Compensation Claim Culture - Myth or reality?
or "We are not ambulance chasers"!
There has been much publicity recently about the compensation culture and the basic premise is that lots more people are claiming for lots more accidents. People are supposed to be more ready to blame and claim; the tabloid and 'serious' press are awash with stories of far fetched claims being brought by apparently greedy claimants and being successfully paid out. The impression is that its all spiralled out of control. People say things like 'its all gone too far' and everyone appears to know a 'friend of a friend' who had whiplash and conned the insurance company out of thousands. Such scare stories (for that is what they actually are) do nothing except sell papers and put of genuine claimants.
Of course it is the case that there are people who have jumped on the bandwagon and are out to make a quick buck, but a few facts give the lie to the so-called claims culture and expose it for the myth it really is -
1. The law has not changed. It is neither easier or harder now to claim compensation than it was before. The law, Judges and the courts are there to protect Claimant and Defendant alike; to allow a fair trial and to come to a commonsense result. If the Defendant was not negligent then the Court will not compensate the Claimant.
2. There are less claims being brought now, year on year, than there were 4 years ago. This startling and undeniable fact is taken directly from the Governments own figures, as supplied by the Benefits Agency and associated bodies.
3. Sometimes ostensibly crazy claims are paid out; but this is the fault of the Defendants insurers. They should stick by their guns and trust the English Legal system. It will throw out such 'crazy claims'.
It is the case therefore that the genuine Claimant should not feel guilty for claiming. A Claimant will never profit from a claim - they will, if successful, be put back in the position they were in before the accident happened. That's where we come in. We will ensure you get a fair and proper settlement for your injuries. We are here to protect your interests.
Without claims standards of safety in workplaces, in public areas and in other walks of life would not and would never have changed and improved. Miners would still be exposed to noise and lethal dust; workers would still be exposed to lethal asbestos. Claimants were a force for long overdue change and that process continues today.
Contact Nick Battye by email at nickbattye@brearleyssolicitors.com or call 01274 864002 now for more information or just to discuss the above.