Subscribe to IMG Medico-Legal News by Email
APIL chief executive Deborah Evans has spoken out in response to the Government’s announcement that referral fees will be banned in personal injury cases.
In a statement issued to the media today, Deborah stated:
“Most solicitors have reservations about referral fees but it’s difficult to see how they can be banned without simply being driven underground, where we know from past experience that chaos and lack of transparency for consumers will be the inevitable outcome.
“This is a knee-jerk reaction from the Government serving as a distraction from a badly-conceived Bill, which will cut off genuine claimants from their right to full and fair access to justice.
“Instead of trying to ban referral fees, why not introduce real solutions to tackle the real problems in the system? Why not impose an outright ban on the passing on of injured people’s private details without their express consent, on every occasion?
“APIL has also called for a strict and consistent ban on cold calling. Solicitors are already robustly regulated in this (quite rightly) but defendant insurers are able routinely to approach injured people, offering to settle claims directly, by the back door, encouraging claims which may not otherwise have been made.
“Tighter regulation of advertising would help to control advertising which is distasteful and exploitative. And insurers should have a duty to report any suspicions of fraud to claimant lawyers as soon as they arise.”
Medico Legal News Source: APIL
Subscribe to IMG Medico-Legal News by Email
