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Typical Attorney Fees Personal Injury

Typical Attorney Fees for Personal Injury Cases in California

For more than 50 years, Kuvara Law Firm has represented injured Californians in over 20,000 personal injury cases. During that time, we have reviewed thousands of fee agreements, negotiated tens of thousands of settlements, and seen exactly how attorney fee structures affect real clients in the real world.

Most people don’t plan to hire a lawyer. It usually happens after a serious accident, at a time when medical bills, lost income, and stress are already overwhelming. One of the first questions we hear is:

“How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?”

This page explains how personal injury attorney fees actually work in California — not from a textbook perspective, but from the perspective of a firm that has been resolving injury claims since 1971, including cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, rideshare accidents, pedestrian injuries, slip & falls, dog bites, catastrophic injuries, and nursing home abuse.

Why You Can Trust Kuvara Law Firm on This Topic

  • Founded in 1971
  • 50+ years practicing California personal injury law
  • 20,000+ injury cases handled
  • Founded by Neal Kuvara, a former insurance adjuster and Army medic
  • Deep experience negotiating directly with insurance companies
  • Approximately 99% of cases resolved without trial
  • No disciplinary record with the California State Bar
  • Offices throughout Northern California and Southern California

Our entire practice is built on understanding how insurance companies evaluate, delay, and fight claims — and how fee structures affect injured people in real life.

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With More Than 50 Years of Combined Experience We Can Help You Maximize Your Compensation
Kuvara Law Firm, our injury & accident attorneys, represent clients throughout California. We offer a free initial consultation so that you may learn about your legal options and the legal services we offer.
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    Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney?

    After an accident, many people are already under financial pressure. Medical bills, vehicle repairs, and time off work add up quickly. That’s exactly why most California personal injury law firms — including ours — work on a contingency fee basis.

    This allows injured people to:

    • Get legal help without paying anything upfront
    • Transfer the financial risk of the case to the law firm
    • Only pay a fee if money is actually recovered

    Contingency Fees in California Personal Injury Claims

    Continue Reading Read Less

    Don’t settle for less. Fight for full compensation.

    • $2,000,000 Truck Accident
    • $1,850,000 Pedestrian Accident
    • $1,800,000 Motorcycle Accident
    • $1,750,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
    • $1,495,000 Premises Liability
    • $1,410,000 Premises Liability
    • $1,300,000 Pedestrian Accident
    • $1,000,000 Rollover Accident
    • "Simply the best."
      Neal and Colby Kuvara worked tirelessly to achieve a result I am happy with. They did not promise me anything they did not deliver. Along with this, they are decent people, not something you may associate with Lawyers. They proceeded at a pace that allowed me to heal and kept me informed of all developments in a timely manner. I could not recommend them more highly.
      - Jason D.
    • "They really are a best in class firm who will fight for you."

      I would highly recommend Kuvara Law Firm to anyone who has been in an accident. Colby Kuvara was an excellent attorney who went above and beyond in guiding me through the legal process and really advocating for me in a time that was extremely stressful. Her team was very responsive and thorough through the duration of the case.

      - Jessica B.
    • "They were kind, understanding, and extremely helpful in every conversation."

      Beyond grateful with the service and support the professionals at Kuvara Law Firm offered me every step of the way in this process. I know being in a situation of need and not knowing where to begin is overwhelming and quite frankly a bit scary.

      - Esmeralda M.
    • "Coby Kuvara is caring, compassionate, patient and knowledgeable."

      She consistently checked in on my wellness and kept me updated, which was instrumental in the pursuit of my mental and physical health progression. I have no regrets choosing Kuvara Law Firm, if I ever find myself needing help again I know I can trust Kuvara Law.

      - Sondra R.

      What Makes Kuvara Law Firm Different

      • 50+ years of institutional experience
      • Built by a former insurance insider
      • 99% settlement success rate
      • Trial-ready when necessary
      • One of the largest geographic footprints in Northern California
      • A system refined over 20,000+ cases

      What Are the Benefits of Contingency Fee Arrangements?

      From five decades of real-world experience, we believe contingency fees exist for one reason:

      They make justice accessible to regular people.

      They also:

      • Allow injured clients to pursue claims without financial risk
      • Align the lawyer’s incentives with the client’s outcome
      • Motivate the firm to maximize the recovery, not just settle fast

      What California Law Requires in a Contingency Fee Agreement

      Under California law, a valid contingency fee agreement must explain:

      • The exact percentage the lawyer will receive
      • How costs and expenses affect your recovery
      • Whether you might owe fees for other legal matters
      • A statement that (except in medical malpractice cases) the fee is negotiable

      We strongly encourage clients to read every fee agreement carefully and ask questions. A reputable firm will always explain this in plain English.

      Why Kuvara Law Firm Uses This Model

      Neal Kuvara founded this firm after working as:

      • An Army medic
      • An insurance adjuster

      He saw firsthand:

      • How insurance companies delay and devalue claims
      • How injured people get financially trapped
      • How unfair the system can be without proper representation

      This firm was built specifically to shift the financial risk away from injured people and onto the law firm.

      Who Pays Court Costs and Other Fees?

      In real injury cases, there are many expenses beyond attorney fees, including:

      • Filing fees
      • Court reporter fees
      • Expert witnesses
      • Investigators
      • Medical record retrieval
      • Accident reconstruction

      At Kuvara Law Firm:

      • We advance all case costs
      • You do not pay anything upfront
      • If we win, costs are reimbursed from the recovery
      • In many cases, if there is no recovery, we absorb the loss

      This allows clients to pursue strong cases even when they could never afford to fund litigation themselves.

      Can the Court Make the Other Party Pay My Attorneys’ Fees?

      California follows the American Rule: each side usually pays its own attorney’s fees, win or lose.

      There are limited exceptions (such as certain contracts or special statutes), but in most personal injury cases, attorney fees are paid from the recovery, not by the other side.

      Are There Other Fee Arrangements?

      Continue Reading Read Less

      Fighting for Accident Victims Since 1971

      For more than half a century, Kuvara Law Firm has fought for injured Californians using a simple principle:

      You shouldn’t have to risk your financial future to protect your legal rights.

      You pay nothing upfront. You pay nothing unless we win.

      If you’ve been hurt in any type of accident, we’re here to help. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation, contact our law office at (628) 240-1014, or fill out our online contact form.