What's the difference between attorney fees and case costs?

Attorney fees and case costs are two separate categories of expenses. Attorney fees are the compensation your lawyer earns for their legal work—in personal injury cases, this is typically a percentage of your recovery (35%-40%). Case costs are the out-of-pocket expenses incurred while handling your case, such as court filing fees, medical record retrieval, expert witness fees, deposition costs, and postage. Most personal injury attorneys advance these costs during your case and are reimbursed from the settlement. Your fee agreement should clearly explain how both are handled.