What is ‘After the Event’ (ATE) insurance and how could it be of benefit to you? Perhaps you’ve heard of this type of insurance and are wondering whether it’s something you need to think about taking out for your personal injury claim.
Key Takeaways
- ‘After the Event’ insurance (ATE) covers the risk of paying the opposing side’s legal costs if your claim fails.
- ATE insurance can also cover you for any out-of-pocket expenses generated by the claim, such as experts’ opinions or other court costs (known as disbursements).
- Combined with a No Win No Fee agreement, ATE insurance can give claimants the confidence to pursue a compensation claim without the fear of solicitors’ fees holding them back.
- The solicitors on our panel offer a No Win No Fee arrangement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Not every law firm or solicitor offers their services this way.
- Working this way removes the pressure of needing money to hire a solicitor’s services.
Please read on to learn more about the advantages of after the event insurance. You can also reach out to our advisors at any point and they will be happy to offer free guidance and information, or you can view our legal glossary to learn more about the terms you may encounter when claiming.
- Call us on 0800 408 7827
- Contact us online to discuss After the Event insurance.
- Ask a question through the live discussion window below.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Is After The Event Insurance?
- What Is Covered By ATE Insurance?
- Who Is After The Event Insurance Purchased By?
- Will I Have To Pay For ATE Insurance Out Of My Own Pocket?
- What Are The ATE Insurance Benefits?
- Get Help With Claiming From How To Sue
- More Information
What Is After The Event Insurance?
After the Event insurance is a type of policy that can be purchased to add extra protection in civil compensation claims. With ATE insurance in place, if the personal injury (or other sort of claim) is lost, the costs created by you or your solicitor are covered.
Call to discuss now or read on to learn more about protection like this in personal injury compensation claims.
What Is Covered By ATE Insurance?
Certain costs are covered by ATE insurance and they are called ‘disbursements’. This can include the expenses of the solicitor during the claims process. For example, ATE insurance might cover you for:
- The court fees are if the claim fails.
- Defendant costs if the claim is unsuccessful.
- Any expert witness testimonial costs.
- The fees associated with getting copies of evidence such as medical records.
- The costs of gathering any other types of evidence.
If you’re unsure what ATE insurance might cover for you, reach out to the advisory team for free guidance.
Who Is After The Event Insurance Purchased By?
The solicitor typically purchases ATE insurance on behalf of their claimant. An upfront premium is not usually required, as payment applies for the policy only if the claim wins. However, policies can vary, so it’s a good idea to chat over your options with us first.
Will I Have To Pay For ATE Insurance Out Of My Own Pocket?
You will have to pay for the ATE insurance if your claim succeeds. Normally, this is deducted from the compensation. However, you will not have to pay for the ATE insurance if the claim fails. For further clarity on ATE insurance, please feel free to reach out to our advisors who can discuss the type of policy offered by the solicitors on our panel.
What Are The ATE Insurance Benefits?
The financial risk of making a claim is further minimised by taking out an after the event insurance policy. In addition to taking out ATE insurance when agreeing to support your claim, the solicitors on our panel provide their services on a No Win No Fee basis under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
This means that there are no solicitor’s fees to pay initially, or as the claim develops. If the claim fails, there are no solicitors’ fees to pay for completed services, and ATE insurance will typically cover any disbursements.
If the claim is successful, the ATE insurance is paid for alongside a success fee for the solicitor. The success fee is a percentage that is deducted from the compensation after the claim settles. A law called the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 places a limit on this percentage. Therefore, you still get to keep the majority of the compensation if the claim succeeds, even after paying for the success fee. The ATE insurance fee works in a similar way with the fee taken out of the compensation as a pre-agreed percentage.
Get Help With Claiming From How To Sue
A solicitor from our panel could help you launch your claim with ATE insurance as extra protection. They are experts in personal injury and other types of civil litigation. If your claim is eligible and you wish to proceed with their services, you can expect the following:
- A detailed assessment of the value of your claim.
- Help to gather supporting evidence.
- All ATE insurance requirements taken care of.
- Regular updates on the status of the claim, plus an explanation of any complex legal jargon.
- Help to access whatever medical or rehabilitative needs you have.
- Professionally met deadlines.
It’s well worth seeing if a solicitor from our panel can assist you with your claim and take out ATE insurance. Give yourself the peace of mind in knowing that whatever the claim outcome, you are protected from unexpected or additional costs. Start by contacting our advisory team for more information, and they can take it from there.
- Call us on 0800 408 7827
- Contact us online to discuss After the Event insurance.
- Ask a question through the live discussion window below.
More Information
As well as this guide on After the Event insurance, these other links might be useful:
- Here is general information on the claims process.
- This guide explores how to sue for emotional distress.
- Also, we look at the role of a litigation friend to help launch a claim.
External resources:
- Read about personal injury compensation from GOV.UK.
- Also, here is useful information on getting copies of your medical records to use as evidence.
- First Aid overview from the NHS.
In conclusion, thank you for reading our guide on After the Event insurance. If advisors can help in any other capacity, please get in touch using the options above.