Member Article

Our UK compensation culture is a myth

A regional lawyer who specialises in Occupational Injury has revealed that the reality about compensation rewards to those injured in the workplace is very different from the ‘myth’ being published by the Government.

John Hall, specialist Personal Injury Lawyer and Managing Partner with Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors, says a report into the true extent of the ‘compensation culture’ in the UK has shown that an extremely small percentage of claims are actually successful. He said: This report has exposed the Government’s citing of a ‘compensation culture’ as a fabrication. What is clear to us is that justice is being denied to large numbers of injured workers.“

The report into compensation claimed for work-related injuries or diseases was prepared by Rory O’Neil, Professor of Occupational Health at Stirling University and Editor of Hazards, the workers’ health journal. It reveals that in 2001/2 219,183 workers received compensation awards, whereas 11 years later, in 2011/12 the number of successful claims had fallen to just 87,655, a fall of over 60 percent. Based on the 2011/12 figures, Mr O’Neil’s research shows that fewer than 1 in 50 receive compensation for occupational cancers, and whilst more than 4,000 workers die each year from work-related chronic bronchitis and emphysema, only 59 received compensation. Where work-related stress is concerned, only 293 of the 221,000 cases brought resulted in compensation being paid.

Mr Hall added: “There simply isn’t a compensation culture in this country, in fact these figures indicate that people who are injured in the course of their work have very little chance of their rightful compensation. This is made worse because recent rules introduced by the Government have limited the amount that can be awarded in personal injury claims. It makes it all the more important that anyone who is injured in the workplace seeks professional help at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure that they follow procedures correctly, and have all the evidence required to give them the very best chance of securing appropriate compensation.”

John Hall is one of the UK’s leading Clinical Negligence Solicitors, and an expert in Personal Injury law, having specialised in this field for more than 30 years.

Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors is the Tees Valley’s largest full service law firm with offices in Hartlepool, Wynyard Park, Stockton on Tees and Barnard Castle. For further advice, contact Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors on 01740 646000.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tilly Bailey and Irvine Solictors .