The Local Government Association representing councils in England and Wales have alleged that some lawyers are affecting the provisions of local services by persuading people to bring spurious personal injury claims.

They allege that the claims and lawyers fees are diverting money away from services such as road repairs and education, claiming that some lawyers are talking people into making claims and “chancing their arm”.

They have called on the Government to further overhaul the personal injury process making it more difficult for an injured person to seek compensation for their injuries.

Lawyers do not talk people into pursuing claims. People pursue claims if they are injured. ~Ann Mahoney

Ann Mahoney, head of personal injury at M R Law comments: “Sadly, this is yet another example of the unfounded and misinformed propaganda put forward to seek to deny injured people the compensation they may be due. Lawyers do not talk people into pursuing claims. People pursue claims if they are injured and if a local council believes the claim is spurious, they should simply refuse to pay it.

Legal costs have already been slashed following huge reforms in recent years and it is within the power of the local councils or their insurers to reduce them even more by admitting responsibility early in the process, although they often fail to do so.

Lawyers are not to blame if an elderly person trips over a broken paving slab that should have been repaired by a council or a child is injured in school through an avoidable accident. The blame lies with the local council for failing in their duty of care.”