Understanding Contingency Fees: What California Claimants Should Know

A contingency fee means your attorney is paid a percentage of your settlement or award, and only if you actually recover something — if there's no recovery, you typically don't owe an attorney fee.

Contingency fee percentages are often negotiable and can vary by firm and case type, so it's reasonable to ask directly what percentage applies and whether it changes depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial.

Ask specifically how case costs (things like expert witness fees, filing fees, or medical record requests) are handled — some firms deduct these before calculating the contingency fee, others after, and the difference can meaningfully affect what you actually take home.