Feature

What Will Actually Come Out of Your Injury Settlement?

By Petra Novak · August 8, 2026 · 23 min read

Scope note: This article provides general information, not legal advice. Personal injury lawyer fees, expense obligations, liens, and settlement-disbursement rules can vary by jurisdiction, claim type, and case facts. A fee agreement is the primary record of the proposed financial terms, but it remains subject to applicable law, professional-conduct rules, court orders, and enforceability requirements. Review the agreement with qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction before signing or authorizing a distribution.

The short answer: how personal injury lawyers commonly charge

Plaintiff-side personal injury lawyers commonly work on a contingency fee. Instead of charging an upfront attorney fee or sending hourly bills, the lawyer receives an agreed percentage of money recovered through a settlement or court award. If the claim produces no recovery, the agreement generally provides that no contingency attorney fee is due.

Approximately 33% to 40% is a repeatedly cited benchmark in the supplied commercial legal sources, but it is not a universal rate, a legally fixed national standard, or an independently verified nationwide average. A legal-directory overview describes that range as typical while emphasizing that the actual cost depends on the lawyer, agreement, recovery, and stage of the case (Super Lawyers’ overview of personal injury attorney costs).

The proposed percentage may depend on:

The lawyer and law firm
The jurisdiction
The type of injury claim
The expected work and financial risk
The difficulty of proving liability and damages
The likely duration of the matter
The need for investigators or expert witnesses
Whether a lawsuit must be filed
Whether the case reaches trial
The terms of the written agreement

Some agreements charge one percentage throughout the representation. Others use a sliding or tiered fee that increases when a specified event occurs, such as filing a lawsuit or beginning trial.

Hourly and flat-fee arrangements also exist, although the supplied sources describe them as less common for plaintiff-side personal injury matters. An hourly arrangement charges for time worked. A flat fee sets a defined price for a limited service or scope of work.

Most importantly, the advertised contingency percentage does not necessarily equal everything that will come out of a recovery. Three separate categories may reduce the amount delivered to the client:

Attorney fees for legal services
Case expenses incurred to investigate, develop, negotiate, or litigate the claim
Liens, reimbursement claims, or other authorized deductions

That is why comparing “33% versus 35%” is not enough. The better comparison is the complete settlement waterfall: the percentage at each stage, the amount to which that percentage applies, when expenses are deducted, who owes expenses after an unsuccessful case, and what other payments may come from the proceeds.

How a contingency fee works from hiring through payment

A contingency fee is an agreed share of compensation recovered for the client. The attorney’s right to the fee depends on obtaining a settlement, judgment, or another recovery covered by the agreement.

A simplified timeline looks like this:

The lawyer and client sign an agreement. The agreement identifies the contingency percentage and should address expenses, calculation methods, the scope of representation, and other financial terms.
The firm handles the claim. Depending on the matter, the lawyer may investigate, collect records, communicate with insurers, prepare a demand, negotiate, file suit, conduct discovery, retain experts, or prepare for trial.
The claim succeeds or ends without a recovery. If compensation is recovered, the contingency fee becomes payable under the agreement. If there is no recovery, the client generally owes no contingency attorney fee.
The recovery is processed. The supplied sources describe settlement funds as commonly being sent to the lawyer, with authorized fees and expenses deducted before the remaining amount is forwarded to the client. The exact handling procedure and timing depend on applicable rules, the agreement, and whether any claimed deductions are disputed (Whitley Law Firm’s general description of contingency payments).
The client receives the remaining proceeds. Before distribution, request a written breakdown of the recovery and every proposed deduction.

The critical qualification is that no upfront attorney fee does not necessarily mean no out-of-pocket cost under every circumstance.

A firm may advance filing fees, records charges, deposition costs, or expert fees while the matter is active. Depending on the agreement, those amounts might be:

Reimbursed only from a successful recovery
Absorbed by the firm if the claim is unsuccessful
Payable by the client even if there is no recovery
Paid by the client as they arise

Read the contingency-fee provision and the expense provision separately. An agreement may waive the attorney fee after a loss while still making the client responsible for some advanced expenses.

