No Win No Fee — How It Works
A No Win No Fee agreement — formally known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) — allows you to make a personal injury claim without any upfront cost. If your claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing. If you win, you keep 100% of your compensation.
What Does “No Win No Fee” Actually Mean?
A No Win No Fee arrangement means your solicitor agrees to handle your case without charging you unless the claim is successful:
| Outcome | What You Pay |
|---|---|
| You win | Your solicitor’s fees are paid by the losing party’s insurer, plus a success fee from your compensation (typically 25%) |
| You lose | You pay nothing — no solicitor fees, no costs |
This means there is no financial risk to making a claim. If your solicitor takes your case on a No Win No Fee basis, they believe it has a strong chance of success.
What Is a Success Fee?
When you win your claim, your solicitor may charge a success fee. This is a percentage of your compensation that pays for the risk the solicitor took by handling your case without upfront payment.
- Typical success fee: 25% of your compensation (this is the standard cap)
- Only charged if you win — You pay nothing if the claim fails
- Agreed upfront — The exact percentage is stated in your CFA before anything starts
You keep 100% of your compensation from the other party’s insurer. The success fee is a separate charge — you never receive less than the full amount the court or insurer awards.
What Costs Are Involved?
When you make a No Win No Fee personal injury claim:
| Cost Type | Who Pays |
|---|---|
| Solicitor’s fees (won) | Losing party’s insurer |
| Solicitor’s fees (lost) | Written off — you pay nothing |
| Success fee (won) | Deducted from your compensation (max 25%) |
| Court fees | Usually paid by losing party if you win |
| Medical report fees | Often deferred, paid from compensation |
| Insurance premium (ATE) | Protects you from costs if you lose — paid from compensation if you win |
Why Do Solicitors Offer No Win No Fee?
No Win No Fee arrangements were introduced to ensure everyone has access to justice, regardless of their financial situation. Before CFAs existed, people with valid claims often couldn’t afford the legal fees to pursue them.
Solicitors who work on this basis carefully assess each case before taking it on, so if they accept your claim, it’s because they believe it has genuine merit.
What Happens If I Lose?
If your claim is unsuccessful:
- You pay no solicitor fees
- After-the-Event (ATE) insurance covers the other side’s costs in most cases
- You walk away owing nothing
Your solicitor will discuss ATE insurance with you before starting your claim, so you’re fully protected from the start.
How to Start a No Win No Fee Claim
- Complete our free assessment — Check your eligibility in 60 seconds
- Speak to a specialist solicitor — They review your case at no cost
- Sign the CFA — The agreement clearly sets out the terms and success fee
- Your claim proceeds — Your solicitor handles everything
- Win or lose — You either receive your compensation or pay nothing
Common Types of No Win No Fee Claims
- Road traffic accidents — Whiplash, fractures, serious injuries
- Work accidents — Slips, falls, machinery injuries, manual handling
- Slips, trips, and falls — In public places, shops, pavements
- Medical negligence — Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, birth injuries
- Accidents abroad — Package holidays, trips arranged in the UK
Ready to make a No Win No Fee claim? Check if you can claim → — our free assessment takes 60 seconds and there’s no obligation.
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