Is the insurer reducing your appraiser's fee? We take action against it for you.
Our fees are governed by the German Lawyers' Remuneration Act (RVG). Before we act, we tell you in writing for your case what costs you can expect and who ultimately bears them – that depends on the constellation and cannot be answered across the board. Only then do you decide.
What the Federal Court of Justice decided in 2024
In 2024 the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) clarified (among others, judgment of 12 March 2024 – VI ZR 280/22): even invoice items of the expert that are excessive without this being apparent to the injured party remain recoverable from the other party's insurer. Blanket fee reductions therefore frequently come to nothing – we take consistent action against blanket reductions.
To the specialist article with all the judgmentsGet in touch directly
The fastest way is via WhatsApp – speak or write. We will get back to you promptly.
Your advantages
Why work with us?
Reliable cooperation
As a law office focusing on traffic law, we work continuously with independent experts – the choice of appraiser always rests with the client.
Nationwide and fully digital
Documents digital, correspondence digital, representation nationwide – from your desk.
One point of contact, from start to finish
You write to attorney Serpil Şahin and receive her reply – as a rule within 24 hours, in German, Turkish or English.
Process
How the cooperation works – in 4 steps
Hand over the case
Appraisal report, invoice, photographs and – where available – the assignment, by WhatsApp or email. For the first assessment, whatever you have to hand is enough. You receive confirmation of receipt immediately.
Assessment within 24 h
As a rule within one working day we come back to you on how we will proceed against the reduction.
Asserting the claim
We take over all communication with the insurer – while fully preserving your neutrality.
Progress updates – unprompted
At every step (letter of claim, the insurer's reply, payment, court action where necessary) you hear from us. You never have to chase us.
We know the other side
Typical reduction strategies – and how we counter them
Basic fee reduced
Reference to the insurer's own “fee tables”. Under the 2024 case law of the Federal Court of Justice (among others VI ZR 280/22), the risk of the level of the fee is borne by the party causing the damage – we challenge the reduction of the basic fee.
Ancillary costs struck out
Travel, photo and writing costs are reduced across the board. Items that are not apparently excessive remain recoverable from the insurer.
Review reports from external service providers
“Review appraisals” are meant to calculate the invoice down. We know the arguments of these service providers – and how to meet them.
Residual value & diminished value
Disputed amounts are calculated downwards. We quantify every item properly – not the insurer.
The expert's fee risk
The argument that the injured party should have instructed someone “cheaper” frequently comes to nothing under current case law.
Delay & stalling
No response, in order to gain time. We set deadlines and pursue the claim consistently – up to court proceedings if necessary.
Your permanent point of contact
Straight to the attorney – you write, she replies
You always work directly with attorney Serpil Şahin. A reply as a rule within one working day, confirmation of receipt for every new file and one permanent point of contact in German, Turkish and English. Reliable availability is our most important competitive advantage.
Your questions before we start
Does the law office specialise in working with experts?
Yes. Traffic law has been our focus for 16 years, and asserting appraisers' fees is part of our core business. We know the arguments of the insurers and their review service providers.
How do you proceed against reduced appraisers' fees?
We rely on the 2024 case law of the Federal Court of Justice on the expert's fee risk (among others VI ZR 280/22): the risk of the level of the fee is borne by the party causing the damage. We do not accept blanket reductions of the basic fee and of ancillary costs.
Will work start immediately – or will my appraisal report simply sit there?
You receive our assessment as a rule within 24 hours. After that you never have to chase us – at every procedural step (letter of claim, the insurer's reply, payment, court action where necessary) we get in touch unprompted.
Does the law office understand the typical reductions (ancillary costs, review reports)?
Yes. Reduced travel, photo and writing costs, references to fee tables or review reports from service providers are familiar to us from daily practice – and we know how to meet them.
Is my neutrality as an expert preserved?
Yes. The choice of appraiser always rests with the injured party; we make no promises about referring instructions or clients – not least for professional-conduct reasons. Your independence is the basis for the evidential value of your appraisal report.
Who bears the costs of asserting the claim through a lawyer?
Our fees are governed by the German Lawyers' Remuneration Act (RVG). After a no-fault accident, the necessary costs of pursuing the claim are as a rule part of the recoverable damage and are regularly borne by the other party's liability insurer. In all other constellations we clarify the question of costs transparently before an engagement begins.
Am I bound by any exclusivity?
No. There is no exclusivity agreement and no minimum volumes. You work with us when that is the best solution for your case – case by case or on an ongoing basis.
How does the handover work – and who do I work with?
By WhatsApp or email: the appraisal report, the invoice and – with their consent – the contact details of the injured party. You always work directly with attorney Serpil Şahin, one permanent point of contact, in German, Turkish or English.
You never have to chase us – we get in touch first: at every procedural step you receive a message unprompted. You know at all times where your money stands.
Also for vehicle repair shops
Repair invoice reduced? The same approach
Repair shops are hit in similar places to experts, only with different items. Typical are reduced hourly labour rates with reference to an independent garage, struck-out transfer costs, deducted parts price surcharges (UPE) and the assertion that the repair time charged is too long. Whether any of these reductions holds depends on the individual case – in particular on whether the vehicle is actually repaired or settled notionally, and on whether the alternative garage named is equivalent and reasonable.
The route to us is the same: you hand us the invoice together with the reduction letter, we examine it and represent you vis-à-vis the insurer. Simply use the same route for this.
Your customer relationship
Your customer remains your customer
When you hand us a reduced invoice, you are our client – not your customer. On what basis the claim is asserted in detail depends on your case; we clarify that with you in advance and tell you in writing.
We approach the injured party only to the extent necessary for this claim. The choice of expert rests with the injured party alone in any event; we make no promises of referrals, either to you or to them.
How to get started
Start with one concrete case
- Hand us a real case: reduced invoice, appraisal report, assignment – by email
- You receive our assessment on how to assert the claim as a rule within 24 hours
- No framework agreement, no exclusivity, no minimum volume
- You never have to chase us – at every procedural step we get in touch unprompted
Questions in advance?
Feel free to get in touch directly – via WhatsApp or by email.
The documented route
Hand over the case – in writing, with documents
Attach the appraisal report and the invoice directly to your email. We treat your information confidentially and do not pass it on to third parties.
Your enquiry is without obligation. Response as a rule within 24 hours – we treat your information confidentially and do not pass it on to third parties.
Downloads
Forms & checklists
To download, fill in and send – together with your documents – by email or WhatsApp.