Definition
of a "no
win, no fee" agreement
Unfortunately Legal Aid no longer covers accident claims, except in very limited
circumstances. The most common way to hire a solicitor's services
is to sign a "no win, no fee solicitors" agreement (strictly
called a "conditional fee" agreement). Under the agreement,
you only pay our fees if you win your case. No win, no fee can cover
all compensation claims where you have been injured as a result of
an accident (and most other civil disputes too).
How
does "no win, no fee" work?
We will offer you a free first interview to assess your case. If it
seems that you have a good claim for compensation, we may offer you
a conditional fee agreement. As part of the agreement, we assess
the risk involved in your case and agree the amount of the "success
fee" that we will receive if we succeed in obtaining compensation
for you.
At the
very outset of your no win no fee solicitors case we will arrange
legal costs insurance for you. This will protect you against having
to
pay your
opponent's
costs, if you lose your case at trial. The premium for this insurance
is reasonable and you will only have to pay it, if you win your case.
You may have to pay any expenses necessary to investigate your claim
further (eg. the police accident report, a medical report), while we
put your case to the person to blame for the accident or their insurers.
If you have a good claim the insurers will often agree to deal with
it at a relatively early stage. If not, and provided that it still
seems that you have a good claim, we will issue court proceedings on
your behalf and take your case to trial. If you cannot afford these
fees and expenses, we can arrange a reasonable loan facility.
If you win your case:
You will receive from your opponent (usually the person to blame for
your accident or their insurers) compensation;
and a contribution towards our basic legal costs and the expenses
that you have incurred, including the insurance premium and any success
fee which will have been agreed at the start of the case.
At this stage you pay us:
our
basic costs and any no win no fee solicitors expenses incurred (which
you have not paid for already);
and the success fee
If you lose your case:
You will not have to pay our basic costs or the success fee that was agreed
at the start of the case.
If you
have started court proceedings, the legal costs insurance will cover
you for: any of your opponent's legal costs you may have to pay;
and the expenses you have paid for the purpose of your court action,
including the insurance premium.
No
Win No Fee