Brexit will not change push to reform personal injury small claims, say lawyers

The UK’s decision to leave the European Union will not halt plans to reform small personal injury claims, according to the Access to Justice (A2J) lawyer group.

Martin Coyne, the chairman of A2J, has said that political turmoil will follow Brexit, which may push personal injury reform proposals down the agenda. However, he has predicted that the insurance industry would do its best to keep reform on the Government’s radar.

“We cannot be complacent,” said Coyne.

“A2J will continue to fight for the rights of ordinary people to seek redress when they are injured through no fault of their own, and we fully intend to continue to make the case to Government, that its plans to erase the legal rights of 60 million voters are misguided and wrong.

“A2J won’t be satisfied until these plans disappear altogether.”

Meanwhile, the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) has said that plans to alter the civil justice system must not be derailed.

“Important efforts are underway to achieve civil justice reform, notably in relation to the low value claims process,” said Laurence Besemer, the CEO of FOIL.

“While it is inevitable following the Brexit vote that much government energy will be focused on next steps with regard to the EU it is vital that we do not lose the momentum for civil justice reform.”

Mark Dugdale