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It has always been an unpalatable truth that "Costs" have always exceeded damages in routine injury claims.
But I come from the era when the level of costs were determined by the reasonable level of damages. When there were County Court scales 1-4, and then "High Court Scale" above £5,000 recovery. In my plaintiff work, when I submitted by costs on a successful recovery, I would give an accurate (!) detail of the work done. The defendants always ran the issue, so I would have a professional Bill drawn that usually proved to work out about 50% more. I then issued the bill for taxation/assessment and the gasps of horror were a pleasure to hear. As I pointed out, some lawyers do tell the truth in their claims for costs. When I was the Defendant, I called for a detailed bill and made opponents tax. On one occasion, the fee earner who signed the Bill was told that if the DJ ever saw another Bill signed by him reduced by as much as that one was, he - the DJ - would ring the Police. Control of costs is a matter of sensible laws and systems. Jackson fulfills neither.