Move to tackle noise induced hearing loss claims a positive step
Association of British Insurers
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is welcoming a move by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to tackle the growing number and cost of claims for noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). The MoJ has asked the Civil Justice Council (CJC) to consider the issue and make recommendations.
The ABI recently published new statistics showing that since 2012, more than 200,000 claims for NIHL, with claimant lawyers receiving on average three times as much in legal fees as claimants do in compensation.
James Dalton, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance Policy, said;
“Today’s announcement by the Ministry of Justice is a positive development. The skyrocketing number and cost of industrial deafness claims is a significant issue that the insurance industry has highlighted for some time. The number of claims has gone up by 250% between 2010 and 2013 and for every £1 the claimant receives, their lawyer receives £3.
“The insurance industry looks forward to working with the CJC to develop a practical and deliverable framework that seeks to make legal fees more proportionate and ensure that genuine claimants receive fair compensation in a timely and efficient manner.”
