Well, Whose Fault Is It?
Saturday, January 19th, 2008Throughout the 20th century, the law has steadily moved in favour of the injured when it comes to claiming compensation for injuries received due to an accident at work. The duty of care model puts a higher liability on business, regardless of what contracts say. Today, the victim does not have to show that the accused was negligent instead, the accused must demonstrate non-negligence. Therefore, they are guilty until proved innocent in the current structure.
The introduction of no-win, no-fee contracts for lawyers, an increase in the amount of individual awards, and tougher liability and employment laws are helping to fuel the boom. Commentators say the sharp rise in tribunal hearings is evidence of a growing compensation culture in the UK.
A recent study found more than one in seven people in the UK who suffer an injury requiring medical treatment take legal advice on whether to pursue apersonal injury claim. When questioned recently 78% of Britons said taking an employer to court to cl (more...)
