Information On Workers Compensation Claims

In 1998 the High Court ruled that British Coal was negligent and responsible for two mining-related conditions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger. Both of these diseases were caused by the inhalation of coal dust and affected thousands of miners across the UK, many of whom sought compensation.

Over the years following, the Department of Trade and Industry, which was responsible for the liabilities of British Coal, paid out over £7.5 billion in workers compensation claims. This has made it the largest workers compensation claims scheme in the world.

The department was unprepared for the sheer volume of claims they were to receive as the figure amounted to 760,000, over 3 times the figure they had initially anticipated. This was due, in part, to the fact that entitlement to compensation could be passed on to the miner’s estate in the event of their death.

The solicitors handling each claim were paid a fixed fee by the Government, but many chose to take additional payments for their services from the compensation awarded to their clients.

This caused outrage amongst miners, many of whom received paltry sums for their claims. The lowest award was a mere 50p. As a result, the Government was recently forced to admit that thousands of people had received much less in compensation that the administration costs of the case and that many legal firms had overcharged clients for their services.

One of the areas worst affected by this claims scandal is South Yorkshire, an area with a well-established tradition of mining. One lawyer, Jim Beresford of Doncaster firm Beresford’s, amassed a personal fortune of over £30million from ‘bulk processing’ mining workers compensation claims.

On the 9th June 2008, The Times reported that the Law firms involved in the fraudulent mining workers compensation claims were to be held accountable, and forced to repay millions of pounds which was falsely taken. Jim Beresford was among the dozens of solicitors who were ordered to appear before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

It is estimated that as many as 75,000 former mine workers are likely to receive payments of around £50 million. Out of 3,600 claimants, reports have shown that 345 were found to have had an average of £450 wrongfully deducted by their solicitor.

Northwest workers compensation claims specialists Aegis Law operate a fully transparent policy of ‘no-win, no-fee.’ Gina Simpson from Aegis commented on the rports saying:

“Those firms who have over-charged the miners and their families are reprehensible. At Aegis we are proud to offer fully ‘no-win, no fee’ workers compensation claims to individuals across Liverpool, the Wirral and the rest of the northwest.”

Article by Gina

About the Author: Gina is well known author and has been writing Articles for aegis-law.co.uk, the site provide specialist legal advice for family law and personal injury compensation claims throughout the Wirral. For more information visit www.aegis-law.co.uk