Specialist No Win No Fee Solicitors in Manchester

Beacon Law – A No Win No Fee Solicitors You Can Trust

Established in 2002, we have over two decades of experience successfully handling thousands of no win no fee compensation claims for our clients.

Whether you’ve suffered a personal injury, an accident at work, medical negligence, or been involved in a road traffic accident, we have been there for our clients, helping them claim the compensation they are legally entitled to using no win no fee agreements. Speak to our no win no fee solicitors in Manchester today.

Our no win no fee promise to you

Our specialist solicitors have over 200 years of combined legal experience successfully handling no win no fee claims, many of which are claims initially rejected by other firms.

If you choose to claim with us, we will promise to:

• Provide you with free legal advice when you first call.
• You will be at no financial risk, even if your claim is unsuccessful
• You won’t have to pay anything towards your claim
• There will be no upfront, hidden or unexpected costs
• We will always look to recover the maximum amount of compensation you are legally entitled to

No win no fee solicitors near you

We believe everyone should have access to expert legal advice, no matter where they live in the UK. That’s why we have locations across the greater Manchester area, including Bolton, Bury, Doncaster, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport and Wigan, ready to support you on your legal journey.

Additionally, we can provide our legal services remotely if you’re unable to visit any of our offices.

If you’re considering making a no win no fee compensation claim, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you, then take a look below as we run through all of the things you may need to consider when instructing a no win no fee solicitor.

When can I make a no win no fee compensation claim?

You can make a no win no fee compensation claim when another party is at fault for an injury, illness, or financial loss you have suffered. In most cases, you have up to three years from the date of the accident to start your claim.
The most common no win no fee claims are for the following types of accidents:

• Accidents at work, including accidents on building sites or in factories.
• Road traffic accidents, including car accidents and cycling accidents
• Personal injury claims, such as brain injuries or spinal injuries
• Public liability claims for accidents in public, such as slips and trips, accidents in pubs or restaurants or while out shopping
• Serious injury claims
• Medical negligence claims including claiming against the NHS

What does no win no fee mean?

No win no fee means that if you don’t win your claim, you do not have to pay anything to anyone. This means you can make a claim for compensation without any financial risk.

What is a no win no fee agreement?

A no win no fee arrangement is the most popular way of funding a personal injury claim. No win no fee claims financially protect the claimant from any upfront costs or any fees if they do not win their case.

The benefits of a no win no fee agreement include:

• You’re at no financial risk when claiming
• You don’t pay anything up front
• There are no hidden fees
• You only pay a fee if you win your claim
• The fee you pay is agreed at the start of your claim

No win no fee claims are created using a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). When a CFA is set up, the financial risk sits with the solicitor, not you. If the solicitor doesn’t win, they absorb the costs of all the time, work, and legal fees spent on the case.

If the claim succeeds, you pay a success fee, which can be up to, but no more than 25% of the compensation you may receive. The success fee is always agreed at the start of the claim process, so you will know precisely what you will pay once the claim is settled.

Many firms, including Beacon Law, also use an insurance policy known as After The Event Insurance (ATE) to protect against potential costs during the claim process.

In practice, no win no fee is simply a way of giving everyday people access to justice without having to put themselves at financial risk. More information about no win no fee can be found on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.

What are no win no fee solicitors?

No win, no fee agreements, also known as conditional fee arrangements, came into prevalence in the 1990s following reforms to the provision of Legal Aid. They were introduced to help ensure even those with lower incomes could still have access to a solicitor when they needed one. These types of agreements are most commonly used amongst personal injury solicitors and their clients.

Beacon Law specialise in providing no win, no fee personal injury claims, nationwide. We offer a wide range of services to all clients, and guide each and every client throughout the claims process. We strive every day to ensure we achieve the best possible results for our clients.

Our staff are proud to work for one of the nation’s leading firms of no win, no fee solicitors, and their motivation is apparent in the efforts to obtain the best possible outcomes for our clients. We ensure that our clients get their lives back on track, as we recover considerable amounts of personal injury compensation each year.

How does a no win no fee claim work?

The no win no fee claim process usually involves the following steps:

Initial claim assessment and funding arrangement

Start by speaking with our solicitors through our free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll ask you a few questions about your accident and let you know whether we think you have a right to claim and whether we’d like to take on your case. We’ll also explain the terms of the no win no fee agreement and the insurance policies needed to cover any costs if you lose.

Submitting your claim

Our solicitors will prepare your claim and submit it to the opposing party.

Gathering evidence

We will start to build your claim by collecting all available evidence to support your claim, including expert medical reports to accurately reflect the level of injury suffered and the compensation amount you are legally entitled to.

