Inflation Is Gone - Except in Injury Claims!

A recent report indicates that while inflation may be a thing of the past, injury claim settlements are rising rapidly. Claims are said to be rising at 15% per annum and the total cost of the 'compensation culture' is said to be £10bn – 1% of the national income.

A recent report by the Institute of Actuaries found that the British habit of ‘putting up with it’ was fast disappearing, especially as regards claims against the NHS and the police. The latter’s compensation bill is estimated to have more than doubled in three years, from £160m in 1997 to £330m in 2000 - a sum that represents 7% of the total police payroll. The total cost of criminal injury compensation in the UK in 2000 exceeded that of all the other member states of the European Union combined.