Some insurance firms and their lawyers are using cynical tactics to avoid paying compensation to people who suffer serious injuries due to the negligence of others.

There is a worrying rise in the number of personal injury cases in which defendant insurers accuse injured people of exaggerating, or lying about, the harm they have suffered.

It is an abuse of the rules on what is known as ‘fundamental dishonesty’. It is a deliberate ploy by some unscrupulous defendants to try to get cases dismissed by the courts, or to browbeat victims into dropping their claims.

Vulnerable injured people who are suffering because of awful, life-changing events are made to feel as though they are not believed. They become emotionally and financially exhausted, terrified that they will be liable for everyone’s legal costs if they fight on and fail.

Insurers with deep pockets are free to throw around baseless accusations of fraud with no consequences. But for a vulnerable injured person the impact could be that they do not get the treatment, care, and support they need. Sanctions for baseless allegations need to be introduced.

Matthew Tuff

President of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)

Rennie Hogg Road

Lenton

Nottingham

NG21RX