Justice Committee Concerned About the Implications of Raising Small Claims Limit

The House of Commons Justice Committee have examined the Small Claims limit for personal injury and have rejected the proposals to increase the small claims limit for personal injury claims from £1,000 to £2,000 and to £5,000 for road traffic accidents.

The Justice Committee have published the anticipated report which considers:

• the impact of raising the small claims limit for personal injury (PI) from £1,000 to £2,000, and to £5,000 for RTA-related PI claims,
• the reforms that have already been made to the claims process for personal injury;
• the Government and industry response to insurance fraud;
• the potential impact of raising the small claims limit on different types of personal injury claim;
• the impact of doing so on the judiciary and the courts;
• the Ministry of Justice’s proposals for implementing the small claims reforms, and
• the impact of increasing the small claims limit on different organisations that assist claimants.

GDPR – What’s all the fuss about?

After what feels like an age of the GDPR looming on the horizon, the new data protection regime has finally been implemented into law. There is no grace period so those who handle data must be ready to hit the ground running.  But what impact will the GDPR have on claims and those who process data for the purposes of defending claims or detecting fraudulent claims.

Regulatory Roundup

• Contractors face £526,500 penalty for failure to plan work at height
• Construction worker injured after falling onto a scaffolding pole
• Two companies fined after worker fell from height
• Business owner imprisoned after worker electrocuted 

Court Admits Overcharging Claimants to Issue Stage 3 Proceedings

This week the Courts Service has admitted that since introducing increased court fees in July 2016, claimants have been overcharged for issuing stage 3 proceedings. 

Cracked Flag Defence Proves to be Cracking Saving for Council

Miles v Wigan Council

This claim arises following an alleged accident in March 2014 when the claimant stated that she tripped as a result of a rocking flagstone.  The claimant sustained a displaced fracture to her left elbow which required surgical fixation and presented a schedule of special damages totalling over £300,000.00. 

Claimant Folds After Giving Evidence at Trial

Fishburn v Rochdale BC – Manchester County Court

A claimant has discontinued her claim for personal injury after a poor performance in the witness box.

Alarm 2018

We are again attending the Annual Alarm Conference at Manchester University on the 25 and 26 June.  Come and visit the Insurance Team on stand 17.