If you have been injured in an accident and you are thinking about making a claim, then you may have reservations about doing so because of the potential costs involved.
But, the truth is this – if you opt to have your injury claim processed under a conditional fee agreement, otherwise known as a ‘no win, no fee’ agreement, you will not have to pay any legal fees upfront nor during the claims process. Instead, your lawyer will either recover their costs from the other side, or they will take a small percentage of your compensation as payment for their services (by law, this cannot be more than 25 per cent of the claim value).
So the costs involved in getting high quality legal representation will not hit your back pocket directly. At the most, they will hit you indirectly, because your solicitor may take a percentage of your total claim value as payment. However, many lawyers are able to recover a portion of their costs from the other side thus further reducing the percentage they take from your compensation. Typically, lawyers take 20-25 per cent of a claim’s value as payment. So on a £2,000 claim, a lawyer may take a maximum of £500 as payment.
Seeking legal advice
If you want to find out more about the costs involved in making a claim or you want legal advice following an accident, speak with a claim helpline for accidents. Claims helplines are operated by law firms and you can get high value legal advice simply by calling them. Or, if you want to speak with somebody face to face, make an appointment with a lawyer working for a reputable law firm (preferably a law firm that has been in business for several years).
No win, fee in greater detail
As previously mentioned, under a ‘no win, no fee agreement’ you will not have to pay any legal fees upfront nor during the claims process – and your lawyer only gets paid if your case is successful. So what happens if your claim loses?
In the event that your claim is unsuccessful, you still do not have to pay your own lawyer’s fees. Hence the term ‘no win, no fee’. However, you may still incur charges because the other side may bill you for their costs. No win, no fee does not protect you by default from this, so it is definitely something to keep in mind. To eliminate this risk, reputable law firms require their clients to take out an insurance product called ‘after the event’ insurance, which protects them in the event of claim failure. Such insurance is usually built into the conditional fee agreement. If you are unsure about this, always clarify with your lawyer.