When something has gone wrong, an injury at work, an illness caused by past exposure, or an accident that was not your fault, one of the first things people do is search for a solicitor in Manchester who can help. It is a big decision, and it is worth taking a moment to understand what these solicitors do and how to choose the right one.
What does a personal injury or industrial disease solicitor do?
A personal injury solicitor helps people who have been hurt or made ill through someone else’s fault to recover compensation. Industrial disease solicitors focus on illnesses caused by work, such as hearing loss, asbestos-related conditions and silicosis, which often develop many years after the exposure that caused them.
The need is real. The Health and Safety Executive estimates that 1.9 million workers in Great Britain suffered from work-related ill health in 2024/25, and the North West’s industrial history, from textile mills to heavy engineering, has left a particular legacy of occupational disease across Greater Manchester.
How does “no win, no fee” work?
“No win, no fee”, properly called a Conditional Fee Agreement, means that if your claim is not successful, you do not pay your solicitor’s fees. If it succeeds, a success fee is deducted from your compensation, capped by law at 25% of certain parts of your award in personal injury cases. A good solicitor will explain all of this clearly before you sign, and all solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
What should I look for in a solicitor in Manchester?
When choosing between no win, no fee solicitors in Manchester, look for:
- Genuine specialism: a dedicated team in your type of claim, not a general firm that dabbles
- Proper regulation: check the firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
- Recognised accreditations: membership of bodies such as APIL and the PNLA
- Clear, honest fees: a plain explanation of the agreement and any costs
- Local knowledge: familiarity with the industries and employers of the region
- No pressure: a balanced view of your case, not a guarantee of success
Why does local knowledge matter for industrial disease claims?
For industrial disease claims in particular, local knowledge counts. Many conditions trace back to workplaces across Greater Manchester and the wider North, and a firm that understands the region’s industrial past is better placed to build the picture of where and how you were exposed. Because these claims often involve employers who have long since closed, an experienced firm will also know how to trace the insurers who covered them at the time.
Timing matters too. For most injury and industrial disease claims you have three years to start proceedings, usually running from your “date of knowledge” rather than the date of exposure (Limitation Act 1980), so it is worth getting advice early.
WE Solicitors is a specialist personal injury and industrial disease firm based in Oldham, serving clients across Manchester, Greater Manchester and the North of England for more than 24 years. WE Solicitors is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and is an accredited member of APIL and the PNLA, and every case is handled on a no win, no fee basis.
Frequently asked questions
Does my solicitor need to be based in Manchester?
Local knowledge is a real advantage for industrial disease claims, but much of the work is done by phone, post and email, so you do not need to visit an office in person.
How much does the first conversation cost?
Nothing. WE Solicitors offers a free, no-obligation initial consultation so you can understand your options before deciding anything.
If you are weighing up a claim, we are glad to talk it through, with no pressure. Call WE Solicitors free on 0800 294 3065 or use our online contact form, or explore our personal injury services to learn more.
Sources: HSE, Health and safety statistics, key figures for Great Britain 2024/25 · Solicitors Regulation Authority · Limitation Act 1980.
