There are some solicitors that will require you to take out a small insurance policy to cover the cost of legal fees in the event that you do not win the case. The insurance policy costs will vary depending upon the type of case, but you should ensure that you are aware in advance of exactly how much you will need to pay for it.

There is also something known as a ‘conditional fee arrangement’. This is when a percentage of the compensation is used for legal fees. You should ensure that you are aware in advance if the firm you are using takes this as a fee or claims their costs from the other side. Not all firms will offer a 100% compensation guarantee and will have to recover their costs somehow, though most will recover them from the losing side.

Most firms will have both a no win no fee and 100% compensation policy but some cases, such as those involving medical negligence, may run for some time. The solicitors handling lengthy cases may be reluctant to do so without some sort of fee in advance, or they may insist on a conditional fee arrangement. It is important for any claimant to ensure they know in advance if they are expected to pay anything and how much they may be charged. 

All employers must ensure they are acting both within the spirit and letter of any and all of the regulations appertaining to their industry or business. These include: regular workplace inspections, adhering to health and safety legislation, carrying out and recording risk assessments to premises, and so on.  Failure to do so properly can be very costly for an employer if a worker is injured.

It should also be remembered that employers must have public liability insurance; this is a legal requirement. This does not of course preclude a criminal prosecution in serious cases where an employee is injured or killed due to negligence on the part of the employer. 

It is worth knowing that you cannot be dismissed as a result of putting in a claim against your employer – something that worries many potential claimants. 

Employment law nowadays is very complex. However, if you feel that you need to put in a personal injury claim then it is worthwhile discussing your situation with a specialist lawyer. Many such specialists are also no win no fee employment solicitors.

It is also worth bearing in mind that it is better to be represented by a lawyer who has experience in dealing with particular kinds of injuries or diseases, e.g. Asbestosis or RSI. These kinds of claim need specialist knowledge to be pursued efficiently.

The solicitor will require all the information that relates to the case. All information on the injuries sustained and the actual incident itself should be presented to the solicitor. Any medical reports should be included and if there are witnesses they should make statements. 

It is only after receiving and assessing this information that the solicitor will decide whether to proceed with the case or not. It is at this point that the person or organisation that you are claiming against will also be contacted by your no win no fee lawyer to inform them that a claim is being made against them. 

This notification serves more than one purpose, because if the person or organisation is prepared to admit liability early on in the process there may be a possibility of settling the claim out of court. It is hoped that most cases can be settled this way, particularly if the liability of the other party is clear. 

If the case does come to court, your solicitor should be able to conduct all the proceedings for you without you having to attend. They will also take care of any paperwork involved. 

The time involved will vary from case to case, but your solicitor will keep you informed every step of the way when you use a no win no fee legal firm. 

This whiplash damage can lead to muscles and ligaments to be torn. Sometimes the discs in the spine also rupture due to whiplash. Symptoms that can accompany whiplash include headaches and dizziness. The injuries will vary from person to person and recovery times will differ, with some people needing to spend several weeks recovering. 

Claiming for whiplash compensation is important if the injury will keep you from working for a while, as you may need to recover these costs. Finding a lawyer who can help you to make a no win no fee personal injury claim is a good idea as this can reduce the costs involved. Consulting a solicitor is an essential part of the process as they will be able to advise you on the best way to proceed with your claim.

There are a number of specialist firms who deal with personal injury claims and the injuries sustained in road traffic accidents are among the most common that are pursued for compensation. Whiplash compensation will vary depending upon the extent of the injury, the treatment needed and the length of time that the sufferer has been forced to take off work.

Despite what may be read in the newspapers, there has been no boom in individuals claiming compensation. In fact only around 31 percent of accident victims claim compensation through legal channels. Individuals who have suffered losses due to injuries that they have sustained and which were not their fault should be entitled to compensation. However, at the moment there are many pitfalls into which potential claimants can fall.

Individuals who have suffered an accident are often put under intense pressure by sales people who are not qualified to advise them on legal proceedings. Few consumers are aware of the pitfalls and liabilities that they will be exposed to by agreeing to conditional fee arrangements, otherwise known as no win no fee accident claims. Consumers often believe that these arrangements are genuinely ‘no win no fees’, but in some cases there are hidden costs which the individual will be unaware of until the bill arrives. There is also the problem that some solicitors will refuse to take cases which they feel they are unlikely to win.

