Q. Do you agree that there is a compensation culture in this county?

A. I believe there is a fear of a compensation culture, rather than a culture itself. What there is, is an increased willingness to seek legal redress (usually compensation) when things go wrong. Undoubtedly, the whole process of pursuing compensation has been viewed in a very negative light and the term ‘Compensation Culture’ has become a convenient catchphrase.

Q. Do you not agree that there are too many claims for compensation made in this county?

A. There certainly has been concern at the increase in some types of claims such as whiplash claims and the perception not unjustified that some of these are exaggerated or even fraudulent .Overall however there has not been an increase in the number of compensation claims being made. The evidence is that the number of people making claims for work related injuries or disease has actually fallen 60% in the last decade. For most occupational claims, the chances of getting any compensation payout is below 1 in 50. I also understand that over 4,000 workers a year die of work related chronic bronchitis and emphysema but just 59 received compensation (in the year 2011/2012).

Q. Do you have to go to court to win compensation?

A. No. Most claims are settled out of Court and most indeed are settled before any court proceedings are even begun.

Q. How long do claims generally take?

A. Most claims conclude within 12 months. Sometimes they take longer, particularly when Court proceedings are required. The average time from commencing a case through the courts to obtaining a trial is between 9 to 15 months.

Q. Do I actually need a Solicitor to pursue a Personal Injury claim?

A. You should bear in mind that Insurers have one aim in mind when negotiating a settlement of the claim. That is to reduce it as far as possible and to save costs. Insurance companies have departments with specially trained staff who will try to negotiate the best possible deal they can for the insurance company. That is why it is best to have a solicitor, to ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation within the shortest time period. I would certainly advise against dealing directly with an Insurer, unless your claim is completely straightforward. Q. If I make a claim against my employer, am I likely to get the sack?

A. Many people injured at work fear losing their jobs if they make an injury claim following an accident at work. Most employers would not do this, but it cannot be ruled out, provided the employee has worked for longer than 24 months, a claim for unfair dismissal could be brought if someone was sacked for making a claim for an injury in the workplace.