Accident Line hits back over its panel selection

PERSONAL INJURY: rejected firms will 'suffer substantial loss'

Accident Line - the Law Society-endorsed personal injury referrals scheme relaunched last month - responded this week to criticism that it is freezing some practitioners out of its panel.

Richard Miller, acting director of the Legal Aid Practitioners' Group (LAPG) said several firms were concerned about their rejection from Accident Line's panel.

Dennis Sheridan, of Bushey firm DR Sheridan & Co, said rejected firms 'will now suffer probable substantial loss because they will no longer receive referrals from Accident Line.'

Chris Ward, managing director of Abbey Legal, the scheme's insurers, said good experience with conditional fee agreements (CFAs), was critical to firms being selected.

But he said: 'Both the Law Society and Abbey recognise that opportunities need to be given to firms to get their foot on the ladder.'

Mr Ward said Abbey Legal was currently in discussions with the Law Society to create opportunities for firms to demonstrate their experience in CFAs before reapplying for the Accident Line scheme next year.

David Hartley, the Law Society's head of solicitors' remuneration and policy, reminded solicitors that there was an appeals process for those firms that are not selected.

Jeremy Fleming