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TRAFFIC CLAIMS REFORM WILL IMPACT ON VICTIMS
A major change to the way traffic accident claims have to be carried out will inevitably lead to a poorer service for accident victims a Bury/Rossendale legal expert is warning.
Pam Roberts of solicitors Woodcocks says that the decision to class claims of up to £10,000 as ‘low value’ will have a dramatic effect on the way many firms carry out the work and in the end it’s the public who will suffer.
The reform to the Road Traffic Act is due to come into force at the end of April and will have a major impact on the way claims under the £10,000 are handled, not least the fact that legal firms will receive less money for carrying out the service.
“We have no problem with the idea in principle but we feel strongly that the idea that a claim of £9,000 is ‘low value’ is nonsense,” says Pam. “If a case reaches those kinds of damages values we would expect to carry out an awful lot of work on it. Such cases can be extremely complex and require lots of expert medical input. We are not talking about minor whiplash injuries for a claim to be close to £10,000 we are talking about some nasty and serious injuries and victims here deserve to have a decent service.
“Here at Woodcocks we remain committed to our clients and their best interests. We already have our new systems set up and our attitude to what will now be called “low value injuries” will not change. Every client who has been injured deserves our best efforts and that is exactly what we will continue to do.
“However, many firms who work in this area of law will undoubtedly be unable or unwilling to spend time on cases for which they will not be paid and it is those who have been injured who will suffer.”
From the end of April “low value” claims will be handled by both Claimants’ Solicitors and by Defendants’ Insurers in a new way. The claims will be processed via a secure electronic exchange or “portal”. Companies who handle such claims will receive fixed costs.
Contact Pam Roberts and Catherine Hamilton on 0161 761 4611.
Woodcocks is one of the oldest established family firms of solicitors in the country, with offices in Ramsbottom, Rawtenstall, Bacup, Bury and Haslingden
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