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Guide · England & Wales
No Win No Fee Claims Explained
A no win, no fee claim, formally a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), means you only pay legal fees if your claim succeeds. There's nothing to pay upfront, and you don't pay our fees if your claim doesn't succeed. If it succeeds, a success fee, agreed with you in writing before you sign and capped by law, is taken from your compensation, and you keep the rest.
How no win, no fee works for personal injury claims in England and Wales, what you can claim for, what you pay if you win, and what happens if you don't.
Reviewed by [solicitor name], NJS Law · Last reviewed [month year]
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What is a no win, no fee claim?
A no win, no fee claim, formally a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), means you only pay legal fees if your claim succeeds. It removes the financial risk of making a genuine claim.
It's available where someone else owed you a duty of care, failed in that duty, and caused your injury, such as a driver, an employer, or the business or council responsible for a place.
Since legal aid was withdrawn from most personal injury cases in 2013, Conditional Fee Agreements have become the main way personal injury claims are funded in England and Wales.
Not sure if your situation qualifies? We can check quickly and tell you where you stand, for free.
| Question | With no win, no fee |
|---|---|
| Do I pay anything upfront? | No |
| Do I pay while my claim is ongoing? | No |
| If my claim succeeds | A success fee, agreed in advance and capped by law, is taken from your compensation. You keep the rest. |
| If my claim doesn't succeed | You don't pay our fees, and you usually won't pay the other side's costs either. |
| When will I know what I could pay? | Before you sign, in writing |
What happens if you win or lose?
You'll know exactly where you stand in both cases before you sign anything.
✓ If your claim succeeds
The other side pays your compensation and most of our legal costs. A success fee is taken from your compensation. It's agreed with you in advance, before you sign anything, and it's capped by law. Any After the Event insurance premium is also taken from your compensation.
You keep the rest of your compensation, and we send you a clear breakdown of every deduction before we pay you.
✗ If your claim doesn't succeed
You pay nothing for our legal work. In most personal injury cases, Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting (QOCS) also protects you from paying the other side's costs. Where ATE insurance is in place, it gives extra protection against costs.
You could still face costs in limited cases, for example if a claim is found to be fundamentally dishonest or is struck out. We'll explain these before you sign.
How no win, no fee is regulated
No win, no fee arrangements in England and Wales are set by law, which gives you clear protections.
Courts and Legal Services Act 1990
This Act first allowed Conditional Fee Agreements in England and Wales, letting solicitors agree that their fee depends on the outcome of the case. It's the legal foundation for no win, no fee claims today.
In force since 1990
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012
LASPO reformed no win, no fee. It removed legal aid from most personal injury cases and meant success fees are paid from compensation rather than by the other side. The court rule changes that came in alongside it introduced QOCS, which protects most injured people from paying the other side's costs if their claim fails.
In force since April 2013
Types of no win, no fee claim we handle
No win, no fee is available where someone owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injury. We handle these claims on a no win, no fee basis:
What can I claim compensation for?
If your claim succeeds, your compensation is usually made up of general damages, for the injury itself, and special damages, for your financial losses.
Find out more in our guide to how compensation is worked out.
| Type of loss | What's included |
|---|---|
| General damages | Pain, suffering and loss of amenity: the effect on your quality of life |
| Lost earnings | Past and future loss of income caused by the injury |
| Medical expenses | Treatment, prescriptions, physiotherapy, surgery and specialist appointments |
| Care costs | Professional care, or unpaid care from family, during your recovery |
| Travel costs | Journeys to and from medical appointments and hearings |
| Property damage | Vehicle repairs or replacement, and belongings damaged in the accident |
| Future losses | Ongoing care, future lost earnings and home adaptations |
The no win, no fee claims process
We'll guide you through every step, from your first call to your final payment.
Even if you don't have all your evidence yet, talk to us; we can still get started. For more detail, read our guide to the personal injury claims process.
Free case assessment
We review what happened, confirm whether you can claim and give you an idea of what it could be worth, at no cost and with no obligation.
