You’ve slipped on wet marble in a department store. A driver who wasn’t looking left you with a fractured wrist and weeks off work. Maybe it’s more serious—long-term pain, mobility issues, loss of income. You contact a lawyer. They agree to take your case. “You won’t pay unless we win,” they say. A percentage is mentioned, a nod to future paperwork. You sign.

A year later, you win. The number your lawyer presents is sizable—let’s say $100,000. But it’s not the number you take home. There’s the lawyer’s fee, of course. Then medical costs. Then liens, disbursements, court filing fees. By the time your share is finalised, it’s closer to $55,000. You’re still ahead—but it’s not quite what you imagined. This piece isn’t about whether that’s fair. It’s just about how it works.

The Contingency Model

So, how much does a personal injury lawyer cost? Most work on a contingency fee basis. That means they don’t get paid unless the case is successful—either through settlement or a court award. The standard contingency fee in the U.S. hovers around 33% to 40% of the final gross settlement. In more complex cases, or those that go to trial, that percentage may be higher.

So, in a $90,000 settlement, a lawyer might take $30,000 before other deductions. The rest—what’s left for the client—is known as the “net settlement.” This is where things can get complicated. Medical liens (amounts owed to healthcare providers), case costs (for things like expert witnesses or depositions), and legal disbursements (court filing fees, record requests) are subtracted from your share. Sometimes these costs are fronted by the lawyer, and reimbursed later. Either way, the client is responsible for them.

Software, Speed, and the Split

Enter software. Tools now exist to help law firms, medical providers, and even funders track and manage the flow of injury claims. One such platform is Justice Bolt, which connects these parties in a more transparent, centralised system. A medical provider uploads a bill, the lawyer responds, a funder sees the progress. Nothing particularly flashy—just joined-up thinking in an industry that has often lagged behind in tech.

Platforms like Justice Bolt make the math easier to follow. They help ensure lien holders aren’t forgotten, that case expenses are logged and recoverable, and that no one gets paid twice—or too little. For clients, it means greater clarity over what will be deducted and when. While the emotional weight of a personal injury case can’t be streamlined, the bureaucracy behind it now can be, at least a bit.

Medical Costs: The Quiet Majority

In many personal injury cases, medical expenses are the largest deduction after legal fees. If you received treatment without health insurance—or with treatment delayed until a settlement—providers may file what’s called a “medical lien.” These are legally binding and must be paid before you receive your funds. In some states, lien holders can negotiate their final figure to ensure clients aren’t left with nothing, but those reductions aren’t guaranteed.

In high-severity injury claims—multiple surgeries, ongoing physiotherapy, mental health support—the medical portion can rival or even exceed the lawyer’s fee. It’s why some law firms work closely with providers from the outset, building an agreement about payment from the final settlement, which avoids unpleasant surprises later.

Disbursements and Hidden Costs

Then there are disbursements—the category few clients think about at the beginning. These can include travel for depositions, expert witness fees, photocopying medical records, accident reconstruction, filing fees, court reporters, interpreters. Each is small on its own. Together, they add up. In larger claims, disbursements can run to several thousand dollars.

These expenses are usually fronted by the law firm. Clients aren’t typically asked to pay out of pocket during the case. But they are recovered at the end. And unless there’s an unusual fee structure in place, they come out of your portion. This is where transparency—and sometimes a good spreadsheet—really matters.

The Final Figure

So what does a real settlement look like when all this is done? Say a case settles for $120,000. The lawyer takes $40,000 as a 33% fee. Medical liens total $15,000. Disbursements and legal costs come to $5,000. The client takes home $60,000. It’s a win, certainly—but one tempered by expectations.

That’s why law firms increasingly give clients breakdowns along the way: a running tally of what’s owed, what’s recoverable, and what could change. Software like Justice Bolt helps facilitate this kind of communication. It’s not about lowering fees—it’s about making them clearer.

FAQs

Q: What percentage do most personal injury lawyers take?
A: In the U.S., the standard contingency fee is typically 33% of the final settlement. It may rise to 40% in complex or trial-bound cases.

Q: What other costs are taken out of a personal injury settlement?
A: Common deductions include medical liens, disbursements (like filing fees, expert witnesses), and reimbursement for case expenses the law firm advanced.

Q: Are all medical bills paid out of the settlement?
A: Generally yes, unless you’ve already paid them or your health insurer covered them. In many cases, providers place a lien on the case to be repaid from the final amount.