Q. What is the difference between a lawyer and a claims
management company?

A. A lawyer is a qualified legal practitioner, either a solicitor, barrister or
legal executive, who is regulated by the Law Society, the Bar Council or
the Institute of Legal Executives respectively. Claims management
companies are not regulated by any of these bodies and usually act as
middlemen, not actually handling claims themselves.

Q. What does accredited mean?

A. The accreditation which APIL provides certifies that an APIL lawyer has achieved a certain standard of expertise and competence and that
APIL has officially recognised that.

Q. Are claims management companies accredited in any way?

A.There is no form of accreditation for claims management companies, although the Government introduced regulation in April 2007.

Q. What is 'no win - no fee'?

A. This term is often used to indicate that there is no fee to pay whether
you lose or win your claim. You will, however, be required to take out
an insurance policy to cover the costs you will have to pay to the
opposing side, if you lose your case. Click here for more information on costs.

Q. How much compensation can I expect to receive?

A. The amount of compensation you will receive depends on the extent of your injury or illness and how this affects your ability to live a normal life. Your APIL lawyer will be able to give you some idea before you decide whether to pursue a claim.

Q. Does APIL have any financial interest in my claim?

A. Absolutely not. APIL is only interested in ensuring that injured people
have access to the best quality legal assistance in order to receive the
best compensation and other remedies which will offer you the best
chance of regaining your former quality of life.