Why the agreement matters more than the slogan

Phrases such as “no win, no fee” and “you pay nothing unless we win” are advertising summaries, not complete financial terms. They may describe the lawyer’s compensation without answering:

Who pays filing, deposition, and expert costs
Whether the client must repay costs after an unsuccessful case
Whether the percentage rises after a lawsuit is filed
Whether the fee is calculated before or after expenses
Whether an appeal or post-judgment work requires another agreement
What happens financially if the representation ends early
How liens and reimbursement claims will be addressed

Ask the lawyer to translate each advertising phrase into a direct written answer. If a consultation explanation appears inconsistent with the proposed agreement, resolve the difference before signing.

The agreement is the principal source of the negotiated terms, but it does not operate in isolation. Applicable law, professional-conduct rules, court orders, and other mandatory requirements may affect whether and how those terms can be enforced.

Why the percentage may change after filing suit or going to trial

Some personal injury fee agreements use different percentages at different stages. The stated rationale is that litigation can require more work and expense than negotiating a claim before suit.

After a complaint is filed, the work may expand to include:

Drafting and responding to pleadings
Written discovery
Document review and production
Depositions
Motions and court hearings
Expert analysis and testimony
Mediation
Trial exhibits and witness preparation
Jury selection and trial

The supplied commercial sources report schedules similar to the following:

Stage of the case	Illustrative contingency fee
Recovery before a lawsuit is filed	33%
Recovery after filing but before trial	35%–36%
Recovery at trial	40%

This is an illustration, not a standard schedule. One Texas firm publishes an example using 33% before filing, 36% after filing but before trial, and 40% following a trial award (Sutliff & Stout’s tiered-fee example). Another firm says its own percentage does not increase when a lawsuit is filed or a case proceeds to trial, demonstrating that escalation is not universal (LJB Legal’s description of its firm-specific policy).

Find the exact trigger

A proposed agreement should identify the event that moves the fee into the next tier. Vague language such as “if litigation is necessary” may not tell you enough.

Ask whether the increase occurs when:

The complaint is drafted
The complaint is filed
The defendant is served
The defendant responds
Discovery begins
A deposition occurs
Mediation begins
Trial preparation starts
Jury selection begins
The trial itself begins

The distinction can affect the final fee. For example, if filing alone triggers a higher percentage, that rate may apply to an offer accepted shortly after suit is filed even if no deposition or trial occurs.

Terms such as “at trial” also need clarification. Ask what exact event the agreement treats as the start of trial.

A low initial rate may not be the final rate

When comparing lawyers, do not look only at the pre-suit percentage. Ask:

What percentage applies if the claim settles after a demand?
What percentage applies immediately after filing?
Does the rate change during discovery or mediation?
What event triggers the trial rate?
Does the quoted scope include post-judgment collection?
Would an appeal require a new agreement or different terms?

The evidence supplied here does not establish a reliable general appeal rate. Appeal and post-judgment terms must be confirmed from the proposed agreement and applicable local requirements.

A tiered fee is not automatically more expensive, and a fixed percentage is not automatically cheaper. A fixed rate might begin higher, while a tiered rate might remain lower if the claim resolves early. Compare the complete terms against realistic paths the case could take.

Attorney fees, case expenses, and liens are different deductions

A useful estimate begins by placing each proposed deduction in the correct category.

Attorney fees

The attorney fee is payment for professional legal services. Under a contingency agreement, it is expressed as a percentage of the covered recovery.

For example, if the agreement applies a 33% fee to a $100,000 recovery, the arithmetic is:

$100,000 × 0.33 = $33,000 attorney fee

A 33% calculation on a $100,000 recovery is also used in published fee illustrations, but it does not by itself show the client’s final proceeds because costs and other deductions may remain (Parker & McConkie’s fee illustration).

Case expenses

Case expenses are expenditures incurred to investigate, prepare, negotiate, or litigate a claim. They are distinct from payment for the lawyer’s services and are not necessarily included in the contingency percentage.

Depending on the matter, expenses may include:

Court filing fees
Service-of-process fees
Medical records
Police or incident reports
Deposition fees
Court reporters and transcripts
Investigators
Expert witnesses
Accident reconstruction
Mediation fees
Subpoenas
Trial exhibits
Travel
Copying and postage

An Indiana firm’s guide, for example, separates attorney compensation from expenses such as filing fees, records, experts, depositions, reconstruction, copying, postage, and travel. It also describes advancement of costs as a practice that can depend on the firm and agreement (Habig Injury Law’s explanation of case-related costs).

Expense arrangements differ. A firm might advance costs and seek reimbursement from a successful recovery. Another might require the client to pay some expenses as they arise. A firm may also treat ordinary record charges differently from a substantial expert or reconstruction expense.

