No win no fee?

Re: No win no fee?

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:21:08 GMT

Julian - I am surprised. I thought that it was so easy to claim for whiplash etc that is why everyone was doing so and all our insurance premiums rocketing.

(not saying yours are not genuine, just the follow on from the American sue each other culture)

Re: No win no fee?

Julian Earl — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 11:04:36 GMT

Just for the record I think going down a legal route was/is a mistake. THe additional stress of sorting out paperwork, running after phone calls is unwanted. I have no idea whether it would be worthwhile in the long run, but I'm fed up already due to the worry and stress:not what I need

Re: No win no fee?

Julian Earl — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:56:35 GMT

I've been a member for years and it was the CTC-associated solicitors who directed me to my home insurance which is the way i'm going noe thanks..

Re: No win no fee?

Neil Wheadon — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:30:32 GMT

Do you belong to the CTC? (Cyclists Touring Club - 50000members)

Calling them may give you an idea if your case is a goer.

Your club may have a reciprical arrangement in regards to third party insurance with them if you are not a member

Bonne Chance

Neil

Re: No win no fee?

patrick murphy — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:03:38 GMT

Irwin Lewis do the work for Jophn Lewis as well, but my experience of them was a nightmare

Re: No win no fee?

Bob Russell — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 10:32:17 GMT

The idea is that the solicitors will claim the costs from the losing party thereby allowing the winner to keep all. They will select cases that they believe the other side cannot defend or will consider it cheaper to make a settlement.

Your accident was clearly very major and your health has prevented you taking much action to this point.

I don't know any details about your accident (good to see you back posting!) but I presume there was a full Police investigation. If there were charges brought against the person(s) that hit you then your case will be much easier.

Worth talking to the BVA legal helpline (assuming you are a member) or household insurance company (even car insurance). Despite a number of negative comments on them on the forum I have found them a good source of advice.

I don't like the no win no fee principle one bit but perhaps worth considering at a push!

Re: No win no fee?

Neal Palk — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 09:06:02 GMT

As ever -read the small print and watch out particularly for:

- 3rd party costs ('specialists' etc)

- Disbursements (Solicitor speak for charging £100 to write a letter)

- Any costs if unsuccessful for the other party (as above)

Is there a fee? Of course, it's usually factored in the settlement figure.

If I understand your post correctly the incident was 6 months ago? Tread very carefully then as memories, records etc will have faded and such as witnesses will have moved on..........

Re: No win no fee?

Rob Loxley — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:56:18 GMT

In a no-win-no-fee (really a CFA), if you lose you won't pay your solicitor but may get a claim against you for your opponents legal costs, most people offering CFAs also advise “After Event” Insurance to cover this risk.

Re: No win no fee?

Nicola Lawlor — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:17:22 GMT

Have you checked your home insurance policy? Some of these will give you legal cover so that you can fund this sort of claim yourself and be more assured of the intentions of the company used. Often the claim needs to be started through the insurers legal team, but you may find as we did that if you go to one of the bigger law firms that they act on behalf of insurers and you can work with a law firm from the outset with permissions from the insurer. We have been using Irwin Mitchell (claim via Direct Line) and so far all has been straightforward re the funding of things.