Is the personal injury industry really “grubby” or essential for deserving accident victims?
Former Justice Secretary Jack Straw recently hit out at the personal injury industry and the epidemic compensation culture that allegedly currently exists in the UK.
According to the UK Press Association Mr Straw labelled this industry as “grubby”, as he told MPs that “ambulance chasing” lawyers are paying NHS numerous hospitals to advertise in accident and emergency units.
Mr Straw stated that it is this compensation culture that has led to the significant increases in motor insurance premiums in recent years and that something must be done about the glut of personal injury claims, many of which he says are being artificially engineered by underhand law firms. Accident figures are decreasing but at the same time personal injury claims are going up, so what is the real story ?
One must ponder whether the personal injury industry really is “grubby” in light of these allegations.
There is a portion of society that believes that personal injury lawyers are ambulance chasers and it seems from figures that there is also a portion of society that is happy to make a claim, when they have no real injury to speak of. However, there are also people who do suffer serious injury in road, workplace or other accidents and don’t they deserve compensation ?
The answer is: of course they do. Accidents may have decreased in recent years, but unfortunately they still do occur, and their consequences can be severe. Many people are prevented from returning to work – either temporarily or permanently – and others are left disabled. For such people a compensation claim is often the only way they can afford to adapt to a new life. This could involve paying for therapy, adapting their home or to provide them with a fund to live off if they are left incapable of earning a living.
There may be “grubby” professionals working in the personal injury industry, and there may be “grubby” claimants who know they have no real right to compensation. However, there are also lawyers whose aim is simply to help deserving people, and people who deserve and in real need of accident compensation.
Sam Butterworth writes for Johnson Law, who can provide you with a no win no fee solicitor if you have been injured in an accident.
