The Perception Of The ‘No Win, No Fee’ Solicitor

There seems to be a perception by some members of society that solicitors who operate on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis are in some way ‘disreputable’, preying on other’s misfortune or contributing to the ‘compensation culture’. This perception is, no doubt, contributed to by those annoying phone calls we all receive. You know the ones – ‘we hear you’ve been involved in an accident – you’re entitled to compensation’.

Compensation

Compensation is designed to put the injured Claimant back into the position he/she would have been in if the accident had not happened. Some Claimants feel guilty about claiming compensation and are almost apologetic when they call us. They should not be. If you have been injured through the negligent act of someone else and you have suffered pain and suffering, loss of earnings and other losses, why should you not receive compensation for that negligent act?

Sometimes, no amount of money will compensate for the injuries suffered but the goal of a personal injury solicitor is not only to obtain financial compensation for their client but also to ensure that the Claimant gets the physical rehabilitation they need in order to recover as quickly as possible. With the best will in the world, the NHS is busy and waiting lists are long. Defendants should foot the bill for private treatment for an injured Claimant instead of adding to the burden of the NHS, thereby returning him/her to his pre-accident condition as quickly as possible. Personal injury solicitors can facilitate that.

The importance of ‘No Win, No Fee’ arrangements

‘No win, no fee’ seems to have acquired negative connotations but without this type of funding, the vast majority of injured Claimants would have no access to justice and would either be under-compensated, or not compensated at all, by insurers who would take advantage of the fact that the Claimant did not have the benefit of legal advice.

Personal Injury solicitors are not predators preying on the misfortune of others. The truth is that the ‘compensation culture’ is a myth perpetuated by the insurance industry and that the vast majority of personal injury solicitors are hard-working, caring individuals who just want to get the best possible outcomes for their clients who have suffered through no fault of their own.