Personal injury (PI)
EU law takes a hold on the UK motor insurance market
The conflict between EU law and individual country laws can be confusing for companies that operate in member states. David Holt discusses the increasing influence of EU law on the UK motor insurance market and the Directives that seek to clarify the…
LASPO bill gains Royal Assent
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill will at best "represents a litany of missed opportunities" for the personal injury system, and at worst will "cast a shroud of ambiguity that will profoundly damage access to justice", according…
Your say: The challenge for LEIs
The sustainability of the traditional legal expenses model with its in-house legal operations is back on the agenda as some of the larger players in the sector implement rate rises.
Transport Select Committee seeks to clear up transparency
The Transport Select Committee's reports on motor insurance have proved contentious, with calls for transparency not resonating with insurers. Will the 13th report clear things up?
UK 'pain in the neck culture' must end, says ABI
People claiming whiplash injuries should not be entitled to compensation unless there is objective evidence that they have suffered injury, according to the Association of British Insurers.
Online Exclusive: Tonks talks PI
Incoming Association of Personal Injury Lawyers president Karl Tonks speaks to Amy Ellis about his year in charge.
PPOs present threat to motor insurers
The increase in Periodical Payment Orders will be credit negative for companies with significant personal injury claim exposures, most notably motor insurers and their reinsurers, Moody's Investors Service has warned.
Quindell buys in Enzyme with Thomson to become group chief revenue officer
Rapidly expanding insurance technology and claims outsourcing firm Quindell Portfolio has named Robert Thomson as group chief revenue officer and announced the acquisition of personal injury claims firm Enzyme International.
Personal injury firms feel pinch as pressure to consolidate intensifies
The sudden demise of Manchester-based personal injury law firm Donns, with ongoing cases sold on and all staff made redundant, has been hailed as a portent of market shake-up and consolidation, with other firms set to be swallowed up.
Editor's comment: Consolidation casualties coming?
The specifics of what went wrong at North West personal injury firm Donns - forcing it into administration at the cost of 42 jobs, while 2500 cases were still in progress - will remain the subject of speculation for some time.
EL trigger litigation: implications for local authorities
Following today's Supreme Court ruling on the correct trigger for employers' liability policies, the 10 local authorities involved are entitled to indemnity from Municipal Mutual Insurance.
EL trigger litigation: implications for mesothelioma victims
The Supreme Court has finally given clarity on the meaning of the 'trigger' words in employers' liability insurance policies. Families of former employees suffering from the hideous disease of mesothelioma now have the comfort of knowing that insurance…
EL trigger litigation: the judgment
Today the Supreme Court put an end to years of uncertainty by ruling that the insurer on risk at the time of someone's exposure to asbestos is liable to pay compensation for their mesothelioma – regardless of the particular nuances of the employers'…
Law firm Donns in administration with PI cases sold to Irwin Mitchell
Manchester personal injury law firm Donns has been forced into administration and its caseload has been bought by rival Irwin Mitchell.
Ban on hospital claims management adverts would not work, insists Boleat
Hospital leaflet provider BOE has commissioned former claim management regulator Mark Boleat to compile a report defending its leaflets carrying adverts encouraging NHS patents to sue for damages.
CED continues expansion in Spain with Tebex takeover
Loss adjusting and claims management firm CED has reinforced its position in Spain with the takeover of Tebex Daño Corporal.
Quindell's 2011 £4.1m profit beats market
Quindell Portfolio has announced results for the 15 months ended 31 December 2011 that it claims are "significantly ahead of market expectations".
Apil issues justice warning despite Laspo bill exemptions
A decision by the House of Lords to exempt victims of industrial disease from the proposals for 'no-win, no-fee' in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill has been welcomed by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
Ancillary income still under scrutiny, despite boost to Admiral profits
After easing the pressure built up during a bodily injury claims-ravaged third quarter, bosses at Admiral have been warned that this year's hot topic of ancillary income could yet provide a sting in the tail.
Pool for PPOs splits insurers and reinsurers
Insurers and reinsurers are split over the idea of an industry pooling solution to deal with the size and duration of periodical payment orders, according to a straw poll conducted by actuary Towers Watson.
At-fault payout product could fill 'deliberate' hole in motor market
Concerns have been raised that a new product that "fills a genuine gap" in the motor market could be plugging a hole that has been left deliberately.
Birmingham 'entertainer' turns fraudster in personal injury claim
A Birmingham man has had his personal injury claim thrown out and was ordered to pay costs of over £24 000 after he attempted to defraud Esure.
PPOs up motor excess of loss reinsurance
Fear that periodical payment orders for accident victims create uncertain liabilities has led to reinsurers refusing to offer excess of loss cover to motor insurers, the FT reports.
Motor injury claims cost consumers £1666 a minute
The legal fees involved in settling motor personal injury claims cost consumers £1666 every minute, the Association of British Insurers has found.