Hi All,

So after my accident in Feb I have been mulling over the different legal options available to me.

It would appear there are numerous different ways that solicitors can charge you for their time. Although I don’t expect to be paying any costs as the driver of the vehicle has admitted liability for the accident, I will be paying a success fee.

This ranges from nothing, through 15% of incurred costs to up to 15% of any award, not exceeding 100% of incured costs.

The obvious no brainer is to go for the solicitors asking for nothing on top of their costs. But the most expensive has a very good reputation and is a specialist for this sort of thing (and has also impressed me with contact so far) and the one in the middle is a member of my family whom has a private practice…

Obviously I want to get the best award I can, who wouldn’t, but there is a lot of uncertainty here making the choice a diffcult one. I think the case is pretty open and shut, but I’m not a lawyer!

So I’ve set up a little spreadsheet based on an estimate of the hourly rate a lawyer charges, the number of hours worked on my case and a range of awards which are plausable.

The biggest known unknown for me in this model is the expected number of hours work on the case.

Can anyone give me a realistic range of hours a case like mine (knocked off bicycle, smashed knee, self employed although only promises of work available, off work since then…) might take? I’ve currently got a range from 50 to 200 hours. Thoughts?

Cheers,

Dom

c’mon soeone must have an idea? An opinion? Something silly to say about it?!

Eh? Why on earth wouldn’t you use a reputable company like http://www.bikeline.co.uk who won’t charge you a success fee?

First 20mins consultation Free. After which £190.00 Per Hr. Thats what my other half charges. Each case is based upon its nerits though

As aracer says contact bikeline or small claims court

Well the firm with the large success fee came recommended from another cycling related organisation.

I didn’t look at bikeline, will have a look now.

Plus there is the argument that if they are going to recieve a proportion of the award they’ll work a bit harder…

IIRC the legal costs are additional to your settlement anyway, so no point in a ‘success fee’ (they’ll probably claim these as well!)

In fact, they’ll just assign a number of hours and try to get under that for your settlement, and won’t have your best interests at heart if they can spend fewer hours for the 15% unless your claim is multi millions

Once they’ve spent the estimated hours they’ll push you to settle irrespective of how good or bad the offer is

Things I’ve learnt,

All solicitors are now asking for success fees from their clients.

Why?

The government have changed the rules as of 1st April 2013.

Now there is a financial limit to what can be claimed as costs from the other side, the shortfall is expected to be made up from the awards given by the court / settlement.

The following limits apply to success fees:

1. Cannot exceed 25% of the total award / settlement.

2. Cannot exceed 100% of the value of costs recovered from the other side.

To make up for this extra burden, the courts have apparently increased the value they place on injuries. Therefor I will be paying a success rate, unless (as in on eof the cases I mentioned above) the solicitor has waived his / her right to it.

Just thought you might like to know.

It would appear there are numerous different ways that solicitors can charge you for their time. Although I don’t expect to be paying any costs as the driver of the vehicle has admitted liability for the accident, I will be paying a success fee

and if you should die inbetween, then the case will be cancelled and your estate will be liable for costs, that your family may be able to charge back to the insurers,but then the loss adjusters will get involved and argue the payout is to much and your family get a lot less.

Haha, oh God, I hadn’t thought about that.

I’m gonna have to give them all a ring again and pose that question.

Thanks Project!

So have I then – I was somewhat surprised by the OP, and that explains it.

Out of curiosity where do bikeline fall on the scale of success fees?

Do you get legal expenses cover with your house insurance, I’m pretty sure I do and not just for house related stuff.

I also get them from my professional body – again not just for work stuff – and my union, when I used to be in one. Its quite a common add-on perk for all sorts. Might be worth a check?

aracer – they fall in line with everyone else, industry standard.

olddog – I don’t have anything like that.

But they do have a good reputation (as do the other firms I’ve contacted)

Dom

And by that I mean they take as much as they can legally.