Insurers must make their views known on how the Jackson reforms will work in practice

After a difficult parliamentary journey, we now have the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. However, questions still hang over the delivery of the Jackson reforms: how will regulators work together to enforce the referral fee ban? How will qualified one-way cost shifting work?

Insurers’ uncertainty around the reforms is only likely to increase now that the government has announced a proposal to consult on the small claims track limit for personal injury. We all agree that fair compensation for genuine claimants at reduced cost is right, but April 2013 is rushing towards us and all parties in the compensation process need clarity.

As the government asks for further input on its plans to improve the efficiency and costs of handling more motor and casualty claims, insurers must speak up.

Kate Lotts is head of policy development at Weightmans

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