Loan financed insurance premiums, can along with other legal costs eat into the no win no fee compensation that an individual receives. In some cases this can even lead to the individual owing money at the end of the proceedings. Individuals wishing to pursue a no win no fee personal injury claim should ensure that he or she deals directly with the solicitor and that the solicitor has not paid another party for the claim. Think carefully before taking out a loan as the claimant is responsible for the interest payments. Ensure that any damages recovered will be intact. Always read the small print carefully before committing to any agreement.

There is currently no system for regulating conditional fee arrangements which means that consumers may not be receiving good advice and information. A voluntary code of practice is still in its infancy.

However, due to misinformation there are a number of misconceptions surrounding a ‘no win, no fee’ personal injury claim agreement.

The most important thing to remember is that if your claim is unsuccessful you are not liable to pay a penny towards your solicitor’s fees. Fees are what you pay the solicitor for the use of his expertise and knowledge and these fees are normally charged at an hourly rate.

Costs, on the other hand, is the amount of money charged for such things as medical records, the payment due to the court where your case is heard and After the Event insurance.

It is worth your while to ensure that your no win no fee solicitor will cover all costs incurred throughout the length of time it takes to settle your claim for compensation.

Furthermore, if it has been previously agreed with your personal injury solicitor that After the Event insurance was necessary, then this cost will be covered by the negligent party.

This means that even if you lose your claim, the opposing solicitor is not able to take any money directly from yourself. Instead, your insurance policy will cover his costs and fees.

By ensuring that you are fully aware of the personal injury agreement in place, it will result in you pursuing a claim for compensation against a negligent party at little or no cost to yourself.

Take injuries sustained whilst out walking as an example. If you fall as a result of your own carelessness, such as tripping over something that you know is there like a kerb, you may just have to grin and bear it. But if you trip or slip over something that ought not to have been there – such as a liquid spill on a supermarket floor or a jutting paving stone on the pavement – you have a case. Similarly, if you get a sports injury during the inevitable cut and thrust of a football match, you’ll just have to rest up until the injury heals. But if your injury was sustained by the deliberate action of another player, you should be considering approaching a no win no fee lawyer. Or another scenario: if you break your nose in a road traffic accident because you weren’t wearing a seatbelt, you could be on dodgy ground as far as making accident claims is concerned. But if another vehicle hits yours from behind and you sustain a whiplash injury, you ought to be making a car accident claim and seeking whiplash compensation.

If it’s not your fault, your injury should lead you to the expert advice of a no win no fee personal injury lawyer without delay.

There is always the possibility that you may not win your case, though your lawyer should advise you at the beginning if there is any doubt about the eventual outcome. Most firms may expect clients to take out a small insurance policy which will cover fees in the event of a loss, as you would also be expected to pay the legal fees for the other side, so this should still not cost you a great deal. 

Claims cannot be made for near-misses, where an accident or injury may have occurred but was prevented in time. You should also ensure that you have consulted doctors at the time of the injury and that you have the appropriate medical records to support your claim. Personal injury claims will not be allowed if the medical evidence is non-existent. 

If you are unsure if your personal circumstances will qualify for a claim, then one of the many no win no fee firms will be able to assess your situation and advise you accordingly. Initial consultations are usually free of charge.

An example might be a car accident that results in your inability to work.  Without income, you may not be able to pursue a car accident claim for damages against the party at fault.  In a no win no fee scheme, you don’t have to pay the solicitor fees up front, although other fees, such as medical reports, police reports, and payment for expert witnesses are usually not covered by the fee agreement, and will be required to be paid by you.

Not all solicitors accept this fee scheme.  But for those who do, the no win no fee solicitor will usually evaluate your case for free or at a reduced charge, in order to determine the odds of prevailing in court.  If the solicitor accepts your case, a specific fee agreement will be drawn up; detailing exactly what charges will be paid, by whom, and under what conditions.

Should you decide to pursue a claim for damages under this scheme, talk to some knowledgeable friends or contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for assistance.  Pursuing a damage claim can be a long and sometimes confusing process, and choosing the right solicitor and compensation package is an important first step.