CHESTERFIELD, UNITED KINGDOM — (Marketwire) — 12/11/12 — The UK Government-s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has today published a consultation paper proposing ways to reduce the number and costs associated with in the UK. The MoJ is proposing to create independent medical panels to support better diagnosis of possible whiplash injuries and to raise the threshold for personal injury claims arising from road traffic accidents from GBP 1000 to GBP 5000.
Spencers Solicitors fully acknowledges that there are problems with the current system but believe that the Government-s approach is misguided. Forcing legitimate claimants into the small claims system for claims under GBP 5000, which can be serious injuries, will severely restrict people-s access to justice and fails to tackle the most important issues.
Commenting on the Ministry of Justice-s consultation, John Spencer, Director of , a leading personal injury claimant law firm based in Chesterfield, said:
“The Government should be focusing on combating spam, fraud, third party capture by insurers and paying claims without medical evidence, not denying access to justice to the vast majority of claimants, which even the ABI acknowledge are legitimate.
The MoJ-s consultation is premature and should have taken place once the fixed costs regime had been finalised and the other reforms to the legal sector have been reviewed.
This is cheap political point scoring, playing to the insurers- tune about a so-called compensation culture and is nothing to do with responsible government.
Before embarking down this path, the Government should be demanding cast-iron assurances from the insurance sector that they will reduce premiums on the back of the already agreed reforms and closing the ABS loophole for insurers following the referral fee ban.”
Background
With over 27 years of experience, John Spencer is one of the UK-s leading personal injury solicitors and a prominent advocate seeking justice for injured persons and for wider reform to the personal injury system. He is an Executive Committee member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
John is Director of Spencers Solicitors, a legal practice serving clients nationally and offering leading expertise and service for a wide spectrum of . In addition to providing comprehensive support for road accident injury cases, Spencers specialises in some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases, including catastrophic road and and clinical negligence.
Spencers Solicitors is committed to protecting its clients- best interests by putting duty before profit, and John plays a key role campaigning for justice for those affected by negligence and statutory breach, and for the improvement of professional standards and business practices within the personal injury system.
Contacts:
Spencers Solicitors Limited
Martyn Gilbert
08000 93 00 94