Is it must to sign a retainer or fee agreement before attorney can charge you?

[vikasintl]

WA state,

I have consulted many personal injury lawyers here in Tacoma WA.
Some of them kept the copies of my medical records.

I did not sign any agreement with any of them.

Can they still charge me their fees?

We have discussed various legal issues and have got some legal advice,

So, does it considered as implied agreement or verbal agreement ?
and can they charge on that basis or written agreement is must in WA state?

 

[HighwayMan]

All of these "many" consultations were free?

 

[vikasintl]

coupe of them I did not ask if they were free

I assumed they will be free..neither they told me if they are going to charge anything for it?

 

[sandyclaus]

If fees were never discussed, nor a retainer agreement submitted and signed, then one can very easily assume that the consultations were free of charge. Given the subject matter of the legal issue, many attorneys will offer free consultations and offer either a retainer agreement or contingency agreement in order to actually take your case and represent you.

If these attorneys are trying to charge you for their services, ask them to show you their fee schedule and proof that you agreed to pay for their services according to that schedule before caving in and paying them.

 

[ecmst12]

Have they done anything besides talk to you about the case?

 

[latigo]

WA state,

I have consulted many personal injury lawyers here in Tacoma WA. . . . . . . We have discussed various legal issues and have got some legal advice, . . . . .

Assuming that your are employed in some sort of trade or business, do you expect to be paid for the days or hours that you are working - when not working?

Do you have an agreement entitling you to be paid for the hours/days at work? Is the agreement written, verbal, implied?

Do you know of any "WA state" laws that say you don't get paid for your time at work unless there is a written agreement?

Does/will your “personal injury” claim include asking to be compensated for lost "time" at work?

Where you write - “ Can they still charge me their fees?” - would it not be reasonable to assume that you were aware that “fees” would be charged?

Have you been billed for any legal services? Or are we just being asked to similarly waste our time?

(Have you gone completely through your list or still shopping? Kick any tires, err...shins?)