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Perfectly true. However, the problem stems from those in our profession who are willing to work for peanuts. Is this not the same mentality which led to a rise in claims in conveyancing work? Firms used to charge a sensible price for professional work, then someone decided it would be a good idea to work for peanuts to win business from competitors (in the case of conveyancing, it was by choice and not government imposed). Work became shoddy; claims increased; the PI insurers came down on the profession. Clearly the same will happen in the field of personal injury, except that the unrealistically low pricing was government-imposed. As a profession, we only have ourselves to blame - or more precisely, those within our profession who think that it is a good idea to work for less than value. When the government sees us doing this in areas like conveyancing, they impose more of the same on us in areas like personal injury. The profession might start to heal itself when we learn to respect ourselves. When we sell ourselves short, and make it seem as if our work is worth nothing, others will lose respect for us and pay us nothing. I do not see skilled surgeons agreeing to do their work for peanuts, and nor should they. Nor should we.

Simon Aaron
(Partner)
Simons Rodkin Litigation Solicitors