Frequently asked questions about no win, no fee claims

1. What is no win, no fee? 

A ‘no win, no fee’ agreement, also known as a conditional fee agreement, is an arrangement between you and your personal injury solicitor. It means that if your compensation claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay a contingency fee for your lawyer’s services.

2. How does a ‘no win, no fee’ claim work? 

In a ‘no win, no fee’ agreement, your lawyer will take out an insurance policy on your behalf before starting your case to cover any costs incurred during the compensation claim. These costs could include court fees, medical reports and other expenses. The person making the personal injury compensation claim will not face any hidden charges or bills for payments incurred during the compensation claim process.

3. How do I know if my compensation claim will be successful? 

Thompsons Solicitors’ personal injury specialists will only advise you to start a compensation claim if you have a reasonable chance of securing compensation. If for any reason your claim is unsuccessful, Thompsons Solicitors will not charge you for its work on your case.

4. What happens if my ‘no win, no fee’ claim is successful? 

Should your compensation claim with Thompsons Solicitors be successful, the majority of the legal costs incurred, such as basic fees, will be recovered from the person or company responsible for causing your accident or injury. This is an important legal principle often described as ‘polluter pays’. Other costs will require payment and are taken at the end of the case as a ‘success fee’, which refers to a percentage of compensation that is recovered by the client. Unlike law firms who take large deductions from compensation as a success fee, Thompsons Solicitors will only take up to, but never more than, 25 per cent of the final amount. If you are a member of a trade union, by using your union’s legal service you will keep 100 per cent of your compensation.

5. How can I fund a ‘no win, no fee’ claim? 

The only way to guarantee access to free legal representation and keep 100 per cent of your compensation is to be a member of a UK trade union and to use its dedicated union legal service. If you or a member of your immediate family are a member of a trade union, you can learn more about the legal schemes available to you on our Trade Unions page.

If you are not a trade union member, a conditional fee agreement is the best way to fund your claim, supported by an ‘after the event’ insurance policy. Our friendly team is happy to discuss the options available in plain English and answer any questions you have, call them now on 0800 0 224 224.

6. Why should I start a ‘no win, no fee’ claim with Thompsons Solicitors? 

Thompsons Solicitors has a high rate of success. Every year, it secures millions of pounds in personal injury, industrial disease, asbestos disease, accident at work and road traffic injury compensation.

We are committed to being open and transparent about our fees and costs - it is a fundamental part of the Thompsons Pledge. Click to learn more about Our Pledge and what sets Thompsons Solicitors apart.

Thompsons Solicitors is proud to only support the rights of the injured. We have never acted for insurance companies and never will. Our specialist personal injury solicitors have fought for the rights of hundreds of thousands of people who have been injured at work, in a road traffic accident or through medical negligence, as well as those who have developed an industrial or asbestos-related disease. We have even helped establish the law in these specialist fields along the way.

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury or illness in the last three years that you believe was someone else’s fault, contact our personal injury lawyers on 0800 0 224 224 or complete our online claim form.