Look to parliament at the moment, and you’ll find that Kenneth Clarke is grumbling about ‘no win, no fee’ personal injury claims. Amnesty International (international human rights organisation), on the other hand, is all for keeping this approach to gaining compensation for even the poorest of households and challenging big buck corporations about their misconduct.
Slated as ‘ambulance chasers,’ it says something when ‘no win, no fee’ companies are backed by a humanitarian movement and opposed by a Tory minister. For some readers, that will speak volumes, but here are some common misconceptions about personal injury claims that may convince you that they really don’t deserve their bad name:
Personal Injury Claims Are Responsible For the Compensation Culture
Holding companies, or individuals, to account is your human right. If you’ve been injured in an accident and it wasn’t your fault, you should claim compensation; especially in cases where the defendant has been negligent or reckless with your health.
Sure, the claiming process has become cheaper and easier with ‘no win, no fee’ solicitors, but only because it allows impoverished individuals, who can’t afford extortionate lawyer fees, to access the justice system.
Personal Injury Claims Are Time-Consuming
Usually these cases can be wrapped up in a few months. Most of the work will be completed by your solicitor, who will arrange everything, and you may not even have to enter court to claim your compensation.
Claiming Against Your Employer Is a Sackable Offence
This is a myth. By law, you’re protected if you want to make a claim against your employer. Although things may be a little awkward in the office, if you’re mistreated or fired because you claimed compensation, you can take the company back to court for unfair dismissal or discrimination.
Fees Will Be Taken From Your Compensation
Your damages are there to support you, because your personal injury has caused you suffering and loss of income. A solicitor should not take any money from your compensation; he or she should recover all fees from the defendant.
Everyone Can Make a Claim
Reputable ‘no win, no fee’ solicitors are pickier than you might think. Logically, a solicitor isn’t going to take on any old claim: his or her pay cheque relies entirely on you winning your case. If your case isn’t strong, and the lawyer thinks it may not triumph in court, the company will turn you down. Depending on the damage sustained and the negligence of the opposing party, you may or may not be accepted into the fold.
‘No Win, No Fee’ Is Exactly What It Says On the Tin
If you lose the case, you may not have to pay your solicitor, but there are numerous other court fees that you’ll have to pay for. You’ll probably have to cover the defendant’s legal costs too, which can be especially pricey. There’s ‘After Event’ insurance that you can take out to protect yourself from these fees, but it really is in your best interests to win the case.
Produced for Jigsaw Law car accident claim solicitors ; they look to provide advice and support for those who are looking to claim, using a reassuring holistic approach which takes into account your health.