The Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has published the long awaited consultation paper on reform of the personal injury process.
The consultation will officially be launched on Monday.
The paper recommends no increase to the small claims limits, despite the ABI strongly lobbying for it. It does however recommend that the fast track limit should be raised to £25,000.
The DCA has also proposed that the system is made more efficient by installing a new system which sets out time frames to work within. The system, it is proposed, will be built around the principles of early notification of claims, early admissions of liability and the removal of duplication of work from the process. There will also be a provision for fixed recoverable costs.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, said: "If we are to achieve confidence in the delivery of justice, for the individual and for society, we need real reform. Reform which initiates a culture change.
“We must change the way cases are handled to make it more efficient. This consultation paper sets out proposals for such a system. People will see justice being delivered in a timely, proportionate and cost effective way."
