Compensation Culture Tackled in Budget
Commenting on Government claims to crack down on fraudulent whip lash claims and remove the right to general damages, Pearson Solicitors Personal Injury team said the move could affect access to justice.
“Victims of injury will not be able to afford the legal help they need to bring genuine claims and those with smaller, but still valid claims will be left without legal representation,” said PI Partner, Mike Talbot.
Whitehall has said it wants to end a ‘cash for compensation culture’ and in the future compensation could be in medical care not cash. In his Autumn statement, Chancellor George Osborne is set to increase the small claims limit for personal injury claims from £1,000 to £5,000.
The Government claims it could reduce insurance premiums and remove over £1bn from the cost of providing motor insurance, with a predicted £40 to £50 average saving per motor insurance policy passed on to consumers.
Mike Talbot added: “Most experienced solicitors welcome moves to crack down on false claimants, but I have clients who are making a genuine claim, some of them have been severely injured in road traffic accidents, suffered industrial diseases, accidents at work or just going about their daily business and the compensation not only recognises their pain and suffering, but in most cases pays for specialist therapies, loss of earnings, nursing care and travelling expenses they have endured, it is not a windfall.”
For advice on your Personal Injury Claim contact Mike Talbot on 0161 785 3500 or email enquiries@pearsonlegal.co.uk
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Please note that the information and opinions contained in this article are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to provide legal advice. No responsibility for its accuracy or correctness is assumed by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd or any of its members or employees. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, any action as a result of this article.
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