By Cat Grayson. Last Updated 11th May 2023. In this guide, we will explain the advantages of working with a solicitor under a No Win No Fee agreement. This is a way of accessing the services of a solicitor whilst generally eliminating any payments for these services in the event your claim is unsuccessful. As we move through this guide, we will discuss the different types of No Win No Fee agreements, what time limits can affect a claim, and how much potential compensation may be awarded for different injuries.
A Guide To No Win No Fee
At Advice.co.uk, our panel of solicitors is experienced in handling different compensation claims, such as personal injury claims, for example, road traffic accidents, accidents at work and public place accident claims, and data breach and medical negligence claims. To make a claim of this type, it is important to prove the occurrence of negligence. This involves:
- A third party owes you a duty of care.
- They breach this duty of care.
- Due to this, you sustain harm.
Our team at Advice.co.uk have access to a panel of specialist solicitors. When you contact one of our advisors, they can offer to assess your claim. If this assessment reveals that you may be eligible to bring forward a compensation claim, our team could put you in contact with a solicitor from our panel.
Here is how you can get in touch:
- Phone us on 0161 696 9685
- Contact us via our website
- Use the live chat feature on this screen
Select A Section
- What Is A No Win No Fee Agreement?
- What Percentage Do Solicitors Take With A No Win No Fee Deal?
- What Are The Benefits Of Using A Solicitor?
- What Time Limits Affect A Claim?
- How Much Compensation Could I Receive From A Successful Claim?
- Start Your Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor Now
What Is A No Win No Fee Agreement?
In 2013, the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 came into effect. The aim of it was to cut the amount of usage of legal aid. It meant that people wanting to pursue a personal injury claim could no longer fund the work of their solicitor using legal aid.
This saw the introduction of No Win No Fee agreements. These funding arrangements are a way to access legal representation without paying an upfront fee. The terms of this agreement and any fees you will be expected to pay will be discussed between you and a solicitor before you agree.
You could be offered two different types of these agreements when using a No Win No Fee solicitor to make a compensation claim: a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) or a Damages Based Agreement (DBA).
The solicitors from our panel can offer to work on your claim under a CFA. This will generally mean that the following benefits will apply:
- No fees for the services your solicitor provides either upfront, during the ongoing course of your claim, or in the event your claim resolves unsuccessful.
- If the claim succeeds, a success fee will be deducted from the compensation by the solicitor. This will be a small legally capped percentage.
Continue reading to learn about the percentage a solicitor can take per different agreements that fall under the term No Win No Fee. Claim advice is also available through the contact details provided above.
What Percentage Do Solicitors Take With A No Win No Fee Deal?
You might be wondering, “What percentage do solicitors take for No Win No Fee agreements?”
Under a type of No Win No Fee arrangement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), your solicitor will take a success fee in the event of a successful claim. This fee is legally capped at 25%, meaning the percentage they can take as a success fee cannot exceed this amount. This helps make sure that you keep the most of your settlement.
With Damages Based Agreements (DBAs), which is another type of No Win No Fee agreement, you will pay your solicitor a fixed percentage which is contingent on you receiving compensation. This will be pre-agreed between you and your solicitor before they begin working on your case.
To learn more about how one of the No Win No Fee solicitors on our panel could help you with your claim, you can contact our team of advisors today.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Solicitor?
you are not obligated to use the services of a solicitor when making a compensation claim. However, working with a solicitor can prove beneficial in the following ways:
- A solicitor can work on your case in the time that you are unable to, for example, when you are working.
- They can provide information and updates on your claim.
- Also, they can offer expert legal advice by drawing on their previous experience with the claims process.
- Finally, they can assist you in obtaining evidence to strengthen your claim and help you to compile this in a way that presents a complete case.
To learn whether you could have an eligible claim speak to one of our advisors. They can explain further benefits of using a No Win No Fee solicitor to bring forward a claim.
What Time Limits Affect A Claim?
There are certain time limits for starting different types of compensation claims. For personal injury claims, the Limitation Act 1980 outlines that this is 3 years from the date the accident took place or 3 years from the date you learned of negligence.
