A new website that encourages consumers to make claims without legal representation has been slammed by many personal injury specialists.
itsmyclaim.com are hoping to recruit large retailers and corporations to their ranks who would then be encouraged to investigate and settle claims ‘fairly’ if they consider themselves to be responsible.
One of the aims of the services appears to be reducing the amount businesses/defendant insurers pay in legal in claimant’s legal costs and infers that claims will be settles more quickly than they would be if a solicitor was involved.
But will accident claims really be settled faster or more fairly? Presumably none lawyers in ‘defendant’ companies will be making decisions about quantum liability and quantum and negotiating with individuals with no knowledge of the law or resources to enable them question the decisions.
Mark Brickles the Chief Executive of itsmyclaim.com has described the scheme as an ‘ethical’ service that provides both earlier settlements and transparency. The company has forged links with the CAB who it is envisaged will refer a great many potential claimants to the organisation.
One has to wonder what’s in it for claimants who it appears are giving up legal representation in order to save the ‘offending’ parties legal fees and whether it could ever be considered best advice to suggest forgoing legal representation as being beneficial. The scheme does seem to throw up more questions than answers such as ‘If claims can be settled more quickly and fairly in order to reduce costs why haven’t those potentially responsible for claims or their insurers already been doing this? Furthermore if large corporations have claims handling depts, who are presumably trained to reduce their employers exposure to liability.
Does this really provide a level playing field?
We would be really interested to know what you think of the ‘it’s my claim’ proposals..email comments@solicitorsalliance.co.uk