Commenting on the shock 57% jump in public liability claims in 2012/13 an APIL press release says:
“This is the final proof, if ever proof were needed, that the compensation culture is out of control. It is inconceivable that the number of genuine claims would increase by such a staggering amount in such a short period. We urge the Ministry of Justice to clamp down on these bogus claims and all those associated with them.”
Actually, APIL said no such thing.
They did recently make a big song and dance about the modest reduction in whiplash claims. To be fair, this is in the context of the ongoing debate as to how to control rising RTA insurance with the finger being pointed as the compensation culture. Although, to put this in context, the number of RTA claims for 2012/13 is still 44% higher than in 2006/07.
So what else do the 2012/13 DWP figures show:
Clinical negligence claims – 18% increase on last year (87% increase on 2006/07)
Employers’ liability claims – 4% increase on last year (8% decrease on 2006/07)
Public liability – 57% increase on last year (107% increase on 2006/07)
RTA – 10% decrease on last year (44% increase on 2006/07)
Other – 610% increase on last year (595% increase on 2006/07)
Total – 1% increase on last year (47% increase on 2006/07)
So, even with a large drop in RTA claims, by far the largest category, the overall number of claims has still managed to increase.
But, unless I’ve missed it, I’ve seen no mention or commentary in the legal press or elsewhere as to the massive one year jump from 104,863 to 164,973 in PL claims. I can understand that APIL may not want to be highlighting these figures in the context of the compensation culture debate but surely there is a story here for someone.