| Our fees are
usually based on a percentage of what we collect through your
claim, which means we get paid when you get paid. This is called
a "Contingency Fee Agreement". In addition to the contingency
fee agreement, we will pay up
front the disbursements or expenditures needed to properly
present and negotiate your claim with the insurance company.
Disbursements are bills and invoices we receive from various
sources while putting your claim together for presentation in
the best possible light. These expenditures often include things
like doctors’ reports and other medical records, expert reports
from other professionals such as accident reconstruction
engineers and economists, as well as court filing fees,
transcripts, police accident reports and many other things
needed to make sure all realistic aspects of your claim are
looked after. |
 |
Our contingency fee
agreements are always in writing as required by law in BC. In
addition, the Rules of the Law Society of British Columbia
provide
that, subject to the Supreme Court approving a higher fee, the
maximum amount that a lawyer may charge in a claim for personal
injury or wrongful death arising out of the use or operation of
a motor vehicle is 33.3% of the total amount recovered. For
any other claim involving personal injury or death, the maximum
fee is 40% of the total amount recovered. As a further means to
protect you, the Legal Profession Act of British Columbia allows for any party
to a contingency fee agreement to apply, if they wish, to a Judge
of the Supreme Court of British Columbia for a determination as
to whether the agreement is fair and reasonable. |
