h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Don't forget, you are not trying to line your pockets, you are taking action to get 'justice'. At least that is what they say in the ads.

I always switch off when I see those ads. For one thing, if you follow up and try to get compensation you're lining the pockets of the companies that post those ads, some of whom are alleged to act unethically to obtain business. Then there's the fact that claims often are paid out of the insurance of the company you're claiming against, which can have a knock-on effect on everybody's premium's if enough people claim. The insurance companies have to get their money back somehow, and they get it back by adding a bit to everybody's premium. My advice is to consult a solicitor - find one who will do the first consultation free. They'll be able to tell you if you've got any chance of winning your case. That way you won't waste your money.

While I agree with the idea of compensation for a genuine grievance, I can't help feeling that here in the UK we're getting into a blame culture similar to that in the US, where doctors and nurses routinely take out 'cover your ass' insurance in case they get sued. People make mistakes and we seem to be forgetting this. If there has been negligence, sue the doctor / council / company. If it was a genuine mistake, accept it.

I am not so sure that people are lining the pockets of the companies doing this given the problems that Claims Direct have been having recently!

I seriously hope we don't end up with a society as litigious as the US where it often seems common sense has been thrown out of the window!

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It won't get as bad as the states unless two things happen:

1) Unregulated charging by solicitors in no-win, no-fee situations
2) So called punitive damages (this is where you get compensation to punish the defendant, rather to compensate the claimant).

Although we may be dangerously close on point 1, no-one seriously anticipates English law will follow point 2. And point 2 is the driving force behind American litigation.

Konrad