No Win, No Fee
How 'no win, no fee' works
What is a 'no win, no fee' agreement?
A conditional fee agreement, also known as 'no win, no fee', is a simple method of covering the legal costs involved in claiming accident or injury compensation. Under the terms of a 'no win, no fee' agreement, a lawyer agrees to take no payment until the end of the case. In the event of a win, their fees will be covered by the opposition; if the case is lost, the lawyer takes no fee, and there is no cost to the client.
In claims involving clinical negligence, actions against the police and some types of abuse, legal aid is available, however, since the Government introduced the 'no win, no fee' system in 2000 it has become the usual funding arrangement for the vast majority of personal injury actions, allowing thousands more people access to the courts.
Accident and injury claims can now be filed by any individual who feels he or she has suffered a debilitating injury as a result of another person's negligence.
How exactly does a 'no win, no fee' agreement work?
In a 'no win, no fee' personal injury case, all the risk is taken by the solicitor, as they will not be paid if the claim is unsuccessful. To recompense for the risk, they are entitled to claim what is known as a 'success fee'. The 'success fee' or 'uplift' is paid by the defendant's insurer, not the client, at the end of the case.
The law states that if the case is lost, the losing party pays the legal costs. In order to ensure our clients are not required to cover any court costs, we take out an 'after the event' (ATE) insurance policy on their behalf. An ATE is only taken out once the legal case has begun, and is specifically designed to protect clients whose claims are potentially unsuccessful.
Our personal injury solicitors have an excellent understanding of ATEs, and the various products on the market and can select the ideal insurance policy for your particular needs.
Do I have to pay for the after the event (ATE) insurance?
The cost of the ATE insurance policy is, like the legal fees, deferred until the end of the case. If the compensation claim is successful, the opposition covers the cost. If the case is lost, no payment is required, as the premium is self insuring.
If your solicitor pays medical fees, court fees and other expenses on your behalf, known as disbursements, the ATE policy will cover the costs of these if the case is lost. If you win these expenses will be paid by the losing party ensuring that the service is completely free to you.
Making your 'no win, no fee' claim
When you make an initial enquiry regarding a 'no win, no fee' agreement, with the experienced accident claims solicitors at Pannone, we assess the viability of your case. If we think you have a valid claim for compensation, we will proceed with the claim.
Our 'no win, no fee' service is completely free to you. For more information, or to find out if you potentially have a valid claim, contact our specialist accident and injury lawyers on freephone 0800 0384 384.
To arrange a free consultation with a personal injury solicitor click here or call us on 0800 0384 384. We are available to take your call twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.