Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence
MoJ: Number of unrepresented claimants is not measure of OIC success
The fact that fewer than 10% of claimants use the Official Injury Claim portal without legal representation does not mean the system has failed to deliver, the government said yesterday.
Injured patients “should not feel they need a lawyer immediately”
A campaign group for people injured by their healthcare is calling for more publicly funded advice and advocacy so they no longer feel that they have to go “straight to a lawyer”.
Courts returning “large number” of claims forms for ex-OIC cases
A large number of claim forms prepared by personal injury solicitors in claims exiting the Official Injury Claim portal are being returned because of errors, it has emerged.
PI firm fails to exclude defendant solicitors’ data on its claims record
The High Court has rejected a claimant personal injury firm’s objection to witness statements from the opposing solicitors that suggest it may be engaging in fraud.
Belsner faces £130k costs payment but Checkmylegalfees “has a future”
The Court of Appeal has signalled the possibility of a non-party costs order in the Belsner case after ordering the claimant to make an interim costs payment of £130,000.
Court of Appeal expedites hearing of whiplash mixed claim test cases
The Court of Appeal is to hear the expedited appeals in the first two cases on mixed injury claims – those involving both whiplash and non-whiplash injuries – in three weeks’ time.
PE firm adds digital marketing business to law firm acquisitions
Sun Capital – the private equity firm that owns top serious injury law firm Fletchers – has expanded its presence in the law by acquiring a specialist digital marketing agency.
Large PI firm sold in latest post-reform consolidation move
The consolidation of the personal injury market following the whiplash reforms has continued in the North-West with leading firm Express Solicitors acquiring Michael W Halsall.
Checkmylegalfees comes out fighting after Court of Appeal criticism
Checkmylegalfees came out fighting yesterday in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s criticism of its business model, pledging to keep on “holding solicitors to account”.
Vos signals end of court challenges to deductions from PI damages
The possible end of court challenges to solicitors’ deductions from damages and reform of how bills are assessed are the headlines from today’s Court of Appeal ruling in Belsner.
Firms quit whiplash and eye growth in other areas of PI market
One in four law firms impacted by the whiplash reforms have already exited that market, with more set to follow, as they look at increased marketing and M&A to grow in other areas of PI.
Leading PI firm sues insurance trade magazine for libel
Leading personal injury law firm Bond Turner is suing a well-known insurance trade magazine for defamation over an article that accused it of not dealing honestly with clients.
First two OIC mixed injuries cases head to Court of Appeal
Two cases on mixed claims in the Official Injury Claim portal – those involving both whiplash and non-whiplash injuries – have been leapfrogged to the Court of Appeal.
OIC: Under-settlement fears as system problems grow backlog
The Official Injury Claim portal is still not working well, with growing delays and concerns that injured people are under-settling as a result, a leading claimant lawyer said yesterday.
Panicked solicitor under-settled claim and misled client
A solicitor panicked after realising she had missed a court deadline and under-settled her client’s personal injury claim before leading them on for more than four years about its progress.
Blog
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
Gen Z lawyers vs identity, sacrifice and success
This conversation began with my training principal, who admitted something many senior lawyers quietly feel: “I struggle to understand what motivates Gen Z lawyers.”
