How much do no win no fee lawyers take? No win no fee explained

What does no win no fee mean?

No win no fee personal injury claims were introduced in 1995 to give people universal, easy and fast access to legal help following an accident injury or illness caused by someone else's negligence. In 2013 the legislation changed requiring successful claimants to pay a proportion of the costs involved.

No win no fee agreements, also known as Conditional Fee Agreements, are designed to allow people to start a claim using professional legal assistance with less financial risk and no upfront costs.

• No Win, No Fee: If your claim is unsuccessful, and you adhere to your agreement, you don't pay a penny. You'll have insurance to cover the costs.
• If you win, the fees are deducted: A success fee, insurance and other costs such as VAT are deducted from your compensation, ensuring you keep the majority of your award to help your recovery.

If you've been injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligent action or inaction, UK personal injury law entitles you to make a no win no fee compensation claim against that person or organisation at fault - and we can help you.

How does a no win no fee claim work?

If eligible for a no win no fee claim, an insurance policy will be taken out before initiating your case. This policy is designed to protect you from costs during your compensation claim, like court fees and legal expenses. It means that if your claim doesn't succeed and you adhere to the terms and conditions of your agreement, the insurance will cover the costs so you won't be burdened with legal fees.

This allows you to pursue compensation without having to pay anything upfront. You'll only pay a fee if your claim is successful, and even then, most of the legal costs are covered by your opponent. Any remaining costs will be deducted from your compensation, and we'll clearly explain these details in advance, so there won't be any unexpected surprises throughout the claim process.

Eligibility for no win no fee claims

You might be eligible to make a no win no fee claim if:

• You've been injured in an accident or developed an illness due to someone else's negligence.
• The incident occurred within the last three years.
• You can provide evidence of the other party's fault.

How the personal injury claims process works

1. Initial consultation: Speak to our advisors for free, impartial advice to see if you have a valid claim.
2. Assigning a solicitor: If your case has merit, we'll connect you with a specialist no win no fee solicitor firm to handle your claim.
3. Investigation: Your solicitor or legal team will investigate the circumstances of your injury or illness, gathering evidence to support your claim.
4. Filing the claim: The legal team will notify the responsible party's insurance company of the claim.
5. Court proceedings (if necessary): Your legal team may decide to issue court proceedings to put pressure on the side so a fair settlement can be reached with the best terms possible. Don't worry, very few claims actually reach the courtroom, and a lawyer will be with you every step of the way. 
6. Negotiation and settlement: Most claims are settled out of court through negotiation. Your solicitor will work to secure a fair compensation amount on your behalf. 

Negotiating your claim

Claims where the other side's insurers deny, or contest liability can go to a court hearing before a judge - but this is very rare.

95% of claims are agreed upon through negotiation without needing court proceedings as time and cost efficiency are usually in every party's best interests.

If your claim succeeds through negotiation or court, your solicitor or legal team will deduct certain pre-agreed no win no fee charges from the compensation you receive as payment for winning your claim. Don't worry, you will keep the majority of the damages awarded to you and any deductions will have been explained to you before starting your claim.

How much do no win no fee lawyers take?

Compensation is intended to cover your losses as well as aid your recovery and we want to make sure you're paid what you deserve. You may often see or hear about a no win no fee solicitor's or lawyer's success fees being only 25% of the settlement, but did you know there are usually more charges during the claim process, such as VAT, insurance and sometimes even higher legal fees that will be taken from your compensation?   

That's why we like to be open and honest. We only partner with solicitors and personal injury lawyers who will discuss all costs with you upfront before you decide whether to pursue your claim, so you'll know exactly what your claim could be worth and what you're likely to take home.

Remember, with no win no fee claims, there is less financial risk. These fees will be covered by insurance if you lose your no win no fee claim, providing you adhere to the terms and conditions of your no win no fee agreement.

How much do no win no fee lawyers take?

We only partner with solicitors and personal injury lawyers who will discuss all costs with you upfront before you decide whether to pursue your claim, so you'll know exactly what your claim could be worth and what you're likely to take home. 

How much do solicitors charge for no win no fee claims?

Many people believe that solicitors only take a standard 25% of your compensation in no win no fee cases. In reality, they deduct a success fee, along with other costs and expenses that the other side didn't cover.  The Ministry of Justice set a limit on the success fee, capping it at 25% of your compensation. 

In addition to the success fee, solicitors may deduct other costs, such as legal protection insurance, if it is required. These fees should only be deducted at the end of your claim. 

Remember, if you're asked for payment upfront for a no win no fee claim, it's a sign that you're not using a trusted company or firm. Stick with us and we'll help you find the right no win no fee solicitor for your case.

No win no fee costs if you win

There are normally other claim costs even if you win. The other side is only required to make a contribution to your legal fees if your claim succeeds and they'll typically pay most of them, but not all.

