Accident Line is a freephone service which puts individuals seeking to make a personal injury compensation claim in contact with a specialist personal injury (PI) solicitor who can give them expert advice.

Potential claimants are provided with details of a PI solicitor in their locality who will be able to offer a free consultation to determine the viability of the claim. The solicitor will also be able to discuss the funding options available to the accident victim, including conditional fee agreements.

Accident Line was founded in 1994 by The Law Society of England and Wales to encourage claimants to contact an experienced solicitor to get the best advice. In 1995, when Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs) were introduced, The Law Society appointed legal services and insurance specialist Abbey Legal Protection to run the insurance supporting the scheme with a product known as Accident Line Protect.

In October 2000, The Law Society appointed Abbey Legal Protection to manage the new Accident Line. Members of Accident Line are experienced personal injury solicitor-firms that have been through a rigorous assessment process.


Funding a personal injury claim

Since April 2000, Legal Aid has been withdrawn for almost all personal injury claims (with the exception of medical negligence cases). However, there are a number of payment options available for claimants which they should discuss with their solicitor, who will be able to advise on what is most appropriate on an individual case by case basis.

Conditional fee agreements mean that solicitors take no payment for their work unless they win the case. Recent changes to legislation mean that the success fee charged by the solicitor and the insurance premium, as long as they are not deemed to be unreasonable, are now paid by the losing party rather than the successful claimant. In the event that the claimant is not successful, then he or she is liable for the other party's legal costs, but insurance (Accident Line Protect) is available to cover that eventuality. The insurance premium is itself covered by the insurance if the claimant loses, so claimants have no fees or premiums to pay if they lose.


Some facts and figures

A report from the Lord Chancellor's Department (Blackwell Report of February 2000) estimated that there are 11.2m accidents in the UK each year. Of these, 2m occur as a result of someone else's negligence. However, only 0.35m people made a claim in 1999. It follows, therefore, that the personal injury claims-market could grow by 1.65m claims per year.

Telebus market research conducted in April 2000 found that 50% of people would be anxious about making a claim for compensation against their employer.

One in three people would be put off by the legal part of making a claim.

In the event of an accident 30% of people would be put off from making a claim by the time it could take to be resolved, 21% have concerns about the expense and 20% would find the efforts involved and procedures dissuading factors.


The changing face of making a claim

1994 Law Society of England and Wales launches Accident Line.

1995 July - Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA) introduced.

1995 August - Abbey Legal Protection launch Accident Line Protect after the event insurance to support the introduction of CFAs

1999 April - Introduction of Woolf Reforms, designed to simplify and speed up civil claims process

2000 The Law Society conducts a review of Accident Line

2000 April - As a result of Access to Justice Act 1999, Legal Aid is withdrawn for the majority of personal injury claims, success fees and insurance premiums become recoverable.

2000 October - Abbey Legal Protection takes over management of Accident Line, the only combined Personal Injury Insurance and Referral Service endorsed by The Law Society

2000 November - New Accident Line is launched with a campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of getting the best legal advice available to ensure access to justice and proper compensation


Law Society of England and Wales

The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales. It serves the public by working to improve access to the law. It supplies services and support to solicitors themselves. It sets the standards that underpin the profession's reputation as the best independent advisers. In order to practise, all solicitors must have a Practising Certificate which is issued by The Law Society on an annual basis. There are over 100,000 solicitors on the roll.

For more information on The Law Society visit www.lawsociety.org.uk


Abbey Legal Protection

Abbey Legal Protection is a trading division of Abbey Protection Group Limited. The group is an independent insurance underwriting-agent specialising in legal and accountants' fees insurance, together with related marketing and advisory services.

To find out more about Abbey Legal Protection visit www.abbeylegal.com