Solicitors attacking the insurance company practice of ‘capturing’ personal injury clients have been promised the support of the Law Society.

The Accident Compensation Solicitors Group (ACSG), which lobbies for the right of consumers to choose their own solicitor, has attended a meeting at the Law Society where it was told the problem would be addressed at EU level when the new European Parliament convenes in September 2009.

Law Society President Paul Marsh said: ‘There have been examples of insurers under-settling claims and not properly advising the third party of their legal rights or obtaining a medical report to assess damages in personal injury cases. The Financial Services Authority is not properly regulating the practice and the Society has evidence of cases where insurers have given misleading information.’

Marsh said that anyone who had been injured in an accident and was contacted directly by an insurer should immediately seek independent legal advice from a solicitor.

The ACSG also approached the FSA and Ministry of Justice for help. The MoJ said the issue is not within its remit; the FSA said it is ‘researching these areas with relevant parties’.