Ask whether the lawyer will consult you before incurring a major expense. This is a budgeting request, not a claim that client approval is legally required in every jurisdiction.

Also ask whether the proposed agreement permits:

Interest on advanced costs
Third-party financing
File-opening or administrative charges
In-house copying or document-production charges
Travel charges
Technology, storage, research, or processing fees

Small charges can accumulate over a long matter, so request a clear explanation of what can be billed and how each charge is calculated.

Medical liens and reimbursement claims

A medical lien or reimbursement claim, at a general level, is an asserted right by a provider, insurer, benefits program, or another payer to receive payment from injury proceeds. It is separate from the attorney fee and case expenses. The existence, validity, amount, priority, and enforceability of such a claim can depend on the payer, jurisdiction, governing documents, and case facts. One Massachusetts law-firm overview identifies healthcare providers, private insurers, government benefit programs, and workers’ compensation insurers as possible claimants while emphasizing a jurisdiction-specific context (DiBella Law’s overview of medical liens and reimbursement claims).

Do not use medical bill and medical lien interchangeably. A bill is an amount charged for care. A lien or reimbursement claim is an asserted legal or contractual right to payment from a recovery. Whether any particular obligation must be paid from settlement proceeds requires case-specific analysis.

Before settlement, ask:

Which potential liens or reimbursement claims have been identified?
What amounts are currently claimed?
How will each claim be reviewed?
How will disputed amounts be handled?
Who will communicate with the payer or provider?
Will each payment appear separately on the closing statement?
What happens if a claim remains unresolved when funds arrive?
Does the agreement impose any separate charge for related work?

Do not assume that a claimed amount will be reduced. For planning purposes, use the documented amount currently asserted unless qualified counsel provides a supported basis for another estimate.

Gross versus net fee calculations: the order of deductions matters

Two agreements can state the same contingency percentage and still produce different client proceeds. The difference may be whether the percentage is calculated before or after case expenses are deducted.

For this discussion:

Under the gross method, the percentage is applied to the full recovery before case expenses are subtracted.
Under the expenses-first method, sometimes called a net method, specified expenses are subtracted first and the percentage is applied to the remaining amount.

The label “net” is not reliable by itself. The actual formula matters more than the label.

Side-by-side example

A published Texas law-firm illustration uses these assumptions:

Gross recovery: $100,000
Case expenses: $10,000
Contingency percentage: 33%
No liens included

Under that illustration, the gross method leaves $57,000 before liens, while deducting expenses first leaves $60,300 before liens (Keith & Lorfing’s gross-versus-net illustration).

Method 1: Fee calculated from gross recovery

First calculate the fee:

$100,000 × 33% = $33,000

Then subtract the fee and expenses:

$100,000 gross recovery
− $33,000 attorney fee
− $10,000 case expenses
= $57,000 before liens

Illustrative client proceeds before liens: $57,000

Method 2: Expenses deducted before calculating the fee

First subtract expenses:

$100,000 gross recovery
− $10,000 case expenses
= $90,000 fee base

Then calculate the fee:

$90,000 × 33% = $29,700 attorney fee

Finally, calculate the remaining proceeds:

$100,000 gross recovery
− $10,000 case expenses
− $29,700 attorney fee
= $60,300 before liens

Illustrative client proceeds before liens: $60,300

Why the difference is $3,300

The expenses-first calculation leaves the client with $3,300 more in this illustration:

$60,300 − $57,000 = $3,300

That difference arises solely from calculation order. Under the gross method, the fee includes 33% of the $10,000 later used to reimburse expenses:

$10,000 × 33% = $3,300

The example does not establish which method a particular lawyer must use or which is more common. It shows why the agreement’s formula needs to be tested with actual numbers.

Questions the contract should answer

Ask for direct answers to the following:

What counts as the “recovery” used to calculate the fee?
Are case expenses deducted before or after the percentage is applied?
Are all expenses treated in the same way?
How are liens and reimbursement claims placed in the calculation?
Does the formula change at different case stages?
How are delayed, periodic, or noncash components handled?
What happens if the available recovery does not cover every proposed deduction?
Does an amendment or later agreement change the calculation?

Do not accept “we calculate it on the net” without a numerical example. Ask the lawyer to apply the proposed formula to the same hypothetical recovery, expenses, and liens you use when comparing other firms.

