What does no win, no fee mean?
No win, no fee (also called a conditional fee agreement) is a legal arrangement where you only pay your solicitor's legal fees if your personal injury claim is successful. The fees are taken from your compensation, so there are no upfront costs and you're not left out of pocket.
What types of claims can our no win, no fee solicitor partners help you with?
Whether you've been injured on the road, at work, in a public place, or due to medical negligence, we can connect you to a solicitor who can help you make a personal injury claim.
If you're not sure whether you're eligible, take a look at the types of cases we commonly handle below. Alternatively, you can contact our Helpline Advisors on . They'll listen to your situation and give you guidance on your options.
Road traffic accidents
Injuries on the road can happen in many ways, from car accidents to a fall on a bus. If you've been hurt in a road traffic accident, you may be eligible to make the following claims:
Accidents at work
Your employer has a duty to provide a safe working environment for you, if they fail to do this, and you were injured at work, you could make a no win, no fee injury claim for:
Accidents in public
If you've been injured in a public place because someone else was negligent, you may be entitled to compensation for public accidents such as:
Medical negligence
You can claim for the following if you've suffered because of negligent medical treatment from a hospital, GP or specialist healthcare provider:
Serious injury claims
A serious injury is one that has a long-term impact on your health, ability to work, independence or quality of life. Serious or life-changing injuries claims can include, but are not limited to:
What's the no win, no fee claiming process?
The claims process when you work with a solicitor is designed to be as straightforward as possible, with them managing your case from start to finish. This is what will typically happen:
1. Contact us
Once you've spoken to our Helpline Advisors on , they'll connect you with a solicitor, often on the same call.
2. Case review
You'll explain your accident and the injury you've sustained, and they'll assess your case and decide whether they're able to take it on under a no win, no fee agreement.
3. Building a case
Once you agree to proceed, they'll start working on your claim, gathering evidence and details to make the strongest possible case for you.
4. Submission and negotiation
Your legal team sends your claim to the other party, who then decides whether to accept responsibility. If they do, negotiations begin.
5. Settlement
If a settlement is agreed, it will be paid shortly. Your solicitor's fees will be taken only once you've received your compensation
What are the no win, no fee costs if you win?
The final deductions from your settlement will vary depending on factors like how complicated the claim is and what resources were needed. Whilst you'll keep the majority of the settlement, the following could be deducted:
- Success fee: An agreed percentage uplift on your solicitor's legal fees, paid if your claim is successful and limited to a maximum of 25% your compensation.
- Legal costs shortfall: The other side may contribute towards your legal costs, but if this doesn't cover everything, any shortfall may be taken from your compensation.
- Insurance costs: If insurance was used to protect your case, the cost of this will be deducted from your settlement.
- Disbursements: Case expenses such as medical reports, expert witness fees, court fees or other costs needed to run your claim. These are usually recovered from the other side where possible but may be deducted from your compensation if not fully recovered.
What happens if I lose my no win, no fee claim?
If your no win, no fee claim is unsuccessful, you won't need to pay solicitor's fees or legal costs, provided you've followed the terms of your agreement. This is because your claim is covered by After the Event (ATE) insurance, which helps protect you against costs such as court fees, medical report fees, and other legal expenses. Your solicitor will arrange and explain this at the start of your claim.
What percentage do no win, no fee solicitors take?
Provided you comply with the terms of your agreement, the total amount taken from your compensation settlement is capped at 35%, including your solicitor's success fee and any additional costs. However, this doesn't mean 35% will automatically be deducted. We only partner with regulated solicitors who'll explain all fees clearly upfront, so you know exactly what to expect before starting your claim.
Are there time limits for making a claim?
You'll typically have three years from the date of the injury to make a no win, no fee compensation claim. However, there are some exceptions:
- For claims involving occupational illness or medical negligence, the three-year time limit usually starts from the date you first became aware of your symptoms and that they may have been caused by negligence or your working conditions.
- For children under 18 at the time of the accident, a claim can be made on their behalf at any time until their 18th birthday. If no claim is made, they can usually bring their own claim up until they turn 21.
- There are no time limits for claiming on behalf of someone who lacks mental capacity to manage their own claim. If they later regain capacity, even temporarily, the three-year time limit usually starts from that point.
- If someone has passed away, a personal injury claim can usually be made on their behalf within three years from the date of death.
How much compensation could I get for a no win, no fee claim?
The amount of compensation you could receive for a claim will depend on your injury, recovery, and its impact on your daily life, work, and finances. Smaller claims can start from around £250, whilst cases involving serious or life-changing injuries can be worth £1,000,000 or more.
Every claim is different, so compensation amounts can vary. Your no win, no fee solicitors will assess how the injury has affected you and can help you claim compensation for things like:
- Loss of earnings from time off work
- Future loss of earnings or career impact
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs
- Travel expenses, such as attending appointments
- Care or support provided by family, friends, or professionals
- Changes needed to your home or vehicle
To get an estimate of what your claim could be worth before starting, try our compensation calculator below. It uses the latest Judicial College Guidelines, which are used to help value personal injury claims based on injury type and financial loss.
Compensation Calculator
We’ll calculate your compensation in a few minutes.
How do I start my claim?
The first step is to get in touch with us on or by using our online claim form. Your call with our Helpline Advisors is completely free, with no obligation to make a claim if you don't feel it's right for you.
We'll listen to your story and answer any questions you may have about the claiming process. We'll then let you know whether we think you may be eligible to make a claim.
If you're eligible and decide you'd like to take the next step, we can connect you with a no win, no fee lawyer from our panel, often on the same call, who will begin the claims process with you.
Who are National Accident Helpline's no win, no fee solicitor partners?
All of our panel of no win, no fee solicitors are fully regulated and registered with either The Law Society of England and Wales or the Law Society of Scotland.
We only work with solicitors we trust to provide a professional, transparent and supportive service throughout your claim. This means you can feel confident that your case is in safe hands and being handled to a high standard from start to finish.
Why choose National Accident Helpline?
At National Accident Helpline, we understand how daunting making a claim can feel. That's why we're here to listen to your story and support you in a way that feels right for you, without putting you under pressure to start a claim. We're committed to transparency and will always take the time to clearly explain the process so you never face uncertainty or unexpected costs.
If you feel ready to make a claim, you can get in touch by calling , starting your claim online, or requesting a callback, and our team will guide you through the next steps.
- Over years_since Years of Experience
- Regulated, Trusted and Transparent
- Support from first call to resolution
- Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
What our clients say
Meet the team
John Kushnick
Legal Director
With extensive personal injury legal and senior management experience, John oversees the optimisation of the customer journey - from the start of a claim through to final settlement.
View profileMeet the teamFAQs about no win, no fee claims
Who pays for the compensation?
Compensation is almost always paid by the other side's insurance company. In a road traffic accident injury claim, this will be their motor insurance company. For an injury at work, it will be the employer's liability insurer. For accidents in a public place it will be the public liability insurer of the council, business or landlord deemed legally responsible for your injury.
How long will my claim take?
The amount of time your case will take depends on the circumstances of your claim, the severity of your injury and whether or not the other side admits, disputes or denies liability. Your legal team will be able to give you a time estimate based on all those factors. Typically, the more complex the case, the longer the claims process will take.
Will my claim go to court?
No, it is unlikely your case will go to court - very few cases ever reach a judge. Rest assured that if yours does, your no win, no fee solicitors will represent you throughout, so you don't have to worry.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Visit our general FAQs page for more information.
Useful no win, no fee claims related guides
How much can I claim?
What is the claims process?
What is After the Event Insurance?
Explore our latest articles, insights and legal updates on our blog.