Call back for new
personal injury claims only

Leave your details to request a call back.

* Required fields

Name: *

Telephone No:*

What is it regarding:* New Personal Injury Claim Conveyancing Criminal Matter Employment Matter Wills Existing Case

Union member:* Yes No     

If you are a member of a trade union please select Yes otherwise please select No and then click Submit

13 January 2003

Injured will be double victims of fixed costs

Fixed costs must not be allowed to spread beyond road traffic accidents

Thompsons, the UK's largest claimant litigation firm has predicted that the biggest losers under a fixed costs regime will be the victims of injury as law firms turn them away or reduce the quality of their service in order to protect their bank balances. Thompsons also warns that those law firms which have banked on fixed costs bringing fiscal certainty risk financial disaster if economic conditions change.

Rachel Sarfas, director of claims management at Thompsons, said that fixed costs must not be allowed to spread beyond road traffic accidents.

"The Costs Forum decision to go for fixed costs for RTAs (in reality a cap on costs), which we opposed, must not be the slippery slope to all PI claims. Our concern is not for the firms that will pull out of PI when the lure of short-term financial security and a respite from an insurers cost onslaught is replaced with the reality of unrealistic costs levels.  They can cry into their overdrafts.

"Our concern is for the victims of injury who discover over the next few years that what fixed costs means for them is more limited access to justice and a poorer service as firms strive to keep under the fixed fee.

"Thompsons will continue to oppose and campaign against fixed costs by exposing its fundamental flaws for the victims of injury.

"We will closely monitor the situation and if, as we suspect, time shows that victims of injury are turned away or short changed by law firms scrabbling to keep within fixed fee limits we will establish a unit to review such cases.  The spectre that will come to haunt the profession is the Double Victim - a victim of injury and a victim of fixed costs."

Compensation Claim Advice

If you have been injured in an accident which was not your fault, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any personal injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.