When you are involved in an accident that was not your fault, leaving you with an injury that puts you at a disadvantage in your day-to-day life, the resultant stresses can often be overwhelming. Personal Injury Lawyers can help to alleviate these stresses by getting you the compensation you deserve.
However, in his 2015 Autumn Statement, the Lord Chancellor announced measures, which could affect your ability to successfully make a Personal Injury claim. If you are involved in an accident resulting in a minor injury where you are inconvenienced, but able to make a full recovery within three months, you may no longer be entitled to compensation. This could be the result of the reform programme proposals, which suggest increasing the classification of minor injuries from a three month recovery period to six or nine months.
Under the proposal, the amount of compensation that you will recover will also fall. PSLA claims (compensation for Pain, Suffering and Loss of Amenity – the injury) for minor injuries will be fixed at £400, with an additional £25 if there is a psychological element to your injury. For more serious injuries – those lasting 19-24 months – the maximum amount you will be able to claim is £3,600.
Additionally, the Government intends to increase the small claims limit to £5,000. This means that if the compensation for your injury is worth less than £5,000, then no legal costs will be recoverable, which will result in you having to fight the compensation “battle” on your own. This could be a very confusing and daunting process, resulting in you receiving less compensation than you are entitled to.
The Government is moving swiftly to implement these reforms, having held a consultation until the 6th January, 2017, and it is now likely they will take steps to turn it into legislation. Therefore, if you have recently suffered a minor injury, which was not your fault and for which you are entitled to compensation, it is of the utmost importance that you act quickly in light of these potential reforms.
Author Alla Kingswood is a Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Solicitor at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. The Personal Injury Department at Duncan Lewis ensures high quality representation in your personal injury claim at all levels. Duncan Lewis’ Accident and Injury Lawyers also provide access to the best doctors and medical specialists for clients making a personal injury compensation claim. Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors offer a friendly and professional service, placing you and your family’s best interests first throughout the process.
Duncan Lewis' personal injury practice specialises in clients who have suffered accidents at work. This includes matters where clients have suffered severe disability as a result of employer negligence. A particular focus of the practice is acting in claims for on behalf of victims of fatal injuries. Other broad specialist areas include claims against local authorities for slips and trips in public space; road traffic accidents; occupier’s liability; asbestos illnesses; accidents suffered abroad and children’s accidents.
If you feel you have a claim and would like to discuss this in confidence, please do not hesitate to call our team of expert lawyers on 03337720409.
