Civil Liability Bill concession is a predictable one

In response to the letter issued by Lord Keen Of Elie QC to his fellow lords following the second reading of the Civil Liability Bill, Qamar Anwar, managing director, First4Lawyers, says:

“The concession made by the House of Lords to exempt cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users from the Bill is welcome news, but is in reality a very small concession, and a fairly predictable one. It’s an easy concession to give to look good, but doesn’t do anything to fundamentally tackle the unjust nature of these reforms. Innocent motor accident victims will still remain penalised and ostracised by the justice system under the proposed terms of the Bill. We simply cannot stand by and quietly let this pass.”

“The letter also included a bold demand stating an expectation that ‘lawyers will continue to adapt and be fully capable of providing cost-effective services to genuinely injured claimants following the implementation of these reforms’. This is an area of the legal system that has constantly adapted to reform, and cuts to legal funding. This statement highlighted how truly wide the gap is between those who spend their days fighting for justice for people who need it the most, and those who spend their days discussing it.”