The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (Apil) will urge industry players not to overlook the complexities of the compensation system in a rush to address its ills.
Allan Gore, president of Apil, will tell guests at the president's annual dinner that society is losing sight of the fact that people have a right not be subjected to injury. Losing perspective, he will say, could bring the legal system into "serious disrepute."
Gore will also highlight his concerns about proposed increases to the small claims track for personal injury cases, declaring that the small claims courts "inhibit those who seek redress for injury from seeking either advice or representation."
He will also call on the Government to drop clause one of the Compensation Bill, which attempts to clarify the definition of negligence.
He will say: "The Law Commission has produced a large number of reports on many aspects of personal injury law and none has recommended changing the law of negligence as now proposed.
"It is not too late for the Government to reflect on the folly that is clause 1 by dropping it, and to continue to entrust the common law with the task of maintaining realism in the law in this area."
