the end of the call, you will have fresh ideas and an action plan, no matter what you decide. You will know that you have taken essential steps to get your claim moving in the right direction. Protect yourself and your L&I claim with a free case consultation.

Don't Guess

Don't guess about the value of your claim. Don't compare your claim to someone else's. YOU are unique. Your facts and your injuries make your case unique. Get an expert opinion about your claim from an experienced L&I lawyer. Expertise counts, so use it to your advantage. Consultations are free. This free strategy session will help you understand what is happening and what to do.

Are Attorney Consultations Really Free?

Yes, they are free. Because both you and the attorney want to know if your case is any good. A free phone consultation or email gets that figured out quickly. Questions are answered for free, and no time is wasted. Call or email or fill out our free Case Evaluation form for legal assistance to determine what is going on with your claim and what you should do. A free consultation is going to help.