From gross recovery to take-home payment: a complete settlement waterfall

A basic planning formula is:

Gross recovery − attorney fee − reimbursed case expenses − valid liens or reimbursement claims − other authorized deductions = estimated client proceeds

This is a budgeting framework, not a prediction. A larger gross recovery does not by itself reveal what the client will receive.

Complete $100,000 illustration

Assume:

Gross recovery: $100,000
Attorney fee calculated on gross recovery: 33%
Reimbursed case costs: $5,000
Medical liens: $20,000

A Utah law firm uses these figures in a simplified settlement-deduction example, producing estimated client proceeds of $42,000 (Parker & McConkie’s settlement-deduction example).

First calculate the attorney fee:

$100,000 × 33% = $33,000

Then calculate the estimated client proceeds:

$100,000 gross recovery
− $33,000 attorney fee
−  $5,000 case costs
− $20,000 medical liens
= $42,000 estimated client proceeds

This is an illustration, not a forecast. It assumes that every listed deduction is valid, authorized, and final; that the fee is calculated from gross recovery; and that no other adjustment applies.

Why a settlement headline can be misleading

Someone who hears that a case settled for $100,000 might subtract approximately one-third and expect around $67,000. That estimate ignores expenses and liens. It could also use the wrong fee tier or calculation base.

For a more realistic estimate, keep separate fields for each component:

Item	Current estimate
Gross recovery	$_____
Applicable fee percentage	_____%
Fee calculation base	$_____
Attorney fee	$_____
Filing and service	$_____
Records and reports	$_____
Depositions and transcripts	$_____
Investigators and experts	$_____
Mediation and trial costs	$_____
Other reimbursable expenses	$_____
Provider claims	$_____
Insurer or benefit reimbursement claims	$_____
Other authorized deductions	$_____
Estimated client proceeds	$_____

Update the worksheet when the fee tier changes, a significant expense is incurred, or a claimed reimbursement amount is documented.

Variables a simple calculator may omit

A basic calculator may not account for:

A higher fee tier after filing or at trial
Disputed or unresolved liens
A legally required reduction in the recovery based on case-specific rules
Appeal or post-judgment costs
Delayed or structured payments
Multiple claimants
A change of lawyers
Co-counsel or referral arrangements
Court involvement required for a particular claimant or claim type
Case-specific tax treatment

These subjects are highly dependent on jurisdiction and facts. This article does not establish how any of them will affect a particular recovery. Ask qualified local counsel—and, where appropriate, a qualified tax professional—before relying on an estimate involving them.

Ask for an itemized closing statement

Before authorizing final disbursement, request a written statement showing:

The gross recovery
The fee percentage
The amount used as the fee base
The attorney fee
Every reimbursed expense
Every lien or reimbursement payment
Any amount being held back and the stated reason
Every other proposed deduction
The exact amount to be delivered to the client

Treat this as a recommended consumer-protection request unless qualified local counsel identifies a specific legal requirement that applies to your matter. Compare the statement with the signed agreement and any amendments, and ask for supporting detail when an item is unfamiliar or materially different from an earlier estimate.

What happens to fees and expenses if there is no recovery?

A contingency agreement generally provides that no contingency attorney fee is due if the claim produces no recovery. That does not automatically determine what happens to expenses.

An unsuccessful case can still generate third-party charges, including:

Filing and service fees
Medical or police records
Deposition transcripts
Expert analysis
Investigation
Mediation
Trial exhibits
Travel

Firms describe different approaches. Some say they absorb advanced expenses after an unsuccessful case. Other agreements may require the client to reimburse some or all costs. One Texas firm says it typically advances case expenses and usually does not seek repayment after an unsuccessful case, but that is a description of its own practice rather than a market-wide rule (Webster Vicknair MacLeod’s firm-specific cost policy).

The proposed agreement is the starting point for determining expense responsibility, subject to applicable law and enforceability requirements. Ask for a direct written explanation rather than relying on “nothing upfront” or “no attorney fee unless we win.”

No-recovery checklist

Before signing, confirm:

Attorney fee: Is the contingency attorney fee waived if no money is recovered?
Advanced expenses: Does the firm absorb them, or can it bill you?
Expense categories: Are ordinary costs treated differently from expert or court costs?
Payment timing: Must you pay anything while the case is active?
Interest: Can interest accrue on advanced expenses?
Financing: Will a third party finance any expense?
Withdrawal: What does the agreement say if the lawyer withdraws?
Termination: What does the agreement say if you end the representation?
Appeal: Who would fund appeal-related expenses?
Documentation: Can you request a current expense ledger?

