Parliament to Discuss Reforms to the Personal Injury Sector

 

The Government are this week due to set out their proposals for once again reforming a Personal Injury sector, that has seen numerous reforms in recent years.

It is expected that the government will propose that the threshold for small claims will increase to £5,000.00 for Road Traffic Accidents and £2,000.00 for all other personal injury matters. Such a proposal has been in the pipeline since 2015, after it was suggested by the former Chancellor, George Osborne.

 

Experts are expected to voice their thoughts in front of the justice committee and it is expected that representatives of trade union Usdaw, a claims handling company, the former president of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers, High Court judge Mrs Justice Simler, His Honour Judge Nigel Bird and David Parkin, deputy director for civil justice and law at the Ministry of Justice are all due to speak.

 

There are also proposals for damages to be limited to £225 for injures lasting up to three months, £450 for injuries lasting up to six months, and £765 where the injury lasts up to nine months. Compensation will then be limited £1,190 for injuries lasting up to a year, £1,820 for injuries lasting up to 15 months, £2,660 where the injury lasts up to 18 months and £3,725 where the injury lasts up to two years.

The change in the small claims limit needs just secondary legislation and could in theory be introduced as soon as October. However, there is still a lot of work needed to be undertaken to see if such proposals will be practical in the long term.

 

If you would like to discuss an injury, please get in contact with our dedicated team on 01792 648111 or mail@johnmorse.co.uk