Lawyers have supported the Government’s plan to join the Hague Convention to help people who are injured abroad.

“Enforcing a judgment by a UK court in the country where the injury happened is currently difficult following Brexit, and there is now less protection for those injured abroad,” said John McQuater, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

 “The Lugano Convention previously provided this for the UK but since leaving the EU, people have no longer been protected by it,” he continued.

“Signing up to the Hague Convention would help injured people get redress by providing a common legal framework across jurisdictions in the EU and beyond."

“While the Hague Convention does not have as broad a scope as the Lugano Convention, it is a step in the right direction.”

In its response to the Ministry of Justice consultation, APIL has also urged the Government to continue its efforts to re-join the Lugano Convention

Notes to editors:

• APIL was responding to the Ministry of Justice consultation on the Hague Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (Hague 2019).
• The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers is a not-for-profit organisation, formed by claimant lawyers, with a 30-year history of campaigning for changes in the law to help injured people gain the access to justice they need. Our vision is of a society without needless injury but, when people are injured, they receive the justice they need to rebuild their lives. Members include solicitors, barristers, legal executives and academics, all of whom are signed up to APIL’s code of conduct.
• Any queries about this press release should be directed to APIL’s press and communications assistant Asher Mayers-Thompson on t: 07808 768623, e: [email protected], or APIL's communications manager Jane Hartwell on t: 07541 490988, e: [email protected]
• Follow @APIL on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APIL