Member Article

Legal industry welcomes ban on referral fees

A personal injury expert has welcomed the governments plans to ban referral fees in personal injury claims.

Peter Gibson, a solicitor Coles Solicitors believes the new legislation will curb “compensation culture”, and will rid the claims referral industry of underhand practices.

He said: “I welcome the impending ban on referral fees highlighted in the news today, but in order to ensure that shady elements of the claims referral industry do not raise their ugly heads, there will need to be very careful regulation”

He also accused the insurance industry of being the worst offender, selling claims onto their own in-house law firms and making secret profits out of injuries to their own insured customers.

Peter continued: “It is a sad indictment of the legal profession that they are often poor at presenting themselves as approachable and able to assist in a friendly way, so that the general public are drawn to these unscrupulous, shady organisations.

“The very best thing anyone involved in an accident – whether at work, on the road or elsewhere – should contact their local personal injury expert solicitor. Cut out the middlemen, and don’t let your insurers sell your claim.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .