The government has announced a new faster claims process for people injured in road traffic accidents. The streamlined procedure will see no win no fee road accident compensation claims between £1,000 and £10,000 settled more quickly than at present.
The idea behind the scheme is that by removing the duplication of work done by both the defence and the claimant’s legal teams, simple car accident claims will be settled a lot more quickly than at present. However the announcement has raised some issues that could affect injured people looking to claim compensation.
Firstly, the reforms to the claims process only affect road traffic accidents, which account for 75% of all personal injury claims brought each year in England and Wales. However, people who have been injured in accidents at work or who are suffering from work related illnesses will find they still have to bring their claim through the current system. This is particularly unfair as many workplace diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma are terminal, and sufferers may not live long enough after their diagnosis to complete their claim.
Secondly, it is disappointing that a requirement to offer rehabilitation to accident victims has not been included within the reforms. By offering rehabilitation to accident victims, insurance companies can avoid having to pay out large sums of money to cover future care costs or lost earnings. After all, someone who is injured but who receives prompt rehabilitative care and treatment stands a much greater chance of making a full recovery from their injuries.
Lastly, raising the “fast track” upper limit from £15,000 to £25,000 means that many complex cases valued between £15,000 and £25,000 will now be handled in a much simpler way. These cases typically involve very complex and difficult accidents that involve significant amounts of research being done as well as more evidence gathering than in smaller cases. By putting these types of claims in the fast track, the cases risk being examined much less thoroughly; this could lead to unsatisfactory outcomes for claimants.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, call Camps Solicitors today on Freephone 0800 092 8586. Our personal injury solicitors keep up to date with all the developments in road traffic accident law to provide you with a first class service, getting you the no win no fee compensation that accurately reflects the type of accident you suffered, without inconveniencing you along the way.
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