A comprehensive breakdown of what personal injury legal representation costs in California (CA), including contingency fees, court filing fees, deposition expenses, and expert witness costs.
33 – 40%
Avg. Contingency Fee
$400 – $500
Court Filing Fee
$800 – $3,000
Deposition Cost
$5,000 – $15,000
Expert Witness Fee
Medical malpractice fees capped at 25% of first $50K, 15% of next $50K, 10% of next $500K under MICRA (updated 2023)
California has some of the highest litigation costs in the nation
MICRA caps medical malpractice attorney fees on a sliding scale
Los Angeles and San Francisco courts have among the longest case timelines
Most personal injury attorneys in California work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs. The attorney only gets paid if you win your case or receive a settlement. The standard rate is 33 – 40% of the total recovery.
In addition to the contingency fee, you may be responsible for case costs such as court filing fees ($400 – $500), deposition costs ($800 – $3,000), and expert witness fees ($5,000 – $15,000). Many attorneys advance these costs and deduct them from your settlement.
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