A survey conducted by Nockolds Solicitors found that personal injury law firms do not always act in the best interests of their clients according to rehabilitation case managers.
The survey found 81% of case managers claim to have experienced a situation where a claimant solicitor had ‘clearly not acted in the best interests of the client’.
Experts at medical reporting organisation, MAPS Medical Reporting, echoed the views expressed by Yasmin Ameer, solicitor at Nockolds, who said that “never in a million years” would she expect this result from the poll of 143 rehabilitation specialists.
Examples of personal injury firms not acting in the best interest of their clients
Examples given of poor judgement include a solicitor who advised a client against taking on a part-time job because it might reduce the eventual settlement, and an immigration solicitor taking on a high-value injury case, causing client to suffer due to a lack of expertise in securing interim payments, which the client needed.
The survey further reveals:
– 69% of case managers had been verbally abused either by their clients or clients’ families, while 13% had been physically assaulted;
– 69% said they had experienced a situation where the client’s family had not acted in his or her best interests;
– 61% were most frustrated by the speed at which funding was available
This survey, commissioned by Nockolds Solicitors, provides valuable insight into the state of play for case managers and experience of the claimants.
“This research will be difficult reading for many law firms and it’s important to remember this is about a perception – we at MAPS Medical Reporting see solicitors working tirelessly in pursuit of the best outcome for their clients. We’re proud to work with personal injury law firms recommended by Chambers or Legal 500 for in every region of England and Wales,” says David Stothard, managing director of MAPS Medical Reporting.
“Nevertheless, Nockolds’ invaluable insights will certainly provide food for thought for the sector. It also highlights the importance of law firms working with medical reporting organisations experienced in serious injury and rehabilitation, so that case managers are reassured that the claimant is being put in touch with the most appropriate medical experts.”
MAPS Medical Reporting provides quick access to reputable experts and high quality, specialist medico-legal reports providing its customers with robust medical evidence to expedite both treatment services for the victim and the claims process. Contact us to find out more about how we can support you.