Use a concrete hypothetical:

“If the case ends with no recovery after the firm has spent $15,000 on filing fees, depositions, records, and experts, how much could I be required to pay under this agreement?”

The $15,000 figure is only a test assumption, not an estimate of likely costs. Ask the lawyer to identify the agreement language and applicable rules supporting the answer.

Advancing an expense is not necessarily the same as forgiving it. The agreement should explain whether an expenditure is reimbursable only from proceeds, payable regardless of outcome, or absorbed by the firm if the case is unsuccessful.

How to compare fee agreements before choosing a lawyer

Compare proposed personal injury lawyer fees using the same assumptions for every firm. That makes it easier to identify meaningful differences instead of focusing on advertising language.

1. List every percentage and trigger

Ask each lawyer to complete a table like this:

Event	Fee percentage
Settlement before filing suit	_____%
Settlement after filing	_____%
Settlement during discovery	_____%
Settlement at mediation	_____%
Settlement during trial preparation	_____%
Verdict or award at trial	_____%
Post-judgment work	_____%
Appeal	_____%

Require a clear description of the event that triggers each increase. Terms such as “litigation” and “trial stage” should not be left to assumption.

2. Confirm the calculation base

Ask:

Is the fee based on gross recovery?
Are specified expenses deducted first?
Where do liens and reimbursement claims enter the calculation?
Does the formula remain the same at every tier?
How does the agreement define “recovery”?
How are delayed or noncash components treated?

Request a written example using the same recovery, expense, and lien assumptions for every lawyer you interview.

3. Separate included work from additional expenses

Ask which services the percentage covers and which charges are separate, including:

Filing and service
Medical and police records
Depositions and transcripts
Investigators
Expert witnesses
Accident reconstruction
Mediation
Travel
Subpoenas
Copying and postage
Trial exhibits
Technology or administrative charges
Financing and interest

Do not assume that an item is included because another firm includes it.

4. Determine who advances costs

Confirm whether:

The firm advances ordinary expenses
The client pays some costs directly
A client deposit is required
Large expert expenses receive separate treatment
Costs are reimbursed only from a successful recovery
The client may owe costs after a loss
Interest or financing charges can accrue

If the firm says it absorbs expenses after a loss, ask for that term in the written agreement.

5. Set an expense-approval process

Consider asking the lawyer to:

Notify you before hiring a costly expert
Provide a projected litigation budget
Seek approval before exceeding an agreed threshold
Send periodic expense summaries
Explain material departures from the estimate

The purpose is not to micromanage routine work. It is to create a communication process for expenses large enough to affect the eventual take-home amount.

6. Ask how liens will be handled

Discuss:

How potential claims will be identified
When current amounts will be requested
Who will evaluate disputed claims
Whether the agreement identifies any separate charge for related work
How unresolved claims may affect distribution
How each payment will appear on the closing statement

Do not assume that a lien or reimbursement claim can or will be reduced. Base your estimate on documented amounts and case-specific advice.

7. Cover appeal and post-judgment work

Ask whether the proposed scope includes:

Post-trial motions
Collecting or enforcing a judgment
Responding to an appeal
Filing an appeal
Work involving delayed or periodic payments

The supplied evidence does not establish standard terms for these services. Confirm whether another agreement would be required and what happens to expenses incurred before that point.

8. Ask what happens if you change lawyers

The financial consequences of terminating one lawyer or hiring another can depend on the agreement and local law. The evidence here does not support a nationwide rule.

Ask qualified local counsel:

Whether the former lawyer may assert a claim against a later recovery
How advanced costs would be documented and handled
Whether changing lawyers could affect the total amount charged
What notices or approvals may be necessary

Do not assume either that changing lawyers means paying two full contingency fees or that it has no financial consequences.

9. Clarify referral and co-counsel arrangements

If another lawyer or firm may participate, ask:

Will another firm share the fee?
Does the arrangement change the total percentage charged to you?
Who is responsible for each part of the work?
Who advances expenses?
Who communicates settlement offers?
What written disclosures or approvals apply locally?

This article does not establish nationwide rules for fee division. Focus on the total amount charged to you and obtain jurisdiction-specific advice.

