A settlement statement should let you follow the money from the amount paid by the insurer to the check you receive. If a deduction is unclear, ask for its calculation and supporting document before the funds are distributed.
The example below uses invented amounts and a hypothetical fee. It does not describe Babcock Injury Lawyers’ fee percentage, a typical settlement, or the value of any real case.
Following a fictional $100,000 settlement
Assume the signed agreement calls for a 30% attorney fee calculated on the gross recovery, with case expenses deducted afterward. Also assume the two listed medical payoffs have been verified.
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| Statement entry | Amount | What to compare it with |
|---|---|---|
| Gross recovery | $100,000 | The settlement agreement and payment received |
| Attorney fee | -$30,000 | The hypothetical 30% fee applied to $100,000 |
| Case expenses | -$3,500 | The itemized expense ledger and supporting charges |
| Negotiated hospital balance | -$8,000 | The hospital’s written payoff |
| Health-plan reimbursement | -$3,500 | The plan’s claim and confirmed reimbursement amount |
| Illustrative client net | $55,000 | The amount left after these four deductions |
The subtraction is straightforward: $100,000 minus $45,000 leaves $55,000. Deciding whether each deduction belongs on the statement takes more work. A different fee agreement, expense order, or payoff changes the result.
Check the fee against your agreement
The written, signed contingent fee agreement should explain the applicable percentages, which expenses will be deducted, whether expenses come out before or after the fee calculation, and any expense liability without a recovery. The Louisiana State Bar Association’s practice guide summarizes these requirements.
Look for the base used to calculate the percentage. A statement that lists only a fee total leaves you to guess whether the lawyer applied the percentage to the gross recovery or to an amount remaining after expenses. Compare that calculation with your agreement and any later written amendment. Our Louisiana car accident fee guide discusses the distinction between attorney fees and case costs.
Court charges, expert invoices, medical-record charges, and deposition expenses are separate from the lawyer’s fee. Ask for an itemization when a cost is unclear, and check that the same expense has not been deducted twice.
Ask what supports each medical payoff
A provider bill and a health-plan reimbursement request can arise from different obligations. Their appearance on the same statement does not establish that both amounts are due. Compare the original bill, insurance payments, proposed payoff, and claimed legal basis for payment. A line labeled “lien” is not a substitute for those records.
The medical liens and subrogation guide explains why provider claims, benefit-plan claims, and government reimbursement rights need separate analysis. Ask which amounts are final, which have been negotiated, and which remain contested. Some claims may be reduced; do not assume that every bill is negotiable.
Separate the amount owed from the payment date
An insurer sending a settlement check does not necessarily mean the client can receive the net amount that day. Funds commonly pass through the lawyer’s client trust account. Check clearance, unresolved payment claims, or a required court approval can affect distribution.
If there is a delay, ask what specific item remains unresolved, what amount is being held, and whether undisputed funds can be released. Our article on how Louisiana settlements are paid describes the payment route. The insurer’s payment obligations and the timing of the final client distribution are separate questions.
Keep the final accounting
At the conclusion of a contingent fee matter, Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5 requires a written statement showing the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the remittance to the client and how it was determined. Rule 1.15 addresses handling client and third-party funds.
Keep that statement with your fee agreement, release, cost ledger, payoff confirmations, and payment records. If the proposed net is unexpectedly small, identify the line that needs explanation rather than relying on a general assurance that the deductions are standard.
For help with a Louisiana personal injury matter, call (225) 500-5000. The amount you receive should be understandable from the documents and arithmetic.
Editorial & Legal Accuracy Notice (Louisiana)
This article provides general Louisiana legal information, not advice about an individual case. Event dates, policy language, responsible parties, and the evidence may change the analysis.
Sources checked: October 4, 2026.