Liability is negotiated

Our solicitors will discuss with the opposing lawyers who is at fault legally for your injuries and negotiate a compensation amount to accurately reflect the impact the accident or injury has had on your life.

Liability is agreed, and compensation is paid

Once liability is agreed, your compensation is paid. Any previously agreed success fees are deducted, and then the compensation is paid into your bank account.

How is compensation calculated in a no win no fee claim?

Compensation amounts for no win no fee claims are calculated by combining the compensation you may be legally entitled to for both general and special damages.

General damages amounts relate to the severity of your injuries, while special damages relate to the effects the injuries may have on your life.

What are general damages for no win no fee claims?

General damages in a no win no fee claim refer to the amount of compensation awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, sometimes known as PSLA. Compensation for general damages considers both the physical and psychological impact the injury may have caused, including consideration for the loss of enjoyment of life and the ability to participate in day-to-day activities.

The Judicial College Guidelines from the Ministry of Justice provide guidance on the amount of compensation you can claim for general damages.

In addition to claiming for general damages, you can claim for special damages.

What are special damages for no win no fee claims?

Compensation for special damages for a no win no fee claim is awarded for expenses you may have incurred or may incur in the future as a direct result of your injuries.

The amount of compensation you may receive for special damages may include, but is not limited to:

• Any loss of income or potential future income, including pensions
• Any medical costs associated with your injury, including rehabilitation and ongoing medical treatment
• Any costs related to adaptations you may need to make to your home
• Any costs for the care you may have or will need to receive, even if a family member or friend provides this.
• Any out-of-pocket expenses you or anyone who has cared for you may have incurred.
• Any travel and motor expenses, including the cost of travel to and from appointments and parking costs.

Our specialist no win no fee solicitors recognise that no amount of money can make up for what you may have suffered, so we take the utmost care and consideration to ensure you are compensated correctly in relation to the severity of your injuries, the effects they have had on your life, as well as your loss of earnings and changes to your lifestyle.

What is the average compensation amount for a no win no fee claim?

As each claim is unique, there is no average compensation amount. Depending on the severity of the injuries, claims can range from £2,000 for minor injuries to £ 1 million or more for life-changing injuries.

How do I know if my no win no fee claim will be successful?

You will know if you have a good chance of being successful with your no win no fee claim by speaking to one of our experienced no win no fee solicitors. We have over 200 years of combined experience in handling no win no fee claims.

When assessing a no win no fee claim will be successful, our solicitors evaluate the following:

• Someone owed you a duty of care
• They breached that duty
• The breach caused your injury
• You have suffered physical, emotional or financial losses as a result

What happens when you win a no win no fee case?

When your case has been settled successfully, you will receive your compensation as follows:

You are given a full breakdown of all costs to show you how the final compensation amount has been calculated. This breakdown will include amounts for:

• Deduction of the agreed success fee
• Any costs relating to the ATE insurance policy, if applicable
• Any legal costs for the opposition

What happens if you lose a no win no fee claim?

A no win no fee agreement protects you from having to pay legal fees if your claim does not succeed. This means that if you lose your case, you do not pay for the legal work carried out.

To protect you from other expenses, we usually take out an After the Event insurance policy on your behalf. This can cover costs such as court fees and medical reports, and if your case is not successful, you do not pay the insurance premium.

There are a few situations where you could still be responsible for costs, but only if you acted dishonestly, maliciously, or breached the terms of your agreement.

We explain all of this clearly at the start of the claim process so you have complete confidence in how your claim will be funded.

How much will I have to pay if I win my no win no fee claim?

The amount you may have to pay if you win your no win no fee claim will be discussed and agreed before your claim starts. In most cases, the limit of your costs will be the pre-agreed “success fee” you will have agreed to pay your solicitor if they win your case. This fee can vary depending on the type of claim, but it is capped at 25% of the total compensation you may receive.

Will I be taxed on my compensation in a no win no fee claim?

No, you will not be taxed on the compensation you may receive if you win a no win no fee compensation claim. As the money you receive is not classed as income, no tax would be due.

How much does a solicitor charge for a no win no fee claim?

When using a no win no fee agreement, a solicitor only agrees to charge for their services if they win your claim. This is often called a “success fee” and applies only if they win your case.

At the beginning of the claim process, you will agree on what percentage of your compensation will be paid to your solicitor. The amount can vary depending on the type of claim, but the most you should ever pay is 25%.

How long do I have to make a no win no fee claim?

In most cases, you will have three years from the date of your accident or the date a medical professional diagnosed your injuries.

This three-year period is set by the Limitation Act 1980. However, there are exceptions.

The person who was injured lacks the mental capacity to claim.

The timeframe for claiming is extended until the person can claim. If this is not possible, a trusted family member may claim on their behalf.

