I was delighted with your recent front-page report of the support of Lord Phillips for the view that there is not a compensation culture in this country and that in fact claims had reduced by 5% over the last year (see [2005] Gazette, 16 December, 1).

The insurance companies need to review their own procedures in dealing with claims as I believe that it is their own conduct in failing to adhere to the pre-action protocol, being difficult with the disclosure of documents, and not making sensible offers (or any offers at all) that cause a great deal of the cost of personal injury litigation. Insurance companies must look closer to home if they wish to reduce costs.


Adrian Harding, Buchanan & Llewellyn, Bournemouth