A few years ago, if someone had tripped over an uneven paving stone they probably would simply have cursed the offending stone and hobbled home, trying to remember to be more aware of their surroundings in future. Nowadays that same event is more likely to result in taking out a compensation claim against the company responsible for laying the paving slabs.
But why do so many people now resort to taking action, where in the past they would have done nothing other than berate themselves for their misfortune?
Some think that Britain is never far behind America, which is renowned for seeking accident compensation whenever the need arises. Once the floodgates are opened it becomes easier for others to do the same thing and lodge claims of their own.
However it is wrong to assume that all cases are a result of needless claims made by people seeking to make some quick and easy money. The vast majority of personal injury cases occur as a direct result of the proper precautions and methods not being adhered to or followed, whether it is in the workplace or in any other location the general public ventures into.
In these genuine cases it is always advisable – indeed highly recommended – to consult with an injury solicitor to see whether or not you have a case worth pursuing. This is in no way adding to the so called compensation culture, as a genuine claim will always have a right to be heard.
So if the rise in cases is mostly due to people discovering they have a perfect right to claim for an accident or injury, why is the press coverage around such cases so negative? And why are we apparently gripped by the threat of this compensation culture?
In reality good news doesn’t sell many papers. Newspapers thrive on disaster, bad news and sensationalism. Because of this, you don’t get to hear about the genuine cases where a compensation claim has been brought about as a result of a genuine accident or mishap. You only hear about the people who are less than trustworthy and have faked claims or brought about claims for the most mundane of reasons.
The main issue that surrounds this compensation culture is that of blame. The rule of thumb should be that if someone has a legitimate accident because someone or something wasn’t performing up to the required standards, then there is every reason to lodge a claim for compensation. If however the mishap is due to negligence on the part of the person who suffers the accident, then there is no reason to seek help in laying the blame for that accident elsewhere.
In short, if there is a real reason for taking action then you should do so. Fraudulent claims should never be made – but then that has always been the situation and hasn’t changed. By Andrew Regan.