A big win for those opposed to the compensation culture?
A big win for those opposed to the compensation culture?
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Discussion

LoonR1

Original Poster:

26,988 posts

207 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
This may well divide opinion and there is also the chance that genuine claimants will lose out due to the greed of the other claimants / firms representing them, but it is quite a significant ruling

In a nutshell, a factory has a fire. 16,000 people make a claim for injury as a result, in part due to some very aggressive ambulance chasing from two firm of solicitors. The firm and their insurers stand firm against each claims amd let it litigate with a few test cases. A judge promptly throws put all the claims and refers the firms to the SRA for investigation.

What are your thoughts, good, bad or indifferent?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-33...

roofer

5,136 posts

241 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Makes a change to see some sense. I hope the ambulance chasers in question get a new one ripped.

anonymous-user

84 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Mmmm look at which part of the country is in that link bandit

LoonR1

Original Poster:

26,988 posts

207 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
speedyguy said:
Mmmm look at which part of the country is in that link bandit
That makes the ruling even more incredible, given the friendliness of the courts to local firms.

Jonny_

4,709 posts

237 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
roofer said:
Makes a change to see some sense. I hope the ambulance chasers in question get a new one ripped.
I completely agree. I hope it sets a precedent that ultimately drives all the unscrupulous gutter lawyers out of business.

Jasandjules

72,634 posts

259 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
It appears to indicate that if "claimants" are fraudulently created rather than genuine that the claim will not succeed. This however does not affect genuine cases.

LoonR1

Original Poster:

26,988 posts

207 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
It appears to indicate that if "claimants" are fraudulently created rather than genuine that the claim will not succeed. This however does not affect genuine cases.
However, all claims have been thrown out, even one that may be genuine. Given views on whiplash claims on here, then it may make the future more interesting for those claims. Equally, it may not as there's got to be some sort of precedent set somewhere I think. I'm writing this purely as an interested observer, as I don't deal with industrial claims.

MrBarry123

6,108 posts

151 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
If the claims are genuine, they should be honoured. If they're not, they shouldn't. Sounds to me like they couldn't be bothered to sift through the good from the bad.

Jasandjules

72,634 posts

259 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
However, all claims have been thrown out, even one that may be genuine.
Indeed, that is unfortunate. Justice may not have been done in that case.

But it still should have no effect on any future genuine claims (insofar as "genuine" can be determined for the purposes of PH).


surveyor

18,705 posts

214 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Surely it's too far reaching to hold water for long. Really needs an appeal - but who's going to do that....

Just to be clear

No problem with junk claims being thrown out - but genuine one's need to be protected

eldar

25,306 posts

226 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
surveyor said:
No problem with junk claims being thrown out - but genuine one's need to be protected
Indeed. How can you tell though?

james7

594 posts

285 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Hopefully some sense will prevail in all these claims.
Imo a big bit of the problem with the car claims is the accident management companies. They encourage fake injuries, over charge for hire cars, delay stuff unnecessarily, I have even seen them damage cars further than they are already so they can justify a hire car and a bigger claim up for injuries.
Iirc many years ago 18-20) a corsa on credit hire was billed out at iro £100 per day. Not sure if they got paid that in the end but they did try!

If people were not encouraged to claim for non existent injuries etc I think it would be a bit different.

If even a small amount of this abuse happens in other insurance claims then its no wonder insurance is so expensive.

roofer

5,136 posts

241 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
surveyor said:
Surely it's too far reaching to hold water for long. Really needs an appeal - but who's going to do that....

Just to be clear

No problem with junk claims being thrown out - but genuine one's need to be protected
Ambulance chasers spread the word amongst the great unwashed, before you know it, 16000 are on the books. Do you think there was one genuine claim in there ?

Personally, I am sick to death of the everyday hardworking man/woman subsidising these people. If there is a genuine claim, the law will find it, we are pretty good at the law, England being about for a while and all.

The trouble being, the % of people who want to manipulate the law for an easy buck cost every man/woman/ child who are honest.

Personally, I've had enough, from the compensationist element, and I suspect 99% of the population have as well.

surveyor

18,705 posts

214 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
roofer said:
surveyor said:
Surely it's too far reaching to hold water for long. Really needs an appeal - but who's going to do that....

Just to be clear

No problem with junk claims being thrown out - but genuine one's need to be protected
Ambulance chasers spread the word amongst the great unwashed, before you know it, 16000 are on the books. Do you think there was one genuine claim in there ?

Personally, I am sick to death of the everyday hardworking man/woman subsidising these people. If there is a genuine claim, the law will find it, we are pretty good at the law, England being about for a while and all.

The trouble being, the % of people who want to manipulate the law for an easy buck cost every man/woman/ child who are honest.

Personally, I've had enough, from the compensationist element, and I suspect 99% of the population have as well.
I don't know - do you?

I think that's the point really. We all have our suspicion, but unless someone has sifted through the claimants we can't be as sure as we should be before chucking the files in the bin.