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The Government is trying to “push through too many swathing changes” to health and safety and civil litigation at once, APIL president David Bott said last night.
In response to an announcement by the Prime Minister, which included confirmation that the Government intends to extend the new claims process for road traffic accident cases, Mr Bott warned of the dangers facing injured workers.
“Although we are yet to see the detail of this latest announcement, we have grave concerns that the Government is pushing through too many swathing changes to the system at once without proper consideration as to the implications for injured people,” said Mr Bott in a statement.
“The danger is that workers could be exposed to an unnecessary risk of injury and then be left with a civil justice system which cuts them off from their right to full and fair redress.
“Instead of watering down the rules which are designed to protect workers, businesses should be made to feel confident in the knowledge they have nothing to fear from litigation provided they take reasonable steps to prevent needless injury. Any fear businesses have should be for the welfare of their staff, not legal costs.
“We are always keen to help find efficiencies in the system which do not prevent injured people from bringing genuine claims. But it is far too early to consider extending the new streamlined process for lower value road traffic accident cases as it still has teething problems and remains far from being the finished article”.
To read coverage of the statement, visit The Independent’s website here or the Law Society Gazette’s website here.
Medico Legal News Source: APIL
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