Personal injury lawyers to criticise compensation proposals
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Lawyers are expected to lash out this week at insurers’ proposals to shake up the compensation system for personal injury claims. Insurers have proposed a fast-track system for the 90 per cent of personal injury claims worth less than £25,000. The claimant would fill in a standard form to apply for compensation and would not require legal advice. The insurer would then have three months to accept or reject the claim. But in a speech to the annual conference of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers tomorrow, Richard Langton, incoming president of Apil, will accuse the Association of British Insurers of plumbing “new depths” with its proposals. He will say that insurers have a “powerful incentive” to reduce damages awards and eliminate legal representation from the system wherever possible. He will argue that footdragging by insurers has contributed significantly to rising costs. The ABI proposals also envisage a public scale of payments for specific types of injury, on which insurers would base offers of compensation. In addition, it has suggested an independent arbitration body to deal with disputes. But Mr Langton will say: “The ABI has, in the last few months, plunged to new depths in espousing its vision. In its brave new world, lawyers are included only as a sign-off once a deal has been struck. “They have come up with a startling new proposition that they should have three months to investigate and make a decision on liability. Revolutionary. . .That’s only been the rule of law for the last six years.” More : ft.com |