Understanding Legal Fees in Settlements: What You Need to Know

legal fees

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Last Updated:

October 16, 2025

At Rob Levine Law, we prioritize transparency, fairness, and the highest ethical standards in everything we do, especially when it comes to personal injury cases and legal fees. Our Fee-Free Policy ensures that you won’t pay any fees unless we win your case. This page is designed to give you a clear understanding of how we work, what our fees are, and how we structure our settlements. We believe that our clients should have a full understanding of the process, and we’re committed to helping you navigate it with complete clarity.

Before we dive into real case examples, let’s take a moment to define the common terms you’ll encounter when looking at the fees in personal injury settlements. Understanding these terms will help you better follow the breakdowns we provide for each case example.

Types of Legal Fees Taken from Settlement Amounts

Here’s a breakdown of the various types of fees and costs that you’ll see as we discuss each case:

Attorney’s Fee

The attorney’s fee is the portion of the settlement that goes to the law firm for providing legal services throughout the duration of your case. At Rob Levine Law, our standard fee for personal injury cases is 33% of the settlement amount. However, we offer a 25% discount to first responders, including police officers, firefighters, rescue workers, and military personnel.

Medical Bills & Health Insurance Liens

Medical bills and health insurance liens refer to the amounts that must be paid back for the medical treatment you received related to your injury. These amounts are typically deducted from your settlement before you receive your net recovery.

Case Expenses & Expert Fees

These are the costs associated with investigating your case and gathering evidence, including fees for expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, and medical experts. Case expenses can vary based on the complexity of the case, and these are deducted from your settlement as well.

Medical Reimbursements

Medical reimbursements refer to any amount of the settlement that is used to pay back medical providers for the treatment you received. These are paid directly to the medical providers out of your settlement funds.

Client Net Recovery

Client net recovery is the amount that you, the client, will take home after all fees and expenses have been deducted from the settlement. This is the amount of the settlement paid out to you for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Policy Limit

The “policy limit” refers to the maximum amount of money that an insurance policy will pay out for a claim. In many cases, a settlement is reached when the insurance company pays the full policy limit, which is the maximum amount the defendant’s insurance will cover. If a case is resolved at the policy limit, the client will receive the full amount available under the defendant’s insurance policy.

Case Example #1: $731,000 Dog Bite Injury Settlement – Rhode Island

Rob Levine Law secured a $731,000 settlement for a client who suffered serious injuries in a dog attack in Providence, Rhode Island. While walking his dogs, the client was bitten by a dog that had escaped through an improperly closed gate. The injury caused infections that led to two additional surgeries to remove and clean the hip device due to the infection. The client also lost significant time from work and was left with permanent scarring. This case highlights the unexpected consequences that can result from dog bites, and how important it is to have experienced legal representation to fight for fair compensation.

Attorney’s Fee

The attorney’s fee for this case was $243,666. This was calculated based on the 33% standard fee structure that Rob Levine Law applies to personal injury cases.

Medical Bills & Health Insurance Liens

In this case, the client’s medical liens totaled $105,000. These liens represent the amounts owed to healthcare providers for the treatment the client received following the injury.

Case Expenses & Expert Fees

The case expenses for this settlement amounted to $4,750.94. This includes fees for expert witnesses and other necessary expenses to support the case during litigation.

Client Net Recovery

After all fees and expenses were deducted, the client’s net recovery amounted to $377,930.60. This is the amount that was directly paid to the client after all costs were accounted for.

Case Example #2: $1,400,000 Slip and Fall Settlement – Massachusetts

Rob Levine Law helped secure a $1.4 million settlement for a client who was injured due to unsafe conditions at a Massachusetts property. The client suffered significant injuries after falling on a poorly maintained walkway. The case was resolved through successful mediation after significant legal work.

Attorney’s Fee

The attorney’s fee for this case was $467,006. This was calculated based on the 33% standard fee structure that Rob Levine Law applies to personal injury cases.

Medical Liens

In this case, the client’s medical liens totaled $231,818.84. These liens represent the amounts owed to healthcare providers for the medical treatment the client received following their injury.

Case Expenses

The case expenses for this settlement amounted to $16,913.66. This includes fees for expert witnesses and other necessary expenses to support the case during litigation.

Client Net Recovery

After all fees and expenses were deducted, the client’s net recovery amounted to $684,261.50. This is the amount that was directly paid to the client after all costs were accounted for.

Case Example #3: $1,300,000 Rear-End Truck Accident Settlement – Spinal Surgery

In a truck accident case, Rob Levine Law secured a $1.3 million settlement for a client who required spinal surgery after being rear-ended by a commercial truck. The client sustained severe neck and back injuries, requiring complex medical treatment.

Attorney’s Fee

The attorney’s fee for this case was $433,333. This was calculated based on the 33% standard fee structure.

Medical & Health Insurance Liens

The medical liens for this case totaled $73,890. These are the medical expenses that were incurred as a result of the treatment required for the client’s injuries.

Case Expenses & Expert Fees

Case expenses and expert fees for this case amounted to $12,906. This includes the costs for expert witnesses and other necessary case-related expenses.

Client Net Recovery

After all fees and expenses, the client’s net recovery was $779,870. This is the final amount the client received after all deductions.

Case Example #4: $500,000 Truck Accident – Policy Limit Settlement

This case involved a client who was involved in a truck accident, and Rob Levine Law helped secure the full policy limit of $500,000. The settlement ensured the client received compensation for their injuries and losses.

Attorney’s Fee

The attorney’s fee for this case was $166,666. This was based on the standard 33% fee structure.

Case Expenses

The total case expenses were $4,151.96, which included expert medical narratives and other necessary case-related expenses.

Medical Reimbursements

Medical reimbursements amounted to $38,194.26, which was paid back to the client’s medical providers.

Client Net Recovery

After all fees and reimbursements were deducted, the client’s net recovery was $290,987.78.

Case Example #5: $450,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement

Rob Levine Law secured a $450,000 settlement for a client involved in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver who ran a stop sign. The settlement was negotiated after filing suit and pushing for a higher offer than initially presented.

Attorney’s Fee

The attorney’s fee for this case was $150,000, calculated using the standard 33% fee structure.

Medical Liens

The medical liens for this case amounted to $29,093.53.

Accident Reconstruction & Case Expenses

The total expenses for accident reconstruction and case-related activities were $3,210.41.

Client Net Recovery

After all deductions, the client’s net recovery was $267,696.06.

Case Example #6: $250,000 Skateboard vs. Vehicle Accident – Complex Liability Case

This challenging case took 8 years to resolve due to contested liability, but Rob Levine Law secured the full $250,000 policy limit for a minor client who was struck by a vehicle while skateboarding.

Attorney’s Fee

The attorney’s fee was $73,839.20, calculated at 33% of the settlement.

Case Expenses

The total case expenses were $68,187.33, which covered expert testimony and the costs associated with resolving the contested liability.

Medical Liens

The medical liens amounted to $34,134.26.

Client Net Recovery

The client’s net recovery after all deductions was $73,839.21.

Calculate the Value of Your Case

Use our free personal injury settlement calculator to determine how much your case may be worth. This calculator is designed to give you a value with a range based on thousands of case we have settled.

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