10. Ask whether the terms are negotiable

The supplied commercial sources describe contingency terms as sometimes negotiable, particularly where a claim appears likely to resolve early. That does not mean any lawyer must reduce a proposed rate. Negotiability depends on the lawyer, case, expected work, risk, timing, jurisdiction, and applicable rules (Super Lawyers’ discussion of flexible and negotiable fee terms).

Possible discussion points include:

A lower percentage for a pre-suit recovery
A later or more precise escalation trigger
An expenses-first calculation
Limits on specified administrative charges
Approval for major expenses
Treatment of a recovery obtained shortly after hiring
The calculation used for delayed or noncash benefits

Do not negotiate only the headline percentage. A lower percentage applied to a larger fee base, combined with additional charges, may cost more than a slightly higher percentage under different terms.

11. Obtain and retain the complete paperwork

Keep copies of:

The signed fee agreement
The expense policy
Any engagement or scope documents
Disclosures concerning participating lawyers
Amendments changing the fee or scope
Major expense authorizations
Settlement authorization documents
The final itemized closing statement

Read amendments as carefully as the original agreement. Do not wait until funds arrive to ask whether the percentage or calculation method changed.

12. Verify local and claim-specific rules

General descriptions cannot replace current authority in the relevant jurisdiction. Different or additional rules may apply to matters involving:

Minors
Medical malpractice
Workers’ compensation
Class actions
Government claims
Appeals
Court-supervised settlements
Protected or structured proceeds

Confirm applicable statutes, court rules, professional-conduct rules, and approval requirements through current primary authority or qualified local counsel.

The central comparison is the expected net recovery, not the lowest number in an advertisement. “No fee unless you win” does not answer who pays expenses after a loss, and a low pre-suit percentage may not remain in effect after filing. Compare the fee at each stage, the calculation base, expense responsibility, lien handling, and every other proposed deduction in writing.

Frequently asked questions

Is 33% a standard personal injury lawyer fee?

One-third is a commonly cited benchmark in the supplied commercial legal sources, especially for matters resolved before trial, but it is not a universal standard or legally fixed national rate. Those sources repeatedly discuss an approximate 33% to 40% range, while also saying that the actual percentage varies by agreement, lawyer, jurisdiction, risk, complexity, and stage of the matter.

Ask whether the quoted 33% applies throughout the representation or only before a specified event. Also confirm whether it is applied to gross recovery or to an amount remaining after specified expenses.

Can a personal injury lawyer’s percentage be negotiated?

Sometimes. The supplied fee overviews describe contingency terms as potentially negotiable, but they do not establish that a lawyer must lower a proposed rate. The answer depends on the lawyer, case, timing, expected work, financial risk, jurisdiction, and applicable rules.

Negotiation can address more than the percentage. It may include escalation triggers, calculation order, approval of major expenses, administrative charges, and treatment of a recovery obtained shortly after representation begins.

Do I owe case expenses if my lawyer does not recover money?

Possibly. A contingency agreement generally eliminates the contingency attorney fee when there is no recovery, but it may treat case expenses differently. Some firms describe policies under which they absorb advanced expenses after a loss; other agreements may require reimbursement.

Read the no-recovery and cost provisions together, subject to applicable law. Ask for a written answer explaining what you could owe if the matter ends without compensation.

Why might the contingency fee increase after a lawsuit is filed?

Filing suit can add discovery, depositions, expert work, motions, mediation, trial preparation, and trial. Some firms use higher percentages to account for that additional work, cost, and risk.

A published illustration uses 33% before filing, 36% after filing but before trial, and 40% following a trial award, but it is only one firm’s example—not a universal schedule (Sutliff & Stout’s illustrative tiered schedule). Other firms advertise an unchanged percentage. The agreement should identify the exact event that triggers an increase.

Are attorney fees calculated before or after medical liens?

There is no universal answer established by the supplied evidence. The agreement’s formula, applicable law, and the nature of the asserted lien or reimbursement claim may affect the calculation. Liens should not be treated as interchangeable with case expenses.

Ask the lawyer to show the proposed sequence explicitly:

Gross recovery
− attorney fee
− case expenses
− liens or reimbursement claims
− other authorized deductions
= estimated client proceeds

Then ask whether any item is subtracted before the attorney’s percentage is calculated. The actual formula—and any applicable legal restriction—matters more than the labels “gross” or “net.”