Hearing into injury compensation levels

Later this month five Court of Appeal judges will examine whether the damages paid out for injuries sustained at work, on the road, and in medical accidents are too low. The week-long hearing is a result of a 1999 report from the Law Commission, the official law reform body for England and Wales, which recommended that compensation awards for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life should be between 50%-100% higher. The judges will not look at compensation for loss of earnings or long-term care.

At present, informal tariffs set by judges mean that even the most severely disabled cases would result in compensation of no more than £150,000 for the pain and suffering element of the award. The Court of Appeal has the power to set new tariffs.