APIL, MASS and Law Society team up to fight small claims reforms

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS) and the Law Society have agreed to join forces in order to fight the Government’s latest proposed reforms to the personal injury sector.

Legal Futures has reported that the three bodies have decided upon greater collaboration in light of George Osborne’s announcement in last year’s Autumn Statement to raise the PI small claims limit and abolish general damages for minor soft tissue injuries.

APIL’s chief executive, Deborah Evans, said that the organisations had been working together “from the off” to challenge the Government’s plans. She also said that group may be joined by other bodies and will be assisted by a working party involving the wider PI sector, including ATE insurers and MROs.

The APIL chief said that the “illogicality” of the proposed reforms would help the group’s cause. She said that the Autumn Statement also included the proposal for an automatic right to compensation for anyone whose train is delayed by more than 30 minutes.

“How can you be entitled to compensation for a minor inconvenience, but not if you have had months of pain and suffering from someone else’s negligence?” said Evans.

Sue Brown, the chair of MASS, explained why her body was working with APIL and Law Society, saying: “MASS is very happy to be able to work collaboratively with other claimant representative groups with a view to demonstrating the damage the reforms set out in the Autumn Statement will do to the rights of people injured as a result of negligent driving.”

Mark Dugdale