Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence
Supreme Court rejects appeals in whiplash mixed-injuries case
The Supreme Court has unanimously rejected the appeal and cross-appeal against the decision on how judges should value claims that combine both whiplash and non-whiplash injuries. It upheld the approach of District Judge Hennessy at first instance and then the… Read More
Defendant law firms “scaring off” legitimate employer’s liability claims
At least £284m has been unclaimed from accidents at work in 2023, with workers increasingly reluctant to seek compensation from their employer, according to National Accident Helpline.
Government rejects multiple calls to reform whiplash claims process
The Ministry of Justice has rejected all but some technical changes to the Official Injury Claim portal put forward by both claimant and defendant representatives.
High Court upholds wasted costs order against law firm
A circuit judge was entitled to make a wasted costs order against a firm of solicitors that failed to translate their client’s statement and pleadings for use at trial, the High Court has ruled.
Lawyers can recover costs of attending rehab meetings “in principle”
The Court of Appeal has overturned a significant ruling last year that the costs of a fee-earner’s attendance at rehabilitation case management meetings are irrecoverable.
Simpson Millar buys personal injury practice out of administration
National firm Simpson Millar has rescued personal injury firm Novum Law out of administration, with the funder that owns the former also a creditor of the latter.
Credit hire firm “voluntarily assumed” risk of claimants being dishonest
A High Court judge has refused to overturn a non-party costs order against a credit hire company, saying the firm “voluntarily assumed the risk” of the claimants turning out to be dishonest.
Lawyers support Spinal Injuries Association bowel care campaign
Medical negligence law firm Hudgell Solicitors is supporting calls for a parliamentary inquiry to be held into the ‘inadequate and dangerous’ state of bowel care for patients with spinal cord injuries in healthcare settings.
ABI urges extension of injury damages tariff beyond whiplash
The fixed tariff for whiplash claims should be extended to other injuries to help reduce motor insurance premiums, the Association of British Insurers argued yesterday.
Value of legal services market “to hit £50bn” this year
The legal services market will continue to grow in 2024, hitting a turnover of £50bn with a “resilient” corporate law sector boosted by “stronger economic conditions” later in the year.
PI world turns its attention to Supreme Court for mixed-injuries case
Whiplash claimants, insurers and their lawyers will be watching the Supreme Court closely tomorrow when it hears the appeal on how to value so-called mixed injury claims.
A few weeks to go and still no sign of clin neg fixed costs rules
The Department of Health and Social Care has not yet ruled out the introduction of fixed recoverable costs for low-value clinical negligence claims in April – despite no rules being published.
MoJ launches call for evidence on whiplash tariff
The Ministry of Justice has launched a call for evidence on the whiplash tariff to inform the statutory review of the figures that it is required to carry out.
PI group’s shares continue to rise as it pays down more debt
Shares in AIM-listed legal services business NAHL jumped 11% yesterday on the back of a positive trading update showing a faster reduction in debt than expected.
Another Fletchers deal as regional firms kick off 2024 M&A activity
Fletchers Group, the serious injury law firm owned by private equity, has continued its expansion by taking on the once-core motorbike work of Macclesfield firm Thorneycroft.