No win no fee solicitors in Middlesbrough

7 Minute Read

The possible cost of legal action can discourage people from speaking to a solicitor, even when they may have a strong claim.

At Askews Solicitors, we can often represent clients in Middlesbrough and across Teesside on a no win no fee basis. This can allow you to pursue compensation without paying our legal fees upfront.

The most common services we offer no win no fee arrangements for are:

If you require legal advice, Contact Us to arrange a free enquiry consultation.

It is important to understand how no win no fee agreements work, what happens if your case succeeds and whether there are any circumstances in which you could still be responsible for costs.

What does no win no fee mean?

“No win no fee” is a commonly used term for an arrangement under which your solicitor’s payment depends on the outcome of your case.

The most common form is a Conditional Fee Agreement, sometimes referred to as a CFA. Under this agreement, you will not usually have to pay your solicitor’s basic legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful, provided you have complied with the terms of the agreement.

What happens if you win?

If your claim succeeds, the other side will commonly be required to contribute towards your legal costs, up to 100% of those costs.

Your solicitor may also charge a success fee. This reflects the risk they accepted by working on the case without any guarantee that they would be paid.

Compensation intended to cover future care and future financial losses is not included when calculating this deduction.

The percentage that will apply to your case should be explained before you sign the agreement.

What happens if you lose?

If your case is unsuccessful, you will not usually have to pay your solicitor’s basic legal fees.

There may still be other expenses to consider, such as medical report fees, court fees or the cost of expert evidence. These expenses are known as disbursements.

Insurance may be available to protect you against some of these costs and the possible risk of paying the other side’s legal costs. Your solicitor should explain what protection is available and whether an insurance premium will be deducted from your compensation if you win.

A brief history of no win no fee agreements in Middlesbrough

No win no fee agreements are a relatively modern part of the legal system in England and Wales.

Conditional Fee Agreements were introduced during the 1990s and were initially available for a limited range of claims. Their use was later extended to most forms of civil litigation.

For a period, a successful claimant could recover both their solicitor’s success fee and certain insurance premiums from the losing party. This changed following reforms introduced in April 2013.

In most cases, the success fee is now paid by the successful client through a deduction from their compensation. These reforms created the system that generally applies today.

However, for a very small number of claim types the success fee and insurance premiums can still be recovered, either in part or in full, from the Defendant if your case succeeds and your solicitor will be able to advise you about this.

Benefits of no win no fee solicitors in Middlesbrough

The main benefit of a no win no fee agreement is that it gives people access to legal representation without requiring them to fund substantial legal fees while their claim is progressing.

This can be particularly important after an accident. You may already be dealing with a loss of earnings, medical appointments, travel costs or the need for treatment and rehabilitation.

No win no fee means reduced financial risk

A no win no fee agreement can significantly reduce the financial consequences of bringing an unsuccessful claim.

It also means you do not normally need to find the money to pay your solicitor as the case progresses, which can make legal representation more accessible.

Are there disadvantages to no win no fee?

No win no fee agreements can be beneficial, but they are not completely free of cost or risk.

The principal disadvantage is that a success fee and other agreed expenses may be deducted from your compensation if you win.

The amount you ultimately receive will therefore be lower than the full settlement or award agreed in the case.

Your solicitor should explain the likely deductions clearly before you decide whether to proceed.

Costs can arise in limited circumstances

You may become responsible for costs if you breach the agreement, provide inaccurate or misleading information or end the claim without following the agreed procedure.

A claimant can also lose certain costs protections where a claim is found to be fundamentally dishonest.

For this reason, the phrase “no win no fee” should not be interpreted as a guarantee that you could never have to pay anything. The terms should always be explained in straightforward language.

What cases can solicitors handle on a no win no fee basis in Middlesbrough?

No win no fee agreements are most commonly associated with personal injury and medical negligence claims.

They may be available for:

Road traffic accident claims
Motorcycle and cycling accident claims
Pedestrian accident claims
Accidents at work
Slips, trips and falls
Accidents in shops and public places
Serious and life-changing injuries
Medical negligence claims
Industrial disease claims

Conditional funding may sometimes be available for other civil disputes, including professional negligence, employment and some housing matters.

However, it is not available for routine legal services such as conveyancing, preparing a Will or providing general commercial advice.

How do solicitors assess a no win no fee claim?

Before offering a no win no fee agreement, your solicitor will need to assess the strength and financial viability of the case.

They may consider whether another person or organisation was legally responsible, what evidence is available and whether the claim has been made within the relevant time limit.

They will also consider the likely value of the claim, the expected legal costs and whether the defendant has insurance or sufficient resources to pay compensation.

This initial assessment helps the solicitor determine whether a no win no fee agreement is in your best interests.

There are other ways to fund your case

No win no fee is only one possible way to fund legal representation.

You may already have legal expenses insurance through a home, motor or another insurance policy. This is sometimes referred to as Before the Event insurance.

Legal assistance may also be available through a trade union, professional body or employee benefit scheme.

Speak to Askews’ no win no fee solicitors in Middlesbrough

Askews Solicitors can assess your case and explain whether a no win no fee agreement may be available.

We will also explore whether legal expenses insurance, private payment or another funding arrangement would be more suitable.

Whichever option is recommended, our solicitors will explain how it works, what it may cost and any potential financial risks in a way that you can understand.

Our aim is to help you fund your case in a proportionate way that protects your interests and allows you to make an informed decision about how to proceed.

This content is for informational purposes and is not intended as legal advice.