There are many advantages to be had by pursuing a ‘no win, no fee' claim, first and foremost because you have the piece of mind knowing that you will not be worse off if you claim and are unsuccessful; the Conditional Fee Agreement means that no fees must be made to your lawyer should your case for compensation prove unsuccessful. However, it is often advised that claimants take out insurance cover against their claims, because whilst the fees to the lawyer may be waived under the CFA, there still lies the problem of the opposition's legal fees and expenses, which you are entitled to ay in the event of losing your case. However, the conditional fees must be set out by the solicitor at the start of the case before the claimant makes their decision as to whether to pursue compensation or not. If the solicitor is not explicit about any ‘hidden costs' and possible further expenses before hand, then they run the risk of not being paid at all. As with most legal procedures, it is imperative that clients read the small print, and are fully aware of the financial implications for themselves should a compensation claim fail.

On top of the CFA's, most companies will advise their clients to take out insurance against their legal procedures, so that they themselves will not be expected the pay the fees and expenses of the opposition should the claim fail. If the right steps are taken from the outset, then the client needn't go into partnership with their solicitor worrying about costs at all.

Conveniently for clients, as well as themselves, many firms offer their consultations free of charge, either over the phone, on the internet, or via post. This greatly reduces the time it takes to arrange personal interviews, and these methods of interaction can be just as informative. Initially, most applicants will fill out a form containing their personal details, and information regarding their claim. These will then be reviewed, and the potential client will then be notified as to whether the company will be pursuing the claim on their behalf or not.

The risks involved, as discussed, can be virtually nullified if the case is approached and dealt with in the correct way. However, the financial gain from a personal injury claim can be great, and far outweigh any possible risks. Obviously, there is a reason behind the claim, such as loss of earnings and emotional/physical distress, and this will be reflected in any payout. However, many people simply accept things that happen to them, such as a broken arm or leg, without really considering the fact that they are entitled to large sums of money for suffering these injuries in the first place. Below is a list of example injuries and the compensation amounts which could legitimately be recovered;

• A simple forearm fracture: £3,800 to £11,200
• Loss part of a little finger: £2,300 to £3,450
• Severe crushed big toe: £8,150 to £11,200
• A simple nose fracture: £1,000 to £1,400
• Loss of two front teeth: £5,100 to £6,600