Funding agreement
We set up your Conditional Fee Agreement, explain the success fee, and arrange After the Event insurance if it's needed.
Evidence gathering
Photos, witness statements, accident reports, medical records and evidence of your financial losses.
Medical assessment
An independent medical report sets out your injuries and recovery, so your claim can be valued properly.
Letter of Claim
We formally notify the person or organisation responsible, or their insurer, who must respond within set timescales.
Negotiation and settlement
We negotiate firmly for fair compensation. Most claims settle without going to court.
Compensation paid
We confirm the settlement, explain every deduction, and pay your compensation to you promptly.
How long does a no win, no fee claim take?
Every claim is different. The biggest factors are whether the other side admits fault and how serious your injuries are.
- Simple claims where fault is admitted usually settle fastest
- If fault is disputed, it can add 6 to 12 months
- Serious injury claims usually take 2 to 5 years
There are also time limits for starting a claim. Read how long you have to make a claim.
| Claim type | Typical timeframe |
|---|---|
| Minor whiplash (Official Injury Claim portal) | 3 to 6 months |
| Road traffic accident | 9 to 18 months |
| Accident at work or public liability | 12 to 24 months |
| Serious injury | 2 to 5 years |
Typical timeframes only. We'll give you an estimate for your claim.
After the Event (ATE) insurance explained
ATE insurance is a policy taken out after an accident to protect you against legal costs if your claim doesn't succeed. We arrange it for you when it's needed.
What ATE covers
- The other side's legal costs in the limited cases where you'd have to pay them
- Costs such as medical report fees and court fees
- Your own costs in some policies
How the premium works
- Never charged to you upfront
- Usually only payable if your claim succeeds
- Taken from your compensation at settlement
Why it matters
- QOCS already protects most injured people from the other side's costs
- ATE adds protection for the exceptions and for complex claims
- We arrange it for you, so you don't need to find a policy yourself
Why claim on a no win, no fee basis with us?
Injuries Direct is a trading name of NJS Law, an SRA regulated law firm specialising in personal injury claims across England and Wales.
Regulated and accredited
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 8006550), and accredited by the Law Society Personal Injury Panel.
Transparent costs
Your success fee is agreed and explained in full before you sign. ATE insurance is arranged for you. No hidden charges.
Trusted by clients
NJS Law is rated 4.8 stars on Trustpilot and 4.7 stars on Google, and recovered over £6 million for clients in 2024–25.
No win no fee claims: FAQs
Does no win, no fee mean I pay absolutely nothing?
You pay nothing upfront, and nothing at all if your claim doesn't succeed. If your claim succeeds, a success fee is taken from your compensation. We'll explain exactly what your success fee is before you sign the Conditional Fee Agreement.
What is a success fee and how is it worked out?
A success fee is paid to your solicitor if your claim succeeds, to reflect the risk of not being paid if it had failed. It's a percentage of our basic costs, agreed with you in advance, and the law caps how much of your compensation it can take. We set out your maximum in writing before you sign.
What is ATE insurance and do I need it?
After the Event insurance protects you against certain legal costs if your claim doesn't succeed, such as medical report and court fees. Not every claim needs it. We'll tell you whether yours does and arrange it for you. The premium is usually only payable if you win, and it's taken from your compensation.
Can I cancel a no win, no fee agreement?
Yes. If you sign the agreement away from our offices, for example online or by post, you usually have 14 days to cancel without charge. If you end the agreement later, you may have to pay some costs, as set out in the agreement.
What happens if I lose my no win, no fee claim?
You don't pay our fees. In most personal injury claims, Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting means you won't pay the other side's costs either. There are exceptions, for example if a claim is found to be fundamentally dishonest, and ATE insurance can protect you in those cases.
Is no win, no fee available for all types of claim?
We offer no win, no fee for road traffic accident, accident at work, occupiers' liability, public liability and serious injury claims, where we think your claim has a reasonable chance of success. We'll tell you honestly after your free assessment.
Find out if you can claim on a no win, no fee basis
Talk to our personal injury team for free, with no obligation to claim. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a claim and explain exactly how no win, no fee would work for you.