Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence

Low numbers of litigants in person, two law firms dominating claims, and solicitors using the wrong portal have been features of the early days of the whiplash reforms.

Almost all of the people who have started claims in the new Official Injury Claim portal so far are represented, a leading insurer has revealed. A number of bugs have also already emerged.

Claimant and insurer representatives have begun work on developing test cases to take to the Court of Appeal for claims that involve both whiplash and non-whiplash injuries.

The charity dedicated to supporting litigants in person has expressed serious concerns about the new Official Injury Claim portal and called for more funding for legal support organisations.

Slater & Gordon has launched ‘miplatform’, what it says is a ‘first of its kind’ digital legal service that enables clients to progress their matters with little or no direct contact with a lawyer.

The Civil Liability Act reforms went live yesterday with the government promising an end to “greedy opportunism” while claimant representatives deemed it a “sad day for justice”.

NAHL plc is set to sell its residential conveyancing business as it looks to focus on growing its personal injury law firm in the wake of a difficult Covid-affected year for the business.

Private equity-backed Winn Solicitors is ramping up its operation to handle mis-sold business energy contracts as it bids to diversify from its core personal injury business.

The 64-page users guide for litigants in person navigating the new Official Injury Claim portal has been strongly criticised by a leading academic for being “hopelessly complicated”.

National law firm Devonshires has merged its clinical negligence department with barrister-led firm PI Law Direct to create Devonshires Claims, a specialist clinical negligence and personal injury practice.