No win no fee.

If you’re interested in making an injury and accident or medical negligence claim, it’s a phrase you’ll see popping up everywhere. But what does it actually mean?

Here at Injury Lawyers Direct, we like to be 100% clear and upfront about the costs of claiming, right from the very start. The chances are, you’ve been through a tough time – and we want to give you the confidence to seek compensation, without the worry of a hefty legal bill.

That’s why, in most cases, our solicitors can work on a ‘no win no fee’ basis. To put your mind at ease, here we explain exactly what that means and how the process works.

 

What is a no win no fee claim?

Up until 1995, anyone making a claim would receive a monthly bill from their solicitor – and if the case lost, they’d have no choice but to pay the final fee themselves. As a result, lots of people chose not to pursue legal matters, simply because they couldn’t afford to take the risk.

The government noticed this flaw in the system and – to improve access to legal help – decided to introduce the ‘conditional fee’ or ‘no win no fee’ agreement.

No win no fee claims transfer the risk from the client to the solicitor.

You won’t be charged for the work completed. There are no upfront payments or unexpected legal bills. The solicitor will simply keep a record of any costs spent on the case. If the case is successful, those costs will then be reimbursed by the losing party and/or deducted from your compensation amount. If the case is unsuccessful, they’re covered by an insurance policy taken out by your solicitor.

Effectively, the bill is cancelled and you will not be affected in any way financially.

 

Cost of a no win no fee claim

How much do no win no fee solicitors charge for claiming?

As stated above, if you lose the case, no win no fee solicitors will not charge for the work they have completed. You won’t be expected to pay a single penny.

If you win, they’ll just take a small ‘success fee’ from the compensation you have been awarded. This can be up to a legal maximum of 25%. For example, if you are given £1000 in compensation, £250 will be deducted from the total. This is, in effect, a payment for overseeing the claim.

You’ll also be asked to pay for any costs and expenses that haven’t been recovered from the other side, such as court fees, medical report costs and legal protection insurance (if you needed it). Again, these will simply be deducted from your compensation, and you won’t be left out of pocket.

A reputable solicitor, such as Injury Lawyers Direct, will be transparent and honest about no win no fee costs right from the start. And there should never be any hidden charges or surprise fees!

 

Who pays for the legal insurance protection policy?

If you’d like to pursue a compensation claim, legal insurance protection will be required. Essentially, this funds your claim. It’s needed to cover the defendant’s fees, as well as your solicitor’s expenses, should your case be unsuccessful.

Again, there’s no need to worry about how much it costs, because the principle is the same. If your claim succeeds, the premium for this protection will simply be taken from the compensation payment you receive. If your claim fails, you won’t be expected to pay for the premium. It’s included in your no win no fee agreement.

 

Are there any no win no fee hidden costs?

The short answer? No, absolutely not.

Perhaps you’ve heard unsettling stories about no win no fee hidden costs? Or are concerned about the true cost of claiming? But there’s no need to be worried.

These stories usually stem from a common misconception. Claimants are often under the impression that their solicitor will only deduct a success fee – capped at 25% – from their compensation award. And all other legal fees will be covered by the opposing party. However, this isn’t technically true.

If your case is successful, the other side will be required to make a contribution to your legal fees. But the key word here is ‘contribution’. The opposing party will typically foot the bill for most fees, but not all of them. Which means in addition to a success fee, you may also need to cover your solicitor’s outstanding balance.

This figure may include:

  • solicitor fees
  • court fees
  • the cost of medical reports and other disbursements
  • ATE (After the Event) insurance

These fees are clearly mentioned in the signed agreement. They’re certainly not hidden away or withheld from the client until later down the line. But in some cases, if the client didn’t read the terms of the agreement properly or the fees are higher than anticipated, it can lead to a misunderstanding and disputes regarding the bill.

Here at Injury Lawyers, we like to be 100% clear about the practical reality of our no win no fee agreement – right from the start. Which is why, before you begin a claim, we’ll fully explain how our fees work (so you know exactly what to expect) and how much you’ll need to pay if your claim is successful.

We guarantee, with us, there are no upfront payments or no win no fee hidden costs. We appreciate that recovery can be an expensive process, and you don’t deserve to be left under financial pressure for an injury that wasn’t your fault.

If you win the claim, both our success fee and the outstanding balance (including any costs and expenses not covered by the other side) will be deducted from your compensation. But rest assured, we’ll be completely transparent about how much this will be – and it won’t be an unreasonable amount. You’ll still receive the majority of the compensation rewarded.

If you lose your case, you won’t be charged a single penny – and all of the fees mentioned above will be covered by an insurance policy (paid for by us).

The no win no fee agreement isn’t designed to trip you up with sneaky bills and so-called no win no fee hidden costs. It simply provides an effective way for people – like yourself – to get access to the justice they deserve, without the concern of hefty legal expenses.

 

Woman contacting no win no fee solicitors at Injury Lawyers Direct

 

How do I start a no win no fee claim?

In 2020-2021, an average of 1546 no win no fee claims were registered with the government every single day. It doesn’t have to be a stressful or overwhelming experience, and there is zero financial risk to you as the client. So, if you’ve suffered an injury or accident in the last three years that wasn’t your fault, now is the time to seek the compensation that you deserve.

Starting the process is really easy.

Simply fill out our online contact form with a few details and we’ll be in touch to arrange a free no-obligation consultation. After a quick chat, we can advise on your eligibility to make a claim and the chances of your success. If you decide to go ahead, our no win no fee solicitors will begin proceedings and take care of the full claim on your behalf.

Our specialist legal team are always on hand and happy to assist. So, if you have any questions about the no win no fee agreement, or any other aspect of the claims process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You’re welcome to call us at any time on 0800 110 5888.

 

Author Paramount Digital

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