Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence
The OIC effect? Number and value of motor fraud claims fall
The volume and value of motor insurance claim frauds fell last year, which also covered the first seven months of the Official Injury Claim portal.
Clinical negligence leader sees results from “fast and fair” approach
The use of “fast and fair resolution” meetings has allowed the law firm that runs more clinical negligence cases than any other to settle a higher-than-average number.
Frozen personal injury fixed costs need “immediate review”
Many fixed recoverable costs for personal injury cases have not been increased since 2013 and are in need of “immediate review”, the Association of Consumer Support Organisations has said.
Inadequate medical reports causing “unnecessary” OIC disputes
Inadequate medical reports for claims pursued via the Official Injury Claim portal are causing unnecessary disputes over non-tariff injuries, a leading defendant law firm has said.
OIC mixed claims: 14 months on and still no nearer the Court of Appeal
Little progress has been made in the plan to take test cases of so-called mixed claims from the Official Injury Claim portal to the Court of Appeal, it admitted yesterday.
“Uneconomic”: NAH stops accepting tariff-only whiplash claims
National Accident Helpline has stopped accepting road traffic claims which only attract tariff damages through the Official Injury Claim portal, its listed parent company revealed today.
Law firms generate £1.4bn in fees from clinical negligence cases
Clinical negligence law firms earned around £1.4bn in fees during 2021/22, an 8% increase on the year before, according to new research that also predicted Covid could lead to more claims.
More NHS claims settling pre-issue but legal costs continue to rise
NHS Resolution concluded a record 77% of claims without court proceedings in the last year but both claimant and defendant legal costs rose, its annual report has revealed.
PI costs ruling could have “significant” impact on settled cases
A Court of Appeal ruling that the wording of a settlement of a personal injury claim supplanted fixed costs could have “significant” implications, including for cases that have already settled.
Frenkel Topping raises £10m to boost injury market consolidation
Frenkel Topping – the listed business building a full-service offering to personal injury and clinical negligence claimants short of actual legal advice – is raising £10m to fund further acquisitions.
Value of medico-legal market slumps by further 5%
The value of the medico-legal market fell by a further 5% last year, after shrinking by 18% during 2020, a report has found, with the lower end hit by the whiplash reforms and court delays.
Absolute privilege protects pre-action protocol letters
Absolute privilege applies to communications within pre-action protocols and protects them from defamation claims, a deputy High Court master has ruled in the first such decision.
MedCo looks to shift balance between tier 1 and 2 MROs
MedCo is to hold talks with the Ministry of Justice over whether the balance between tier 1 and 2 medical reporting organisations offered to claimants needs to be changed.
PI claims leaving some clients worse off, Legal Ombudsman warns
Some “moderate” personal injury claims are leaving clients worse off than they were before because solicitors are failing to consider the costs and benefits, the Legal Ombudsman has said.
Whiplash reforms “a cautious success”, MoJ chief says
The government considers the Official Injury Claim portal – about to celebrate its first birthday – to be a “cautious success”, a senior official at the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.