Do you know that not all countries implement compensation for accidents, otherwise known as accident claims? An accident claim in the United Kingdom can be made when you suffer from an injury, accident, or even death that may be caused by a third party’s negligence or wrongdoing.
For example, you may have tripped over on an uneven path because the local council failed to maintain or repair it. You slipped in your workplace because there are no obvious warning signs stating that the floor is wet. These things can lead to the following:
- Loss of income
- Loss of life
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Increased suffering and pain
- Loss of other opportunities
The result of the injuries and accidents is so severe that, at the very least, you have to be properly compensated to ensure there are sufficient funds to cover any related costs and expenses, take care of your future medical needs, and help you to get back on track financially.
In the UK, it is not mandatory that you hire an accident claims solicitor. In other words, you can go to court and represent yourself in a case. People often do this in order to avoid incurring legal costs and keep the compensation, if awarded, all to themselves and certainly there is nothing wrong with that. However, you should benefit more if you work with a solicitor.
Benefits of accident claims solicitors
An accident claims solicitor has the knowledge, expertise, and experience that you will most probably never have. Even if you think the case you have is clear cut, it can still be lost due to a number of reasons, such as lack of proper documents or evidence and poor representation. You definitely cannot risk that so it would certainly be advisable to get the advice and the professional help of a solicitor.
They can tell you with an unbiased view of the strength of the case you have. Not all injuries and accidents are worthy for a compensation claim. Sometimes the legal costs are more than the actual accident claims compensation amount might total, defeating the purpose of the process. Moreover, it is possible that the injury itself is caused by your own negligence. Your solicitor, nevertheless, can help you study the strength of the case through a series of assessments or consultations.
Don’t Worry Too Much about the Costs
These days you can find dozens of claims companies that offer a no win, no fee agreement. This means that you don’t pay solicitor fees if you should not win. That can give you at least a little peace of mind. Many can also provide a free initial consultation, and with so many choices out there, it isn’t difficult to find one that can help you effectively and still save you money.
Once you have decided to file an accident claim against a third party, you should be prepared for a lot of things, including the costs. Most definitely you need to pay for the representation and other legal steps accident claims solicitors make on your behalf. So the question is, can you afford it?
No Win No Fee
It was recently announced that legal aid in the United Kingdom is going to be reduced. On the one hand, it means that the growing number of spurious compensation claims should go down. However, this also means that legal costs may become more expensive for ordinary people.
This has become one of the main reasons why the “no win, no fee” agreement is popular these days even though a number of changes have been made which you can see here.
As its name suggests, in the “no win, no fee” agreement, you do not pay for the solicitor’s fee if you lose. Conversely, you have to do so if the ruling is in your favour, and you get your compensation. He gets the payment from your claim, which is usually a percentage.
Although this may sound like a great agreement, you should also take note of the following:
Not all companies agree on a no win, no fee policy. This is because it isn’t mandatory. The good news is that many are now offering it, and finding one should not be a hassle for you.
Your case will be evaluated aggressively. You may discover firms that offer this arrangement are more meticulous than those that don’t. That’s perfectly understandable since they are of course taking the biggest risk. Imagine, there’s a possibility they won’t be paid for their services if they can’t win the case. In the process, they don’t take all cases. Aside from merit, they also determine the winning chances of the claim. If they’re almost a hundred percent sure, then that’s the time they can offer you the no win, no fee agreement.
The contract
The “no win no fee” agreement isn’t based on words alone. There will obviously be a legally binding document that outlines the terms and conditions. This paper is known as conditional fee agreement. All the other charges, terms of payment, and other related information are listed there.
There are still fees to be paid
Just because it says “no win, no fee” doesn’t have to mean you don’t have to pay for anything at all. Again, it all depends on the CFA. Normally you have to pay for the other legal charges and miscellaneous costs. You may also be bound to pay the other party if you lose.
What Should You Do?
The “no win, no fee” agreement is just an alternative into reducing your claims costs. But to ensure it’s worth it, talk to a solicitor first. A lot of companies offer their first consultation for free. This way, you can already start gauging if you can have the chance to get into a CFA and take advantage of the no win, no fee option.
Accident claims solicitors represent you
A solicitor has your best interest in mind, and they will recommend the best course of action to take, including out-of-court settlement to save you from the long and time-consuming process of filing for an accident claim. The solicitor also makes sure that your compensation amount is what you truly deserve according to the consequences, pain, and suffering you incurred because of the accident.