Car Accident Lawyer Fees in Texas: Questions to Ask Before You Hire

A contingent fee ties the attorney’s fee to the outcome of the matter. Under Texas Disciplinary Rule 1.04(d), the agreement must be written and explain the calculation. If percentages differ for settlement, trial, or appeal, those differences must be stated. Read the actual terms rather than assuming one percentage applies throughout the case.

Ask for a worked example using clearly hypothetical numbers. Identify the starting amount, each deduction, and the amount remaining for the client. That example should explain the agreement, not estimate the value of your claim. If an explanation does not match the document, ask for clarification before signing.

Fees pay for legal services; case expenses can include items such as records, filing fees, depositions, or expert work when needed. Ask which expenses are anticipated in your matter, how they are approved, whether the firm advances them, and when you would be responsible for paying them. Do not infer the answer from a short marketing phrase.

Rule 1.04(d) also requires the agreement to identify expenses deducted from a recovery and explain whether they are deducted before or after calculating the contingent fee. Ask separately what the agreement says about expenses if there is no recovery. Keep a copy so you can revisit those terms when an unexpected issue arises.

• Who approves a substantial expense before it is incurred?
• Can I ask for an updated expense summary during the case?
• How would a change in the investigation affect the expected costs?

Ask whether the proposed representation addresses injury claims, vehicle damage, insurance disputes, litigation, and any appeal, as applicable. These are questions to clarify, not a suggestion that every matter requires every service. Identify who the client is if several people were involved in the crash, and ask how potential conflicts would be evaluated.

The State Bar of Texas’s January 2026 guidance on engagement letters emphasizes defining the scope of work and explaining expenses. A practical conversation should leave you able to describe what the firm has agreed to do and what would require a separate discussion. Ask which attorney you will communicate with and how questions about billing will be handled.

A gross settlement amount does not answer how much would ultimately be paid to you. Ask how attorney fees, case expenses, and any medical bills or reimbursement claims would be identified and addressed in your situation. Bring health insurance information and letters requesting repayment so the attorney can consider the actual documents.

Ask what records you would receive explaining the final distribution and how you could raise a question about it. Avoid choosing a lawyer solely because someone predicts the largest settlement or quotes the smallest headline percentage. The quality of the explanation and the scope of the work matter when comparing the proposed arrangements.

Tell the lawyer if you have already hired someone or signed a fee agreement. Ask what the proposed document says about ending representation, a change of counsel, or a referral to another firm. Do not assume a new agreement automatically answers obligations under an earlier one.

For a consultation with the Law Office of Claudia Lopez, PLLC, bring the agreement you are considering, your claim information, and a short list of cost questions. English and Spanish are available. Ask for explanations of any unfamiliar terms so your decision reflects the written arrangement proposed for your case.