You may be entitled to claim under a no win no fee legal arrangement
Being involved in an accident is always upsetting and stressful but if that accident was not your fault then it is possible to make a compensation claim. Living in the UK means that any claim you make should cost nothing as the legal fees will be covered by the third party who caused the accident.
No win no fee or Conditional Fee Arrangements portray that you lose very little by making a claim. Win or lose you will not have to personally pay any money to your lawyer as the costs are usually recovered from the other side. Your injury lawyer will agree the terms with you and will probably advise you not to go to court if your case is not strong enough. You may find that injury lawyers will pick only the best cases, ones that are guaranteed to make a large amount of money; this means justice is not always done. Lawyers will advise you to make a claim only if you have received an injury that has caused you significant pain and financial loss. If you have suffered an insignificant injury then you will not win your case. Evidence from a doctor is needed to help your claim and if you have paid out for any medication etcetera then the receipts should be kept in order to claim those expenses back.
Although you will not pay any money to your lawyer if you lose the case, money will still be owed to the other side. These incurred costs could include court costs, medical reports and the like. However, your solicitor will generally organise for you to be covered by “after the event” insurance. This is not available to some people, especially if the insurance company believes your chances of winning the case are low. You may be required to pay the insurance excess but the rest of the amount will be covered by the insurance policy. There are some risks to agreeing to no win no fee and costs can be hidden. Proceed with caution as the fees may be more than you expected.
It is important to do thorough research before beginning the process of making a claim. Use a reputable firm or one recommended by a friend or family member. Read reviews of their services online carefully. There are many high pressure sales techniques in use on the internet and over the phone, so make an informed decision. It is recommended to use No Win No Fee as a last resort as the name is misleading. There will be fees involved and if you cannot get insurance that you hope will cover the costs it is advisable to think again about making a claim.
Updated on 7/10/2008