There are some exceptional circumstances where these time limits can be affected. These circumstances can include claims where:
- The person was under the age of 18 at the time of the accident.
- The person lacks the mental capacity to make a claim.
Our team can provide insight into whether your claim is within the relevant time limits and evaluate whether any exceptions could apply.
How Much Compensation Could I Receive From A Successful Claim?
For a successful personal injury claim, you can receive an award consisting of two heads:
- General damages – accounting for the physical and psychological suffering and pain caused by your injuries. This can consider different factors, such as the effect the injury will have on their quality of life.
- Special damages – accounting for past or future financial losses from your injuries. This could include travel costs, loss of earnings, and care expenses.
For a payout under either head of claim, you will be required to provide evidence, such as medical records, travel tickets, or payslips.
We have provided a table below as a guide to compensation figures under the general damages head of claim. We have taken these figures from the 16th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which was updated for April 2022. Legal professionals, such as No Win No Fee solicitors, can also use this document to assist them in valuing personal injury claims.
| Types of Injury | Severity of the Injury | Compensation Brackets | Description of the Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back Injuries | Severe (a)(i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | Injuries to the back of the most severe kind involving damage to nerve roots and the spinal cord that lead to very serious consequences. |
| Neck Injuries | Severe (a)(i) | In the region of £148,330 | This bracket could contain various neck injuries, such as an injury that is associated with incomplete paraplegia. |
| Neck Injuries | Moderate (b)(i) | £24,990 to £38,490 | Injuries such as fractures or dislocations which lead to immediate severe symptoms and could require spinal fusion. |
| Injury to the Pelvis and Hips | Severe (a)(i) | £78,400 to £130,930 | Extensive fractures of the pelvis that involve further problems. |
| Arm Injuries | Causing Permanent and Substantial Disablement (b) | £39,170 to £59,860 | Serious fractures of one or both forearms. There will be residual disability that is significant and permanent. |
| Shoulder Injuries | Severe (a) | £19,200 to £48,030 | Injuries that involve harm to the brachial plexus, lead to significant disability and are linked to neck injuries. |
| Shoulder Injuries | Serious (b) | £12,770 to £19,200 | Dislocation of the shoulder alongside damage to part of the brachial plexus leading to pain and further problems. |
| Back Injuries | Moderate (b)(i) | £27,760 to £38,780 | An example of an injury that could fall within this bracket includes a compression/crush fracture of the lumbar vertebrae that involves constant pain and discomfort and a substantial risk of osteoarthritis. |
| Hand Injuries | Moderate (h) | £5,720 to £13,280 | Crush injuries, deep lacerations, penetrating wounds and soft tissue injuries can all be found within this bracket. |
| Wrist Injuries | (d) | £6,080 to £10,350 | Recovery has taken over 12 months for soft tissue injuries or a fracture. |
Contact our team today to find out how much compensation you could be eligible to receive. You could also use a compensation claim calculator for an estimation that considers the details of your claim.
Start Your Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor Now
If you are interested in learning more about the use of a No Win No Fee solicitor for your claim, our team can help. Connect with us today and receive a free evaluation of your claim. Our experienced team of advisors are available 24/7 for your convenience. If they see that you have a promising compensation claim, they can introduce you to a solicitor from our panel.
Here is how you can get in touch:
- Phone us on 0161 696 9685
- Contact us via our website
- Use the live chat feature on this screen
Further Information
Below we have provided articles from our site that can give you more insight into the term No Win No Fee. Claim advice is also available in our guides:
- Do you need a solicitor for a personal injury claim?
- Road accident solicitors
- I have had an accident at work, what are my rights?
Additionally, we have gathered some external information for further reading:
- Statutory sick pay (SSP) – GOV.UK
- Vision and mission – RoSPA
- When to use NHS 111 online or call 111 – NHS
Thank you for reading through this guide. To learn more about using a No Win No Fee solicitor to make a compensation claim, you can contact our team using the details provided.