One of the common concerns for clients that are dealing with a legal issue, is attorneys’ fees and costs. “How can I reduce attorneys’ fees and costs” is not an uncommon question. We decided to prepare the below so that our clients to have a better understanding of how fees and costs are broken down and how they can reduce the amount of fees incurred.
- Information:Provide us with any and all complete, accurate, and organized information and documentation that you may have which is related to the condition of your property and which you feel may assist in establishing damages or prior conditions. An example of such documentation may be Inspection Reports, Surveys, Wind Mitigation Reports, Photographs, Invoices or documents evidencing prior/subsequent repairs.Anything that you do to organize, add up and sort documents and information saves time that attorneys and staff have to spend thereby reducing fees and costs.
- Honesty is the Best Policy:Because we as your lawyers need to consider all possible options, it is important that you tell us your whole story, even if it is damaging or embarrassing. This information is protected by the Attorney-Client Privileged and anything you tell your lawyer is confidential. If you do not tell us something – that is bad – then we cannot protect you or figure out the best strategy to deal with the issue.
- Be Timely:Do not wait until the last minute because last minute rushes require extraordinary measures, additional work and associated costs.
- Prompt Responsiveness:Respond promptly to requests, information approval, and execution of documents, as delays require follow-up measures which take additional time.
- Knowledge is Power:Review the pertinent documents provided to you about damages and coverage/ liability including policies of insurance, denial letters, expert and third party reports. Often you are the only person that has personal knowledge of facts in dispute and you should know the strengths and weaknesses of your case. You should tell your attorney if there is anything that you disagree with or is factually incorrect as early as possible so that same can be addressed. The more time you spend researching these issues and reviewing documents and providing concise information/summaries to us, the better we can prosecute your case and the less time we must spendgoing through these documents and trying to figure out information that you already know or pay third parties for same. Again, the more that you do and can provide to us the better job we can do assisting you and the less time we must spend, which reduces time and fees incurred.
- Know Your Expected Recovery Amount:Find out if your expectations are reasonable. Talk to your lawyer about his or her legal opinion and thoughts about a potential recovery or settlement value. Talk to other experts such as a Public Adjuster, Surveyor or Contractor to determine what they believe is a reasonable costs or recovery. Find out about your options and alternatives. Make sure you and your lawyer agree on your plans and priorities and that those priorities are satisfactory to you.
- Settlement Authorization:Provide Settlement Authorization to your lawyers in writing as early as possible. This will not be produced to the Defendant, but is very important as we need this information to properly advance your case and meet or exceed your expectations.The earlier you provide realistic settlement authorization, the more quickly we can push to resolve the case.
- Do Not Be Indecisive:Know the decision that you are making and trust that it is the right one as changing your mind all the time may incur more costs.
- Do Not Play the Guessing Game:Assumptions are quite costly. Call us as soon as questions arise and one of our lawyers or staff members will get back to you to assist and provide you with the right information or answer your questions.
- Stay in Contact:If you are going through a “life changing” event, such as a move, vacation, sale of your property; etc… it isimperative that you contact us immediately and advise us as those events or actions may have an effect on your case and its progression. Example: Do not tell us that you got a divorce, sold your home and moved to Montana. Tell us that you are thinking amount moving in a year or so.
- Keep Costs Down:We keep track of the costs associated with your claim, case or file. These costs include but are not limited to charges incurred for filing fees, service of process, subpoenas, court reporters, transcripts, computerized legal research, translating, mediation, photocopying, long distance telephone, accounting and forensic accounting, expert witnesses, investigative services, expert witnesses, appraisers, consultants, messengers, exhibits, travel, lodging, telecopier and postage. Smaller costs (copies and postage) can add up, butcosts for Experts, court reporters (deposition and hearing transcripts) and mediation can be very very expensive. Many Experts charge $5,000 just to look into a case or to do an inspection. Depositions and the transcripts for same can cost a few thousand dollars. You can keep these costs down by understanding that it may behoove you to try to get your case resolved prior to hiring an expert or conducting depositions. Additionally, you may know someone that has particular expertise that can assist you and may change you a reduced amount or provide documents or services for fee.
- Services – We Bill for our Time:Please remember that we bill for our time and for services rendered. Every email, call, filings with the Court, research, Court appearances, travel, review of documents, etc., etc. are billed. While we are very happy to assist you with all of your legal needs, some of the issues presented by you and/or that are ancillary to your case will be billed and you should be cognizant of this and remember that this “additional” work or services will be charged to you or taken out of the final recovery of your case.
- Time is an Intangible Product:Please, remember that we provide an intangible product, legal services and our time related to these services. You may see only a small part of our efforts in the letters, pleadings, reports and documents sent to you.
