In NC the auto repair shop must inform you in writing or verbally the estimate of repair. It must not exceed 10% of the estimate and or $350max.
The verbal part scares me because well....that’s obvious.
Maybe your state has something similar. I’d hope the lawyer was aware.
https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_20/Article_15B.html