Countless motorists in the UK are victims of diesel vehicle manufacturers’ fiddling of figures to pass emissions standards tests.
'Dieselgate' and what it means for you
Hundreds of thousands of cars and vans powered by diesel fuel are involved in what is already known as ‘Dieselgate’ with vehicles’ emission levels believed to be higher than the allowable limit. If you drove a diesel vehicle that was first registered between 2009 and 2020, the manufacturer may have fitted defeat devices, which cheat the emissions tests and ensure their vehicles’ readings were lower.
The scandal means that the majority of household names are guilty of misleading the public, producing cars and vans with emission levels that passed regulations, despite significantly exceeding the legal limit. The use of defeat devices i.e. cheating the regulators’ checks means that customers have been misled, resulting in severe consequences for the environment and public health.
If you have concerns about the environmental damage done by your vehicle due to dishonest test results, contact us to see if we can get you thousands of pounds in compensation. We can often tell in a brief, no-obligation consultation if you have a case to make a claim.
There is no financial risk to you, as we will not charge a penny for our services if we do not win your case.
We will take on your case on a no-win no-fee basis, and professionally prepare your claim to maximise your compensation payout.
While we cannot offer any assurances on the amount you could receive, we will aim to ensure that the balance is redressed appropriately. We will look to achieve the quickest resolution possible – but we will not do so if that means we are not acting in your best interests at all times.
The background
Scandals relating to emissions began in 2014 when discrepancies emerged between the emissions of European and American versions of the same model cars. Investigations into the matter found software that manipulated emissions from diesel engines, sensing that the vehicle was being subjected to test conditions and adjusting the engine to emit less Nitrogen oxide and fall within the regulations.
In 2017 Volkswagen pleaded guilty to a charge of violating the Clean air Act in the United States, and agreed to pay $4.3bn in penalties.
Since then, diesel-powered vehicles produced by numerous manufacturers exceed – in some cases by 10 times – the European emission limits for nitrogen oxide.
The scandal means that manufacturers are responsible for far higher levels of pollutants than they claim, and are liable for millions of pounds in compensation – in fact, Mercedes’ American operations have set aside $2.2bn for their impending compensation payments and fines.
The industry’s response
Many of the manufacturers found to have used defeat devices have already paid out millions, or even billions, in compensation to drivers. ‘Dieselgate’ is widely thought to be one of the most serious cases of corporate fraud in modern history, with widespread use among a vast range of manufacturers.
Fuelled by public outrage, sales of diesel vehicles dropped alarmingly, demand declining to the point where the industry was facing a crisis, with manufacturing and sales jobs being slashed across the board.
As for the drivers, duped by car makers’ fraudulent activity, those who believed they were driving a vehicle that was less harmful to the environment sought compensation.
And if you are one of those who bought a diesel-powered car, whether new or second hand, you could be entitled to claim thousands of pounds.
Are you eligible?
If you have bought a diesel-powered vehicle, which was first registered between 2009 and 2020, it is highly likely you will be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
If you would like to run a quick check on your eligibility for compensation then simply enter your car’s registration in the field below:
Please enter a valid car registration.
You could be eligible for compensation.
Unfortunately you are not eligible to claim.
If you feel you have been cheated by car manufacturers who fitted devices to falsely pass emissions tests, and you believe you have a case for claiming compensation, get in touch with one of our advisers today.
In a brief telephone consultation, we can explain the claims process to you, offer you guidance and see what we can do to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Step One
Complete our quick and easy application
Step Two
One of our legal experts will contact you to conduct a review of your potential case
Step Three
If you are eligible, we will take your case to the manufacturer, on a no-win no-fee basis
Step Four
We negotiate the best outcome for you
FAQs
Absolutely nothing. We work on a no-win no-fee basis, also known as a Conditional Fee Arrangement. This means that we can offer legal representation to anyone, regardless of their financial circumstances, and we do not take payment up front. In fact, we will not charge for our services at all if your claim is not successful.
We will need to see proof of your identification and proof of your address, as well as the documents from the purchase of your vehicle. These should be scanned/screenshotted and emailed to us, rather than sending original documents in the post.
None whatsoever. You only pay us as a percentage of your compensation award once your successful claim has been completed and your settlement has been issued. We take out After The Event (ATE) insurance, which ensures you are not at any risk of losing money.
It is standard practice for a law firm working on a Conditional Fee Arrangement to use an ATE insurance policy, so that the costs you would otherwise be at risk of incurring are covered.
Anyone who bought a diesel car in the UK that was registered between 2009 and 2020 is affected by Dieselgate. If you think this applies to you, contact us today.
Yes, we can submit a claim for each vehicle you bought that was first registered between those years.
Each case can vary in the amount of time it can take from start to finish, but we always push to get a swift resolution on behalf of our clients, providing pushing for a settlement without court proceedings is the best thing for them.
It is highly unlikely that you would need to give evidence in a court. We look to achieve a resolution without resorting to the courts. Sometimes, if the defendant denies responsibility or disputes our clients’ entitlement to compensation, we will look to issue court proceedings. Even in such instances, it is unlikely you would be called to appear and present evidence.
