Personal injury (PI)
Editor's Comment: Don't mention the whiplash
The Oxford Dictionary shows the definition of collaboration as the action of working with someone to produce something and I’m sure that this is what the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers’ president was encouraging when he wrote an open letter to…
Medco 'worth it' despite issue with certain business models, claims MoJ
The Ministry of Justice has vowed to “keep working” with the Medco portal, despite outlining issues with “some business models” since the new system went live in April.
Ageas' Watson calls for tripartite reduction to counter compensation culture
A tripartite approach that involves a reduction in the level of general damages, limitation period and recoverable costs is the “only way” to address the so-called compensation culture, according to Ageas UK CEO Andy Watson.
ABI poll shows consumers plagued by bogus insurance claims calls
The Association of British Insurers called for clampdown on rogue claims management companies today (8 September), as a survey shows people continue to be bombarded with nuisance calls and texts encouraging them to seek compensation for injuries they…
UK P&I club calls for 'zero tolerance culture' on enclosed space entry as casualties blight shipping industry
Accidents relating to entry into enclosed spaces have resulted in a large number of deaths of both ship and shore personnel so far this year, says the UK P&I Club, calling for more to be done to prevent these casualties.
Blog: The Sonae group action and the compensation culture
The judgment handed down last month in Saunderson & Others v Sonae makes for uncomfortable reading. Dismissing over 16,000 personal injury claims, a High Court judge criticised the conduct of the solicitors who had brought induced, exaggerated and…
Insurers round on Aviva following 'disingenuous' ABS accusations
Aviva has been criticised for playing the “blame game” in the fight against fraud following accusations that rival insurers with alternative business structures are guilty of “feeding the beast” of fraudulent whiplash claims.
CMC regulator and Apil back ethical marketing charter
An ethical marketing charter geared towards clamping down nuisance marketing and bad practice by rogue operators has been backed by the Claims Management Regulator and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
D&O: 3 in 4 SMEs uncovered
It was once said that Stephen Hawking's 1988 book, ‘A Brief History of Time', was one of the most widely owned but least read works in print - something people wanted to show off on their bookshelf but could not face the effort required to digest the…
MoJ considers Medco overhaul two months after ruling out 'fundamental changes'
The Ministry of Justice has said it will consider reforming the Medco portal just two months after it told Post it was too early to consider "fundamental changes" to the medical reporting system.
Medco: Teething troubles
Medco launched just three months ago, as the government attempts to tackle spurious whiplash claims. Opinions on how the system has performed since then vary enormously
Ex-Admiral employee guilty of trying to defraud her former company
A former Admiral member of staff has received a suspended custodial sentence for her part in a personal injury scam involving her ex-employer.
Rugby Injuries: Tackling concussion claims
Increased incidence of head injuries in rugby players could lead to challenges for insurers and legal teams when it comes to claims.
Conflict with Medco mooted as revised rehab code awaits summer launch
Draft proposals for the revised rehabilitation code have sparked calls for a “distinct pathway” to be established for low value whiplash claims so as not to conflict with the fledgling Medco scheme.
On the soapbox: Insurers, I feel your pain...
Up until a couple of weeks ago, if someone were to go through my mobile phone they would find text messages from Dominos Pizza about a multitude of special offers.
Legal Update: An increasing problem
Industrial deafness claims have been labelled ‘the new whiplash’. Chantal Rabbetts considers the challenges with these claims and how they should be managed.
Blog: Insurers, I feel your pain...
Up until a couple of weeks ago, if someone were to go through my mobile phone they would find that the most text messages I get are from Dominos pizza about a multitude of special offers.
Aviva and Covéa join fraud task force working party
The insurance fraud task force has set up a working party to examine where issues arise in the personal injury claims process.
Insurers and claimant solicitors partner on fraud initiative
Insurers have teamed up with claimant solicitors to offer a service aimed at preventing fraudulent claims entering the compensation process.
Tripping claim fraudster given custodial sentence
A woman who attempted to claim £26,000 for alleged injuries sustained from a pothole trip was handed an 18 week custodial sentence and 240 hours of community service at the Blackpool Magistrates Court this month.
Doctor deregistered for false medical report evidence
A doctor was struck off the medical register for deliberately misrepresenting his medical experience and membership of professional bodies under oath and in medical reports supporting personal injury claims.
Horse Racing: The original extreme sport
The headline above was how Channel 4 promoted 2014’s Grand National, and they could well be right, with serious injury a real risk.
Laspo: Is it working?
Claims reforms may have reduced costs and made the process more efficient, but insurers and solicitors agree more needs to be done.
Law firm complains that claimants 'made to feel like criminals'
A claimant law firm has complained that people injured in road traffic accidents are being made to feel like "criminals" by insurers.