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National Accident Helpline's response to Kenneth Clarke's announcement on possible no win no fee reforms
29th March 2011
Quote from Sam
Porteous, Chief Executive, National Accident
Helpline:
"Accident victims are frequently the
underdog and have often suffered a dreadful injury through no fault
of their own. They come to us desperate for someone to fight
on their side and are frightened by a process that they are not
familiar with. Research carried out last year showed us that only
6% of the UK understands their rights in terms of personal injury
claims.
"That is why we are concerned by any
proposals which threaten to squeeze out people's right to seek
redress for injuries that were inflicted on them by someone
else.
"Ken Clarke says that he wants to protect
the rights of the injured. But we believe that a basic principle of
justice is that those who have been injured through no fault of
their own have full access to legal representation and receive full
restitution for their injury.
"The damages secured by injury victims
are needed to pay for basic living costs and rehabilitation. Surely
it is wrong to say that an injury victim should lose some of their
damages to pay for the legal support they need to secure money that
is theirs by right.
"Defendant behaviour is a far greater
factor in increased costs and delays in this area but we are yet to
see any measures put forward to deal with this. The
Government needs to take a balanced approach to any reforms in this
area.
"The Government has ignored the fact that
legal costs are fixed in more than 75% of cases and have reduced
significantly over the last year following the introduction of a
streamlined claims process.
"It is wrong to force accident victims,
who so often have complex injuries, to fight for their rights alone
in the small claims court.
"Everyone is deserving of legal
protection, and we call on the Government to remember
that."
ENDS
About National Accident
Helpline
National Accident Helpline is the
leading marketing and legal services company for solicitors who
specialise in Personal Injury law and represents more than 100
legal practices across the UK. If a consumer has had an accident
which was someone else's fault then we will put them in touch with
a member firm, so they can seek redress for the injury they have
suffered.
Through our national solicitor network,
we champion consumer rights for people who have had accidents,
helping those with genuine claims to seek redress and gain access
to justice to help aid their recovery.
National Accident Helpline is authorised
by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claims
management activities and is a registered company, incorporated in
the UK. For more information please visit the website: www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk
For media enquiries please contact:
Matthew Rosser, National Accident Helpline -
matthew.rosser@nahl.co.uk, Tel. 01536
527500/07834 518603