No win no fee, also known as conditional fee arrangements, are a way for solicitors to charge for their services in relation to a variety of compensation claims. One of the most common types of claim to be offered on a no win no fee basis is for personal injury.
In a no win no fee agreement the solicitor will agree only to charge for their services if they successfully win compensation on behalf of their client. In most situations it is also possible to claim for legal expenses on top of any settlement awarded, leaving the client with 100% of their compensation. If they are unsuccessful in their claim the solicitor won’t take any payment, however, the client could end up being ordered to pay the other side’s costs.
Insurance policies are available to cover this potentially damaging outcome and in any case a solicitor is unlikely to work on a no win no fee claim if they don’t think there is a good prospect of success. If you are looking to claim injury compensation after an accident it’s best to seek expert advice as early on as possible.
No win no fee agreements have been around in the UK since the mid-nineties when they replaced the system of legal aid in this area. There is a broad range of benefits to solicitors working a no win no fee basis, chiefly:
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Improved access to justice: No win no fee enables people who would be otherwise unable to afford to take legal action to make their voices heard and win compensation when they have lost out thanks to negligence or unfair treatment by another. Of course the flipside to this is that it can be easier to make claims fraudulently, however, the law is a well regulated profession and these are a rare occurrence.
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Saves government funds: Under the previous system personal injury solicitors charged hourly rates for their services, these could be privately funded or taken out as legal aid by those on low incomes. No win no fee agreements save on this cost as well as the administration of checking someone’s eligibility and making the payments.
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Motivated Solicitors: No win no fee solicitors are well aware that they only get paid in the event of a successful claim; this means that they stay motivated throughout the proceedings and do whatever is necessary to ensure a claim’s success. The ones who don’t win enough don’t last long in this highly competitive area.
If you’re considering making an injury claim, speak to a solicitor today about the best way to get started. Claims usually have to begin within a certain time period and with no win no fee there’s nothing to lose, contact a solicitor today.