Turn the proposed agreement into answerable questions
A percentage alone does not tell you how much you might receive after an injury claim. The scope of work, expenses, timing of deductions, and possibility of outside counsel can matter too. Before signing, ask a personal injury attorney in Mason, OH to walk through the actual proposed agreement using a simple calculation example. The point is to understand the terms being offered, not to assume that every firm uses the same rate or that a consultation guarantees representation.
First, identify what work the agreement covers
Write down the client name, lawyer or firm, matter description, and the services the draft agreement says are included. Ask whether investigation, insurance negotiations, filing a lawsuit, trial, appeal, and a separate claim against another party are covered or would require a new decision. Do not infer scope from an advertisement or an intake call. Ohio Professional Conduct Rule 1.5 calls for the nature and scope of representation and the basis or rate of fees and expenses to be communicated to a client, preferably in writing, before or within a reasonable time after representation begins. For a new matter, the proposed writing is the clearest place to resolve ambiguity.
A first contact may involve a conflict check and discussion without a final agreement. Ohio Rule 1.18 recognizes duties to a prospective client even if no relationship follows, and its commentary notes that a lawyer client relationship can arise by implication in some circumstances. Therefore do not rely on either blanket claim that every consultation creates representation or blanket claim that none can. Ask the firm directly whether it has accepted the matter, what it will do, and what remains your responsibility while the answer is pending. A personal injury attorney can explain the proposed scope without promising a result.
Then test the percentage against expenses
For an Ohio tort claim with a contingent fee, Revised Code section 4705.15 requires a written agreement signed by attorney and client, with a copy provided to the client. Rule 1.5 adds detail: the writing must state how the fee is determined, including percentages that apply at settlement, trial, or appeal, the expenses to be deducted, whether they come out before or after the fee calculation, and any expenses the client owes even without a favorable outcome. These are questions about a proposed contract, not a statement of S&S Law’s current rates or expenses.
Ask for a worked example using an arbitrary round recovery amount, with the same hypothetical number for every agreement you compare. Show the fee at each stage, itemize possible costs, place each deduction in the order the writing specifies, and identify any liens or reimbursement interests separately. A sample calculation is a tool for understanding arithmetic, not a prediction of settlement, actual expenses, or net recovery. If the writing is unclear about a cost, ask for the term to be explained before signing. Do not substitute a verbal assurance for a conflicting written clause.
Ask how other lawyers and final accounting would appear
If another firm might share responsibility or a fee, ask who it is, what role it would have, and how you would be informed. Rule 1.5 has separate requirements for fee division among lawyers who are not in the same firm. A name in marketing does not establish who will work on this matter. Keep questions about attorney assignment separate from the percentage calculation so both receive clear answers.
Ohio section 4705.15 and Rule 1.5 also describe a closing statement when a contingent fee becomes payable. It should show how attorney compensation and deducted costs were determined. Ask to see what categories a future statement would include, while recognizing that no actual recovery or expense total is known now. A personal injury attorney should be able to explain how the proposed agreement would translate an eventual outcome into an accounting. This differs from claiming any particular offer or result will occur.
Keep a comparison card and the signed copy
Your one page card can list scope, stage percentages, expense responsibility if there is no recovery, deduction order, possible associated counsel, and who answers questions about the agreement. Ask a personal injury attorney to point to the clause that answers each question. Write the answer and the clause or document that supports it. Keep a copy of the signed agreement and later changes. If you are comparing firms, use the same questions rather than treating the lowest percentage as the whole cost or a high percentage as proof of better service. S&S Law can decide whether it may accept a particular Ohio matter and provide its actual terms if it does. Ask during intake who would handle your matter, whether an in-person meeting is available, and which fee terms would apply. An informed choice starts with the writing you are being asked to sign.