Cutting Edge: Scams, Claims and Compensation Games

Since ‘No Win, No Fee' lawyers hit the high street ten years ago, Britain has been swamped with adverts encouraging us to put in a claim. Recently the icy weather has led to a surge in cases brought against councils, and talk of a growing compensation culture has hit the headlines once again. Have we really been convinced that where there's blame there's a claim? This programme delves into the multi-billion pound world of Britain's personal injury industry to find out if Britain is developing an American-style mania for suing, or if ‘No Win, No Fee' lawyers are finally giving a chance for the little man to fight back. Cutting Edge meets the lawyers and local authorities working on opposing sides, and follow real-life cases as they unfold.  

In Liverpool, once dubbed Britain's compensation capital, lawyer Steve Ireland heads up the personal injury department at the Paul Rooney Partnership. Steve specialises in ‘No Win, No Fee' cases and it's his job to get clients thousands of pounds in compensation for a slip, trip or fall. Steve is a passionate defender of his industry and despite accusations of him being an ambulance chaser and parasite, he strongly believes he is fighting on behalf of the underdog.

Like many personal injury lawyers, Steve often pursues claims against local authorities that are forced to pay out millions of pounds in compensation every year. But now they have begun to fight back. In South London, ex-Fraud Squad officer Jim Yeulet works as a claims investigator for Lambeth Council.  He is tasked with investigating every claim put in by ‘No Win, No Fee' lawyers. Jim spends his days measuring pavements and inspecting council properties, schools and parks, fighting hard to stop council tax money being paid out for inappropriate or exaggerated claims.

Who triumphs in the battle between claims lawyers and councils? Can you really get thousands of pounds in compensation if you cut yourself shaving? Will the council pay out if you get hit by a falling branch? Is a primary school liable if a child stubs his toe in the playground? And can a mother sue her child's school if she breaks her ankle in the mum's race on school sports day?

Scams, Claims and Compensation Games looks beyond the media headlines about personal injury claims to reveal who are the real winners and losers in Britain's compensation culture.