This means you also usually pay your solicitor the outstanding balance of any costs and expenses not recovered from the other side. This figure may include things like court fees, the cost of medical reports and the cost of legal protection insurance (if you need it).  Your solicitor will receive the compensation settlement. They will only deduct the total success fee, costs and expenses figure from the total when they've received the payment. You receive the rest, and this will always be a significant proportion of the compensation. 

We guarantee there are no upfront costs or no win no fee hidden costs. The approved solicitor we connect you with will discuss this with you before you pursue your claim, so you'll know what to expect should your claim succeed.

What is a legal insurance protection policy?

Legal protection insurance ensures you're protected from having to pay costs if your no win no fee claim doesn't succeed. It covers expenses like the other side's legal fees, court costs, and medical reports, so if you lose, the policy takes care of those costs instead of you. The cost of the insurance varies depending on the complexity of the claim and will be discussed with you at the start of your claim.

Your solicitor or legal team will check if you already have legal protection insurance, often found in some home or car insurance policies. If you do, they'll use it for your claim. If not, they'll arrange a policy for you and explain any costs upfront.

If your claim is successful, the insurance premium will be deducted from your compensation. If you lose and have stuck to the terms and conditions of the policy, you won't pay a penny because the insurance covers itself.

Your solicitor will make sure you understand all the details at the start, so you know exactly how it works and are happy to proceed.

Are there other ways to fund my personal injury claim?

Most accident compensation claims are funded through a no win no fee agreement with legal protection insurance arranged by your solicitor. However, there are some exceptions:

• Trades unions: Some union memberships include legal protection insurance. If you're a member, check with your rep. If the cover is suitable, your solicitor will use it, and if you win, there's no premium to pay, so you'll keep more of your compensation. The Trades Union Congress has some useful information.
• Legal aid: If your claim involves a serious neurological birth injury, you may qualify for Legal Aid, which covers all legal fees.
• Your own legal protection insurance: This could be part of your home, motor, or credit card insurance. Let your solicitor know if you have this cover, and they'll check if it's appropriate. If so, they'll use it, and you won't pay a premium if your claim is successful.

What are the time limits for no win no fee claims?

To qualify for a no win no fee personal injury compensation claim, you must have been injured within the last three years. The accident must also have been wholly or partially the fault of someone else.

• If you were 18 or over when the injury occurred, you usually have three years to make a personal injury claim from the accident date.
• If you were under 18 at the time and no claim was made, you have three years from your 18th until your 21st birthday to claim.
• There are certain circumstances where you may have longer. For example, if you or a loved one has suffered a serious head or brain trauma that impairs psychological function.

If you've got any questions about making a no win no fee compensation claim, contact us for free and impartial advice on {Medtel 0800 047 3010}. We'll listen to what you've been through and let you know if we think you could make a no win no fee claim. We're here to give you impartial and free no win no fee compensation advice so you can decide what to do next.

If you're eligible and decide to proceed with the claim, we'll put you through to one of our partner specialist accident solicitors. Usually, we can do this on the same call if that suits you.

How can a no win no fee compensation claim help after an accident?

Your solicitor will carefully assess how your injury has impacted both your life and your family. Every claim is different, and the compensation amount will vary depending on factors like the type of injury, its severity, how long recovery takes, and how it has affected your finances.

Our no win no fee solicitors will aim to recover compensation for all the ways your injury has affected you, which could include:

• Loss of earnings due to time off work
• Any future loss of earnings or impact on your career prospects
• Changes in your ability to work
• Care or support you've received, even if provided by family or friends
• Modifications to your home or vehicle
• Travel costs, such as attending medical appointments
• The cost of any specialist treatment prescribed to you

Each case is treated individually, and when you contact us, you'll speak to someone who listens and offers advice tailored to your situation. The amount of compensation you could receive depends on the details of your case, so we can't provide an exact figure until your solicitor has fully assessed it and started negotiations with the other side's insurance.

With over 30 years of experience in handling no win no fee claims, we're here to help. For a rough estimate of what you might receive, try our compensation calculator. Just answer a few simple questions online, and you'll get an idea of what to expect.

How do I start my no win no fee claim?

There are two ways to start your claim with us. Either call us on or fill in our simple online form to request a callback.

We understand that making a claim can seem stressful, which is why we provide a caring and friendly service to help you get started…

Once you get in contact with us, you'll speak to one of our personal injury advisors. They'll ask you some questions about what happened to you and will then be able to let you know whether they think you could be eligible to make a claim.

If we think you could have grounds for a claim and you give us your permission to continue, we'll select a specialist partner solicitor for you and put you in touch with them.

Your solicitor will discuss your claim with you and advise you on the next steps. They'll help you make your claim on a no win no fee basis, and keep you fully informed throughout the process.