The injured person is a child

The time limit for minors to claim is paused if the injured person was under the age of 18 at the time of the accident. They will have up to three years after their 18th birthday to start their claim. Alternatively, a parent or legal guardian can claim on their behalf.

The accident proved fatal

In these extremely unfortunate circumstances, the three year time limit starts from the date of death rather than the date of the accident.

You are claiming for an industrial disease

If you are claiming for an industrial disease such as asbestos or mesothelioma, the three-year period would only start from the date the person was made aware their illness was related to exposure at work. Unfortunately, in many cases, this can be decades after the initial exposure to the harmful substance.

A manufacturing or design fault caused the accident

If a piece of equipment is later found to have been faulty, for example, through a product recall investigation, you would have three years from the date you became aware of this.

What information do I need to provide to start a no win no fee compensation claim?

To build the strongest case for you to claim compensation, we will need to prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries.

When you contact us, we’ll ask you some questions about what caused your accident or injuries.

The more information you can provide, the better we can advise you on your rights and the amount of compensation you may be able to claim.

We may ask some of the following questions;

• Where and when the accident took place
• What are the injuries you’ve suffered as a result of the accident
• Who may have been at fault for the accident
• If any reports of the accident that were made
• If you have any of the following (if applicable) witness statements, accident reports, photographs, police reports or CCTV of the accident scene
• What medical treatment you may have received, and when you received it
• If you have medical reports
• What injuries and pain you suffered, and are still suffering
• The amount of time you’ve had to take off work because of your injuries
• The amount of loss of earnings you may have incurred
• Any adaptations you’ve had to make to your daily life, home and routines

Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this information. Our experienced solicitors can help you collect this information.

Can I make a no win no fee compensation claim on behalf of someone else?

Yes, in some circumstances, you can make a no win no claim on behalf of someone else. Such circumstances include:

Making a no win no fee claim on behalf of a child

As a parent or recognised legal guardian, you can make a claim on behalf of a child. This is known as acting as their litigation friend. A litigation friend has a legal responsibility to act in the best interests of the child throughout the claim.

Making a no win no fee claim on behalf of someone with limited mental capacity

If someone lacks the mental capacity to represent themselves, a designated person can be appointed to act on their behalf. The person could be a parent, sibling, adult child, or anyone with power of attorney.

How long does a no win no fee compensation claim take?

The length of time it takes for a no win no fee claim to be settled varies depending on the complexity of the case.

Straightforward cases, where liability can be clearly established, may settle between 6-9 months, while more complex cases can take more than 12 months.

As a general guide, the length of time a claim may take to settle will depend on how easily liability can be established, followed by how quickly both parties can agree upon an accurate amount of compensation that should be awarded.

What are the alternative funding options to no win no fee when making a claim?

Although many people choose to use a no win no fee agreement, there are other ways to fund a claim. These options may depend on your circumstances and the type of case you have.

Legal expenses Insurance (LEI)

As part of your home, car or travel insurance, you may already have legal expense insurance. This is often called Before The Event insurance and can help pay for legal costs.

Trade Union funding

If you are a member of a trade union, it may provide legal support for certain types of claims, particularly in relation to accidents or injuries that may have taken place in the workplace.

Paying privately for a no win no fee claim

While most people choose to fund their personal injury claim through a No Win No Fee agreement, some clients prefer to pay privately instead. This can be a sensible option in certain circumstances, and it’s something we’re happy to discuss with you in detail before you decide how to proceed.

When a claim is funded privately, legal fees are usually charged on an hourly basis and paid as the case progresses. This means there is no success fee deducted from your compensation if the claim is successful. For some clients, particularly those bringing higher-value or more complex claims, this approach can offer greater flexibility and better overall value.

Private funding is often chosen where a claim involves complicated issues, disputed liability, or requires significant early investigation before the prospects of success are clear. It can also be suitable for clients who have the means to fund their case and want to retain full control over how the claim is run, including decisions around expert evidence, case strategy, and settlement timing.

If your claim is successful, it may be possible to recover some of your legal costs from the other party. However, not all costs are always recoverable, and any shortfall would remain your responsibility. The key advantage is that your compensation is not reduced by a success fee, allowing you to keep the full amount of damages awarded.

If the claim is unsuccessful, you would normally be responsible for your own legal costs, and there may also be a risk of having to pay the other side’s costs. For this reason, even where a case is funded privately, we may recommend After the Event (ATE) insurance to provide protection against these risks. We will always explain the cost and purpose of any insurance clearly before you make a decision.

There is no single right way to fund a personal injury claim. At Beacon Law, we take the time to assess your case carefully and explain all available funding options, including No Win No Fee and private funding. Our role is to help you understand the risks, costs, and benefits of each approach, so you can choose the option that best suits your circumstances, with no pressure and no surprises.