Does a motorcycle accident claim cost anything?

What does no win no fee actually mean?

No win no fee is the everyday name for a Conditional Fee Agreement. It is a contract between you and a solicitor that sets out how they are paid.

In plain terms, there is usually nothing to pay upfront to start your claim. The solicitor takes on the risk of the work. If the claim does not succeed, you generally do not pay their fees, as long as you have kept to the terms of the agreement.

This is general information only and not legal advice. The exact terms depend on the firm and your circumstances, so read the agreement carefully and ask questions before you sign.

So is there really no upfront cost?

In most cases there is no upfront charge to begin a no win no fee claim. That is one reason this arrangement is common for motorcycle accident cases.

It is still worth checking the detail with the firm before you commit. Ask directly what, if anything, you might have to pay at the start, during the case, or at the end. A regulated solicitor should be happy to explain this clearly.

What is a success fee?

If your claim succeeds, the solicitor may deduct a success fee from your compensation. This is how they are rewarded for taking on the risk of a case that might not have won.

The success fee is capped at 25% of certain damages, a limit set by law, so there is a cap on how much can be taken from certain parts of your award. Firms may charge up to that limit or less, and this is one of the main things to check and compare before you agree.

Because it is a deduction from your compensation rather than an upfront bill, it is important to understand it in advance so there are no surprises at the end.

What is after the event insurance?

After the event insurance, often shortened to ATE, is a policy taken out after an accident has happened. It is designed to protect you from certain costs if a claim does not go to plan.

In particular, it can help cover the other side's costs and some expenses if your claim is unsuccessful. Whether a policy is needed, and how any premium is dealt with, depends on the firm and your case. Your solicitor should explain this as part of setting up your claim.

What are disbursements?

Disbursements are the extra expenses that come up while running a claim. They are separate from the solicitor's own fees.

Examples can include medical report fees, court fees, and the cost of obtaining records or expert opinions. Under a no win no fee arrangement these are often funded as the case goes along, and how they are handled if a claim does not succeed should be set out in your agreement. Always check how disbursements are covered.

Why does reading the agreement matter so much?

The agreement is where all of this is written down. It sets out any success fee, how insurance and disbursements are handled, and what happens in different outcomes.

Terms genuinely vary between firms, so two no win no fee offers are not always the same. Reading the agreement, and asking the solicitor to explain anything that is unclear, is the best way to understand exactly what you might pay from any compensation.

Take your time, and do not feel rushed into signing. A good firm will want you to understand the terms before you commit.

How does Bike Crash Claims fit in?

Bike Crash Claims is an introducer. We are not a firm of solicitors and we do not give legal or financial advice.

What we do is introduce injured motorcyclists to regulated specialist solicitors. Those solicitors are the ones who set their own terms and explain them to you before you commit to anything. That way you can see the funding arrangement clearly and decide whether it is right for you. Outcomes always depend on your individual circumstances and nothing is guaranteed.