Injury claim solicitor association recommends tighter regulation

A prominent injury claim solicitor association has responded to Lord Young’s review of health and safety laws by recommending tighter regulation of claims management companies (CMCs) to put an end to poor practices.

In a submission to Young’s consultation seen by the Law Gazette, The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has expressed “outstanding concerns” about existing regulation of CMCs.

APIL has particularly recommended that the requirement for professional indemnity insurance should apply “across the board.” It says that vulnerable people can be left without protection if a CMC does not pass on a claim to an injury claim solicitor within the proper time limits.

This follows a submission by the Claims Council, which manages CMCs. In their submission the Claims Council have said that CMCs “promote access to justice” by increasing awareness of the right to compensation. This is supported by a report from the Ministry of Justice released last week, which said there was “little doubt” that the industry had improved access to justice.

However the question of advertising in the industry has been raised, as the report’s author Mark Boleat noted that in some quarters the increased awareness had led to a belief that compensation “can be obtained when it is not properly due.”