Writing online, controversial solicitor Richard O’Hagan has recently complained that it has become much too difficult for ordinary people to make compensation claims over the last decade or so. O’Hagan has suggested that changes the government has introduced in relation to legal aid are preventing some citizens of moderate means from making personal injury claims.
O’Hagan outlined his contentious thesis on The Mail Online. His views sharply contradict those of critics of Britain’s compensation culture. There is some substance to his argument, but it seems unlikely to convert many people to his perspective. Firstly, O’Hagan has pointed out that legal aid has been abolished for personal injury claims. Secondly, he has noted that the government has increased court fees. From this evidence, he has argued that the affluent are favoured because they have the means to pursue their accident claims.
There appears little to quarrel with in O’Hagan’s position, as long as no other evidence is considered. Many people, from all walks of life, have been using ‘no win, no fee’ services to obtain personal injury compensation for work-related incidents. Many, many others have been chasing road traffic accident compensation. It seems superfluous to cite statistics when rebutting O’Hagan’s views, because they seem so at odds with common sense. It is perhaps sufficient to mention the AA’s concern about the impact of rising road traffic accident compensation.
Equality of access to law is a noble cause, but the UK compensation claims culture has been thriving in its arguable absence. It is perhaps O’Hagan’s occupation which explains his view of things!
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