Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence
Legal expenses insurance coming to aid of solicitors in whiplash claims
Many solicitors are managing the claims going through the Official Injury Claim portal with the support of enhanced legal expense insurance policies, an accident management firm has reported.
OIC advisory group set up amid concerns over insurer behaviour
The Ministry of Justice has set up an Official Injury Claim advisory group amid suggestions that insurers are encouraging already represented claimants to bring their claim without legal help.
Head of failed PI firm struck off for “double funding” cases
The director of a law firm who admitted taking money from two different litigation funders for the same cases in an attempt to keep it operating “at all costs” has been struck off.
Takeover of listed legal services and credit hire group called off
The proposed takeover of Anexo Group PLC – the listed business that owns leading personal injury law firm Bond Turner – was called off yesterday.
ACSO/ABI Covid deal expires but “spirit of partnership” continues
The deal struck between insurers, law firms and suppliers to keep non-MedCo medical examinations and rehabilitation going remotely during the Covid-19 crisis expires today.
Gap between big and small PI firms continues to grow
The divide between the larger personal injury law firms and many of the smaller ones has grown “even further” in the last year, a new report has found.
DAS medical report fraudster loses appeal against conviction
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal against conviction by one of the three people jailed for conspiracy to defraud legal expenses insurer DAS through a medical reporting agency.
Appeal judges reject “binary” approach to negligence claim
The Court of Appeal has rejected as “too binary” the approach taken by a High Court judge when striking out a negligence claim against lawyers over their former client’s capacity to litigate.
Negligence action against lawyers over amputation not time-barred
A man who received “devastating news” that his lower leg needed to be amputated seven years after settling his PI claim is not prevented by limitation from suing his lawyers for negligence.
More NHS claims settling without proceedings as costs payouts fall
The proportion of clinical negligence claims resolved without formal proceedings has reached a record high amid greater co-operation between parties, NHS Resolution has revealed.
CMC boss banned for encouraging bogus holiday sickness cases
The boss of a claims management company that encouraged people to bring bogus holiday sickness cases has been disqualified as a director for five years.
Court of Appeal boosts claimant PI solicitors with fixed-costs ruling
The Court of Appeal has handed a boost to claimant personal injury solicitors by applying the more generous fixed costs regime for cases where the claimant in a low-value matter dies.
Medico-legal market contracts as Covid hits PI cases
The value of the medico-legal market fell by 18% to £650m last year because of Covid reducing the number of new personal injury cases and slowing down those already in progress.
Brian calls in Atkinson to lead post-Civil Liability Act strategy
The former chief executive of NAHL Group has joined innovative claims management company Call Brian as its chairman. It says it allows people to submit a claim in just seven minutes.
Latest figures confirm low take-up by LiPs of whiplash portal
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.
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