2020 has been a year of many changes, and for those who have suffered personal injury, understanding who pays solicitors fees in a personal injury claim is an important question.
In the UK, it is a legal requirement that if you are injured in an accident that was not your fault, you are entitled to seek compensation. This means that you may be able to recover the costs of medical treatment, lost earnings, and other costs associated with your injury. In order to do this, you will need to instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf.
The costs of a solicitor’s fees can be expensive, so it is important to understand who is responsible for paying them. In the majority of cases, the defendant (the person or organisation responsible for the accident) is liable for the costs of the solicitor’s fees. This means that if you are successful in your case, the defendant has to pay your legal expenses in addition to your compensation award.
However, there are some costs that are not routinely covered by the defendant. These include a portion of the witnesses’ fees, and in particular, expert witnesses’ fees. In these cases, the claimant (the person making the claim) may have to cover the costs of these fees themselves.
It is also important to note that in some cases, the defendant may offer to pay the claimant’s legal costs as part of a settlement agreement. This means that the claimant will not have to pay any of their own legal costs, but they will still have to pay their solicitor’s fees.
In conclusion, if you have suffered a personal injury, it is important to understand who pays solicitors fees in a personal injury claim. In the majority of cases, the defendant is liable for the costs of the solicitor’s fees, although there are some costs that may not be covered. It is also important to note that in some cases, the defendant may offer to pay the claimant’s legal costs as part of a settlement agreement. Understanding who pays solicitors fees in a personal injury claim is an important part of the litigation legal costs process.
