What a mandate costs — and why in most cases it is not you who pays for it.
Payable by the client in every case, including where an insurer later takes over the mandate. In cash, at the end of the meeting.
In those 45 minutes we tell you whether proceedings are worth pursuing — including when the answer is no.
Plus VAT and 4 % disbursements for postage, telephone and copies.
The rate depends on the difficulty and responsibility of the individual case and is agreed in writing before we accept the mandate.
Four sources of cover, checked in this order
We go through them with you at the first meeting. Bring whatever policies you can find — including the ones you are not sure are relevant.
The other party's liability insurer
If a third party is responsible for the accident, their liability insurance must in principle cover your legal costs. They form part of the compensable loss.
Your legal expenses insurance
Held individually, collectively through a family policy, or through the policy of a covered vehicle.
Cover you do not know you have
Supplementary health insurance (e.g. the Helsana group), a trade union (e.g. Unia), a professional association, a Beobachter subscription. Where such cover exists we normally obtain a costs guarantee.
None of the above applies
Then we examine legal aid. Anyone who cannot bear the cost of proceedings and whose case is not devoid of merit is entitled to it. We help with the application — the leaflet and form are available under Forms, in German and Serbian.
Go to the formsIf no dispute has arisen yet, take out legal expenses insurance now. Most insurers apply a waiting period of three months.
After the accident it is too late: a policy taken out after the event does not cover that event.